February 14th, Valentine’s Day, typically, filled
with candy, flowers, and gifts exchanged between families, friends, and loved
ones. We exchanged something a bit different and yet, something eerily similar
this year… we exchanged another precious girl, Talia, who touched our life and
succumbed to the tragedy of a fatal dose of Tylenol, for an angel of peace this
year. Today, my daughter, Brittany, will share her birthday with the
celebration of Talia’s 25 years of life she shared here on earth with us.
Although Talia’s life was cut short, one never knows when their time will
come, so I’d like to share with you what I think to be an important secret that
Grandpa Taylor shared with us while he was earth… his contagious smile and
LAUGH.
Look for the possibility.
American poet, Langston Hughes, once said, “Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” How many of us are like a broken winged bird that can no longer fly? There was a time I thought I could no longer fly, but what I know today is I would have never become the person I am today and for that, I am forever grateful. I would’ve never experienced a love for books and education, self-esteem and confidence, or true friendship that comes with a soul mate. So, when you think you can no longer fly, look around and try to see the possibility because something great is about to happen.
Antennas up!
Growing up, my children had the wonderful opportunity to experience surrogate grandparents with Henry and Marlyn Vola, a retired couple, living just around the corner during our time in Machesney Park, IL and Don and Louise Wetterlin who provided us a warm home with a magical park-like backyard during a period of time in Rochester, MN. The last time I talked to Louise we laughed over how Don repainted their downstairs (where we stayed), but Louise refused to let him cover Caleb’s tire tracks from the big John Deere play tractor, which he liked to roll down their basement steps. And Henry would call me up on any given day to stop over with cupcakes complete with birthday candles for an “unbirthday party.” We’d all have a grand time, joining in and singing, “Happy unbirthday to you, happy unbirthday to you…” These special couples kept their antennas up and gave us the gift of singing with wings to fly.
Understand u can make a difference.
How many of you know James Peterman, a second baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates? You might know him better, as I did, from the television show called “Seinfeld,” where he was portrayed as the eccentric boss of the character Elaine. The J. Peterman Company, which was a real and well-known retail catalog company that Mr. Peterman started on a $500 investment, was also portrayed on Seinfeld through Elaine’s place of employment where she worked as an editor. Anyway, The J. Peterman Company gained momentum at a whopping $75 million, but fell to bankruptcy in 1999. In “The Rise and Fall of The J. Peterman Company,” Mr. Peterman admits that due to rapid growth, everyone got lost in the grind of activity. Boy, does that sound familiar in today’s world, but the good news he’s back at it and you can too! You can make a difference and not get lost in the grind by keeping antennas up, looking for opportunities, and creating memorable moments - unbirthday parties - for broken winged friends and loved ones.
Giggle more.
I am going to let you in on another secret: Brittany and I share a condition. Although the medical term escapes me at the moment, it causes one to giggle when nervous. One of the first memories I have of this annoying condition is from Grandpa Taylor’s funeral and getting into trouble for giggling (it is not the only funeral I’ve received a scolding or “the look” for giggling). Although our giggling can be obnoxious and annoying to some (even when it is not due to our condition), the good thing about giggling is like campfires and my sister’s hugs (Carol), they warm those who stand around it. So, go ahead, keep the chill away, and giggle and giggle and giggle.
Hope more.
Sitting at my usual spot in McDonald’s today, I overheard a little girl ask her grandpa if her newly departed relative had to walk all the way up to heaven. I thought, “There we have it, keep dreaming with your map out on your journey because you never know when you’ll need to keep walking ‘till you find a window.” Our dreams give us hope, but they are nothing more than daydreams and passing time if we don’t do something about them. Just think, dreams with one-day-at-a-time action can change not only us, but the world!
So, on this special day, my heart goes out to Talia’s family, Britt, and you – let's all LAUGH. We’d love for you to share with us today a Taylor LAUGH story or maybe a Valentine’s Day memory.
Birthday girl, Britt, - my wish for you…
