You Never Promised me a Rose Garden

If you’ve ever visited my parents’ house(s) on Elm Avenue or now, on Jeanette Drive, you’ve no doubt seen the ever-expanding and overflowing gardens. I suspect my mother, Pat (Taylor) Smith, got her “green thumb” from her dad, Walter, because who can forget that long drive up the road, anticipation, and finally, knowing you arrived once the beautiful centerpiece of the Taylor homestead – the circular flowerbed with Moss Roses – came into view?

Walter and Jean Taylor's Homestead with Flowerbed (Picture shared by Lori Gunder Burke)

You can imagine my surprise when my first attempts at gardening revealed I did not have this green thumb gene (mom tried encouraging me with a supposed, “no fail” Ivy once and that was short-lived). But, with prodding from John (husband), I leaped in again. Now, John loves anything hot (hot rods, weather, food, etc.). In fact, my sister, Coreen, and family gave John the biggest box of black pepper they could find for a birthday present this same year (although the pepper is long gone, the laughs continue). Anyway, we started gathering information about peppers, like Sweet Bells, Jalapenos, and Chili, as well as other plants we were interested in and determined what would do well in our climate, soil, and in sun or shade.

etc

Like life and the lyrics to the song, Rose Garden, “…you don’t find roses growin’ on stalks of clover, so you’d better think it over.”

Watering, picking massive amounts of different kinds of tomatoes, peppers, squash, and weeds, and cooking and freezing all sorts of concoctions soon filled mornings and after work nights. It brought back childhood memories of long forgotten days, hours, and rows of beans with all, including Grandma Taylor, picking, sorting, and snapping. Unfortunately, what I forgot during “think it over” was to look or survey the land so to say because gardening took off just after I leaped back into school, working towards a master’s degree.

Like life and the lyrics to the song, Rose Garden, “You better look before you leap.” 

This crazy schedule produced more than just fruits and vegetables: challenges (as John and Caleb, my son, will attest to, pulling all-nighters at this age is definitely challenging to live with). But, after a time, cold breezy days and falling leaves, turning to bits of white flakes, arrived. What was once a childhood (and an adult) chore turned to joy, “The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition,” and our sweet fruits of labor, a rose garden, ushered in. 

Like life and the lyrics to the song, Rose Garden, “…along with the sunshine, there's gotta be a little rain sometimes.” But, as singer Lynn Anderson says, “…if you take hold of life and go ahead, you can make something out of nothing.”

So, go ahead, "...smile a while," reminisce, enjoy the video by Tina McBride and Lynn Anderson singing "Rose Garden," and take a moment to share with us your memory about the Taylor flowerbed (or yours), something about produce gardens (if my memory serves me correctly, the Taylor’s produce gardens lined that long driveway), or perhaps, a story about childhood chores turning to joy.

References

Country Music Classics (n.d.). The story behind the song: Page three. Retrieved from http://www.countrymusicclassics.com/CMCStorySongDec.htm
Anderson, L. (1970). Rose garden. Retrieved from http://www.lynnandersonshow.com/videos/?c=10
Meyer, J. (2004). Seven things that steal your joy: Overcoming the obstacles to your happiness. New York, NY: Time Warner Book Group. 

Defiance

Recently, I finished something I never dared to dream before my journey through shattered hopes and dreams. But, this pen (or key pad) is getting ahead of me.

Have you ever seen Defiance? The dictionary defines defiance as “bold resistance or opposition.” Now, my parents, Harry or Buzz and Pat (Taylor) Smith, would quickly respond with a strong, “YES,” to seeing defiance. But, that is not the Defiance I am talking about here. I am referring to the movie called Defiance (there is also a book called, The Bielski Brothers). Defiance is based on the true story of three Bielski brothers, Alexander “Zus,” Tuvia, and Asael, who flee their home to escape the Nazis and establish a hidden camp deep in the Naliboki Forest during World War II. I don’t want to give you all the details because in my book, the move is a “must see,” but these are a few of my thoughts as I watched the movie... 

As more and more Jews arrive, the Bielski Brothers bicker about the ever-growing number of people. Would they be found because of sheer numbers? What about food and sickness? Like the Bielski Brothers, I am certain our grandparents, Walter and Jean Taylor, could have related to bickering that came with ever-growing numbers. But, today, the children and grandchildren of the Bielski Family number in the tens of thousands. 

How awesome is that to think about our ever-growing numbers of Taylor children and grandchildren? 

However, something much more important emerges than just the numbers: Community, the strength and heart that can come from such numbers. The Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work (there was certainly a lot of work to be had at the Taylor homestead)… If one falls down, his friend can pick him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Like the inspiring stories that came from these woods, there is certainly a Taylor story or two that can and should be told about their woods and battles, set-backs, and triumphs. In these “Conversations,” it is our hope The Taylor Community shares present journeys and past memories for future generations to read or listen and watch, find bits of wisdom stored in these stories, and become the next authors / actors of this continuing novel. 

Truly amazing to me is not only do we have strength in numbers, but we also have a community, which allows us to discover and be discovered. 

Finally, Albert Einstein once said, “…It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.” To survive, the community, known as the “Jerusalem in the Woods,” makes a courageous move by parting the waters so to say and starting over. Some might question whether this second exodus was with a “touch of genius” because they end up battling the Germans and almost do not live. Now, I’ll never be an Albert Einstein, but I can certainly relate to making some moves lacking a “touch of genius” (my parents will agree) and battling to survive. Like survivor Jack Kagan, I am forever grateful to those who prodded with encouragement, debated and fought on my behalf, and at times, threw me over their shoulders and carried me out of the waters during such times, and for my grandparents, Roger & Hazel Smith and Walter & Jean Taylor, passing on to my parents who passed on to me the courage, strength, faith, and tenacity to make moves in the opposite direction (albeit, it might take me a time or two to get the “touch of genius” right) – Defiance.

Know that you too can find this Defiance when you need to, but also know there’s a lot of Taylor Family “touch of genius” out there for you to discover before making such a move. 

Oh yes, I almost forgot about my beginning. This past year, I completed my Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree - the never dared to dream before shattered hopes and dreams, but that’s what it’s all about – the journeys. So, until next time, snuggle up, check out the movie or book, and let us know your thoughts and stories of Taylor Defiance.        

References:

Ball, M. D. (2011, March 30). Societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology. Retrieved from http://reddragonpub.wordpress.com/societal-and-ethical-implications-of-nanotechnology/
Bible. Ephesians 4:9-10, & 12. New International Version. Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+4&version=NIV
Harrison, D. (2009, January 10). Bielski brothers were heroes, says survivor. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/4214046/Bielski-brothers-were-heroes-says-survivor.html   
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation (n.d.). Study guide: Tuvia Bielski: Rescue is resistance. Retrieved from http://www.jewishpartisans.org/pdfs/Tuvia_Bielski_Study_Guide.pdf