Volume II, Number III: 2002
The Original Quotable Quotes Edition
"Elaine thought it was a nice "uncle toast" ...
. . . and that is was. Paul's niece Naomi was married on September 29th to Mark Duddridge. Uncle Paul had the delightful honor of toasting his niece. Mark and Naomi actually met as babies, but by their adolescent years, they decided they didn't much like each other. That was until they reconnected last Christmas, which sparked a whirlwind romance.
"Landmines don’t usually bring people together... "
But they figured prominently at the wedding of Paul's cousin Darryl Toews to Meridith on July 20th in Carman , Manitoba . Darryl and Meridth met through a common commitment to the campaign to ban landmines.
"Congratulations you are an auntie – again!"
Eve Elizabeth was born June 23 to Ron and Pattie and a very proud big brother Jack. She will be spoiled as her birthday is only a couple days off of Auntie Suzie and she shares Auntie Elaine's former initials (ER).
"I found it!!"
Dad (Mel) Taylor 's excited exclamation at 8:30am on a cold rainy Boxing Day in the Yorkshire Dales. Months of Elaine living at the local LDS Family History Center had paid off as Dad revealed his great-great-great-great-grandfather's gravestone. It was one of the many highlights of an extraordinary two-week trip to the United Kingdom over Christmas and New Years. For regular TaylorGram readers, this was the anticipated international trip from last year’s breakthrough on the Taylor family.
“A desperate situation”
A distressed hostess when we declined a cup of tea in favor of a glass of water during Paul’s first trip to Northern Ireland to meet Elaine’s extended family. Nineteen stops over three days – a lot of relatives, a lot of tea (but we should have taken one more cup).
“The only way I am going to see 92 is on a door”
One of the many ways Elaine’s family had for expressing pride in her Great Uncle Sam’s fresh appearance and agility at 92. Uncle Sam was responsible for nine of the above mentioned stops while in Northern Ireland . He gains time by not waiting for the hostess to come to the door – if the door is unlocked, he lets himself in.
“Where are you going this week?” and “Do I have a copy of your itinerary?”
Elaine’s usual questions on Sunday as Paul packed for another trip somewhere. Business travel took him to Singapore , Australia , and a number of less memorable destinations during his first year on a new job.
“Oh, they have the Internet on computers now”
A quip from the famed American futurist Homer J. Simpson raises a smile from elected officials and civil servants as Paul travels extensively in the continuing campaign for government modernization. The Center for Digital Government, where he serves as Chief Strategy Officer, has just published “Citizen 2010”, a primer Paul wrote for new administrations on how to approach technology in government. He also serves on the editorial board of Government Technology, published by the company. In his spare time, he is columnist and writer – which marks the convergence of his careers in government and media. If only they had a radio station . . . .
"You shot my parrot - I buy your wife for 25 pesos."
An outlaw character in a wild west show in Tombstone , Arizona , bargaining with Paul for his life after being framed in the death of the hombres’ feathered friend. It was all part of a romp through the desert with our friends Todd, Vicky and Carrie Sander.
"She isn't as tall as I remember"
Scott Lints, 24 year old son of Elaine’s friend Marion, after not seeing Elaine for a few years! Marion, who is vertically challenged, on the other hand still thinks Elaine is as tall as ever.
"You look just like your Mum"
The Hamiota Collegiate Institute (HCI) grads from the late 60s and early 70s attending the 40 year Reunion of HCI this summer were all in agreement on that point. We realized that Elaine is now the age that Mum was when these kids / adults had left Hamiota, and that is the age they remember her Mum as.
"It looks level”
Famous last words (and invariably wrong) as Paul and his Dad built a new flight of stairs down to the water front in April. A carpenters level is a beautiful thing!
"You got a permit !?"
Our neighbors and friends on the adjoining lake exclaimed in disbelief that a) we actually applied for one and b) that we actually received a permit to drive the metal piles to finally put our dock (built in 1999) into it's permanent mooring.
"You realize we have never spent Christmas together"
Elaine's sister-in-law Diane, Alyssa's Mummy, made that observation when we were home for an early Christmas in December. Diane had joined the family since our last trip to Manitoba for Christmas in 1995.
"We done lost propulsion"
The last thing you want to hear from a bus driver as the bus fails to make its way up the steep hill to Harborview, the hospital where Elaine works. Elaine was on the bus with a visiting friend from Winnipeg , Chris Wiebe. Chris got to hear the line again when Elaine’s car lost propulsion later that week at highway speeds. The last we heard, Chris left refreshed after having regaining his propulsion.
“It is like swapping out the engine of a 747 while in flight”
Sage advice Elaine received from a former colleague of Paul’s on the challenges of bringing on a new computerized patient record system called ORCA, while maintaining the computerized documentation system that is already in place at Harborview. Elaine and a very small team are responsible for training new hospital staff on the existing system. Add to this training all the nursing staff on the new system – Elaine won’t have the time to be joining Paul on as many business trips this year!
“A good report!”
Elaine’s Dad received this news on his follow-up visit post radiation for prostate cancer. The cancer was diagnosed while eliminating possible causes for his illness last fall. Elaine’s parents are doing well now and appreciating the reciprocal help from neighbors that they had assisted in the past.
And finally given the state of world politics at the dawn of 2003, the final quote is drawn from a greeting often used by the Apostle Paul, “Peace and Grace.”