Terry Taylor "T.D.T."

Walter Taylor with son, Terry Taylor

Awakened by singing birds early this morning, I made an amazing discovery! Not so long ago, I took a trip up to Oakdale, Wisconsin with my sister (Coreen) and her family to see Terry Taylor. As some of you know, the trip for me was more like a mission, retrieving the long-awaited “Uncle Terry” signature. 

In our younger days, Uncle Terry lived with us and he would shoot us kids off (meaning, he would lay down on his back, get in sort of a sitting position, we'd sit down on his feet sticking up in the air). He would thrust us off and we'd launch to the moon. One particular day, it was not the moon, but the television and the landing did not go smoothly, breaking my arm. Scouring over the 38-year old cast, we found among the signatures, Gerri and Merle Adams, Carrie (older sister), Rhonda Olson (neighbor), and Carol (oldest sister, who I would like to believe is rejoicing with Terry right now). 

Upon returning home from what would be my last time seeing Uncle Terry, Carlos and Coreen were greeted with a heavenly scene; a swarm of butterflies fluttering among the lilac bushes. Amazingly, the butterflies let Coreen get very close, close enough to snap several photos and video of this glorious scene (click here to see video created on Tomah Taylors' YouTube Channel in memory of Terry from Coreen's video clip).

What a perfect reminder of how Terry, like those butterflies, transformed…

Yes, there were times of being uncomfortable, but those times lead us to move.

Yes, there were some ugly moments and struggles along the way, but those give us the desire for something more wonderful and so we press on.

Yes, there were sacrifices made along the way, but we exchange those for wings.

Yes, there is a time to transform, leaving behind an old, worn and diseased shell, giving us the ability to glide about bringing joy to the hearts of those who remember.

…into something much more beautiful, in a much better, more peaceful place - I can only imagine.

So, there it was in big, bold red (now faded) letters on my cast"T.D.T." All those years ago, I did have the prized signature after-all (either I had forgotten or did not realize, until I created this using Coreen's butterfly photo) 

~ Uncle Terry, Terry Dean Taylor, "T.D.T." ~

Please help us celebrate the life of Terry Taylor by leaving us your thoughts, memories, and condolences. 

 

Courageous, Great Taylor Women, Happy Mother's Day!

Why do I have a picture of dad (Harry "Buzz" Smith) posted for Mother’s Day?

     
 In 1946, Meryll Frost, dubbed “Most Courageous Athlete,” said upon receiving his trophy, "While I'm not a great man, there's a great woman behind me." 

I imagine mother (Patricia Taylor Smith) was standing behind while this picture was taken. Even more importantly, how true this was with our Grandmother, Jean Taylor. How many times was she behind the scenes and behind Walter?

I believe those of us who remember, 

Jean Taylor was a great woman and she instilled that greatness in us,

which continues to be within each of us - down from generation to generation!

 I imagine everyone involved in that picture had a good laugh. Although I wrote a little about laugh in my last post, I’ll bring it up again, as it is fitting for such a day. I can remember in particular a great Christmas laugh. You know how Christmas goes with chilly, early mornings, snow aflutter outside, and there they are - the children… albeit, I was much younger looking, eyes full of excitement, and anxious to get to the business at hand – unwrapping that very first present of many. What a jolt that year! No wrapped presents, but instead, a mound of Salvation Army’s worst (maybe best), including tattered baseball gloves minus laces intact, chipped golf clubs (what any golf player would tout “unusable”), and on and on laying full-circle around the bottom of that beautiful, twinkling Christmas tree. Although, I can’t remember all the details, I do remember one thing - mother did not seem to be in on the spoof of 3Us – ugly, unwrapped, unusable presents! She saved the day and was the hero because in the end, the presents were hidden in our walk-in closet, filled to the ceiling. What an unforgettable moment in the history of great laughs. Thank you mom (and dad) for the wonderful laughs that I still treasure today.

Above all, my mother created so many memorable moments, saved the day on so many occasions (still continues today), and is my hero. There are no words big enough to describe or express the love and gratitude for my hero, Patricia (Taylor) Smith, Thank You and…

To all you Courageous, Great Taylor Women, Happy Mother’s Day!

 (Left to right: Meredith Taylor Eisfeldt, Sherry Taylor Gunder, and Patricia Taylor Smith)

Give us a shout and let us know of your Mother's Day wishes to a Great, Courageous Taylor Woman, any memories, or comments below - and of course, always feel free to write a short story as well by contacting me through our website at http://www.tomahtaylors.com/ContactUs.php or via email (carynrhodes@aol.com).

Warm wishes until next time,

Caryn