Volume III, Number II: 2010-2011
A Special Double Issue (because we didn't have our act together to get a single issue out in 2010)
The TaylorGram postcard - perhaps the first in a series - debuted just after Christmas.
GREAT NIECE MARKS NEW GENERATION OF TAYLORS
The first grand niece on the Taylor side of the family arrived in March. She is proof that the Canadian airies are not so very far from Lake Wobegon, where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average."
Uncle Sam - no, not that Uncle Sam - Draws Us Back to Northern Ireland
Larne, NI - The math was perfect and the timing seemed really good. Elaine's great Uncle Sam Lorimar was going to turn 100 the same year Elaine and three of her cousins from Northern Ireland were turning 50. It added up to as good a justification for an overseas trip as any we could come up with. The plan was brilliant but even the best made plans don't always work out the way you had hoped. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam did not to live to see his centennial. Instead, two of the cousins and a large group of the extended family met at one of Uncle Sam's favorite spots to raise a toast and celebrate his life.Our trip included a driving trip through parts of Scotland, including Castle Doune, where the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail was shot, and Edinburgh, Scotland, which captivated Paul in ways that few other cities ever have. It would be a great place to return to for a longer visit or, maybe someday, a longer stay to write a book. Hey, its a Christmas - a fellow can dream, can't he?
A 50/50 Chance She is in Denial
Olympia, WA - It is old news by now but as milestones go, it was a big one. Elaine hit the big 5-0 the summer before last (July 16, 2010), and then celebrated the first anniversary of her 50th birthday this year. She even tried to argue that she had begun celebrating reverse birthdays, meaning that she was now counting back down toward zero. Our favorite 49 year old is aging gracefully - for the most part.
The 'Other' Washington
Elaine made her first trip to Washington, DC in June to see some of the sights and visit some of Paul's favorite new haunts. He has been clocking a lot of time in the 'Other' Washington over the past two years as the Editor at Large of Governing magazine and the Chief Content Officer of its parent organization, e.Republic, Inc. Elaine's visit took the edge off what often feels like a bicoastal commute and it was a fun weekend of seeing the sights without the pressure to pack everything into a single weekend because chances are very good she'll be back.
The Inside Job
It is probably a breach of Christmas letter etiquette but our Facebook friends followed the project in real time so its worth a mention here. What is the polite word for it - water closet, bathroom, powder room or lavatory? Whatever you call it, we have a new one. We did the demo work on the original WC along with the hallway and the nearby closet to make the new one bigger. The new one has subway tiling, a glass brick shower surround, deep wood cabinets, granite countertop and even a heated floor. Over the top? A little. Are mornings better now? Never been better.
The Outside Job
Long time readers of the TaylorGram might be surprised to learn that the yard is, for all intents and purposes, finished ... finally. Hundreds of yards of top soil, dozens more of gravel, 4,500 80-pound retaining wall bricks, hundreds of plants, pallets of paving stones, at least one appearance by a cement truck and a concrete pumper -- plus all the teenage strong backs you can cajole with offers of hotdogs, hamburgers and a little cash over three years of weekends -- and viola, its done. Just like that.The yard has been host to five annual summer parties on behalf of our church complete with water toys, water slides, bounce structures, enough food to feed up to 185 of our new best friends, and a floating fireworks show out on the water that was the pride of the neighborhood. Add to the list a graduation party, a family reunion, a memorial service, a number of parties just because and, in our humble opinion, we think the experiment worked.
Marriage Milestones
Some of the regular visitors to our little spot on Fair Oaks Beach have already celebrated fifty or more years of marriage. Some of the "kids" we grew up with have marked their silver anniversary - and we just past 23 years ourselves. With that as background, it was interesting to attend seven weddings this year - a number unrivaled since we were of a marrying age almost a quarter century ago. Yes, its enough to have you playing the role of the old guy as these kids get married. Most of the couples we know through church, two were couples who married before the husbands deployed for Afghanistan (and one of those same husbands was among the strong, young backs who helped build the retaining walls.) Then there was our old buddy Collin who, after decades of looking for the right girl, found her with a script under her arm in Los Angeles. Their wedding this summer was the stuff of a Hollywood movie, complete with acaplela flash mob vocalists serenading the couple with the love theme from The Karate Kid. (The only thing better was that the groom's parents smuggled in coolers full of contraband Manitoba farmers sausage for the rehearsal dinner.) It just doesn't get any better.
Facebook almost Killed the TaylorGram
Not to throw Mark Zuckerberg under the bus or anything but his little website has been a distraction from the important work of maintaing the mighty TaylorGram. It turns out that a quick status update while you're thinking about something in the moment is a lot easier than trying to remember the moments at the end of the year.
Of course, we'd never make you choose. For you, there is the irregularly published mostly annual TayjlorGram as the capstone to the year - and then there is social moments for all the times in between. You'll find Elaine and Paul on Facebook. And if you prefer to follow tweets, Paul does that 140 character thing at @pwtaylor.
Then there is old school email -- we'd love to hear from you at pwt@pwt.net and/or elaine@markers.com.
Speaking of Facebook, one of Paul's last status updates of the year seems like a good way to tie a ribbon on this year's TaylorGram - "The time has come," the Walrus said, to bring the work of the year to an end, reflect on Christmas, relax and recreate for a few precious days and then raise a toast to the new year. As they say in the old, old country, "To your very good health."
Peace and Grace,
- Paul and Elaine
Of course, we'd never make you choose. For you, there is the irregularly published mostly annual TayjlorGram as the capstone to the year - and then there is social moments for all the times in between. You'll find Elaine and Paul on Facebook. And if you prefer to follow tweets, Paul does that 140 character thing at @pwtaylor.
Then there is old school email -- we'd love to hear from you at pwt@pwt.net and/or elaine@markers.com.
Speaking of Facebook, one of Paul's last status updates of the year seems like a good way to tie a ribbon on this year's TaylorGram - "The time has come," the Walrus said, to bring the work of the year to an end, reflect on Christmas, relax and recreate for a few precious days and then raise a toast to the new year. As they say in the old, old country, "To your very good health."
Peace and Grace,
- Paul and Elaine