It has been one of those weeks — a week of busyness, stress and grief. Some (okay, a lot) of it was self-imposed, yet I let it cloud my focus on the precious things that I should have been doing.
So, here I am on this cool and gray weekend morning reading — really reading — the messages and love notes friends sent to Taylor in celebration of Valentine’s Day. As I read their many thoughts and memories, I’m overwhelmed with the love, kindness and appreciation for my sweet girl. Each letter touches my heart in a special way.
There is a beautiful and frame-worthy drawing from Taylor’s cousin, Morgan. The drawing is bursting with Taylor’s preferred purple and pink.
Cousin Madi described Taylor using each letter of her name: Terrific, Appreciated, Youthful, Lovely, Optimistic and Resilient. Right on, Madi — I agree! Taylor has a lot to share about the value and power of optimism. I wish more people could know her and benefit from this important lesson. Talk about changing the world. And resilience? I’m immediately reminded of visitors to our home after Taylor lost her vision. Taylor would dash around and run up and down the stairs without her white cane. I always got a quizzical look that said, “I thought she was blind.”
Our friend, Linda Talmadge, has long served as Taylor’s “Director of Mischief,” and her leadership skills have not gone unnoticed. In her three-page letter, Linda shared memories of catching a five-pound bass on a hot summer afternoon in the Ormond family pond. I’m not sure we expected to catch anything, but we did, and we ate it.
Linda also assumed the role of assistant to Taylor’s physical therapist and occupational therapist when needed. When Taylor struggled with aquatic therapy, Linda showed up wearing her bathing suit, jumped into the water and sang the Carolina fight song as she helped Taylor walk in the pool.
There were the afternoons when Linda and Taylor danced around the house to “Go You Chicken Fat, Go.” (You’ll only understand if you were a child in the 1960s.) There were trips to peach orchards (it’s therapy when you reach overhead and pluck the peaches from the branches) and strawberry fields, where we picked buckets of berries. Those orchard trips always happened in the name of therapy, but the fruit was certainly a bonus. We made bread (stirring is therapy!) and Rice Krispie treats, because again, it’s good therapy. Eating all of the treats also served as emotional therapy. And as for all of those sunny afternoons filled with singing to Linda’s harmonica accompaniment…’nuf said.
I wish that I could single out each and every card and note Taylor received in this post. When I read the message from our longtime family friend, Polly, I smiled thinking of Taylor dancing on Polly’s hearth.
Thanks also to the folks at Abeona Therapeutics for the many cards and messages of care and encouragement. Abeona is named for the Roman Goddess who protects children. Thank you for being a testament to your namesake.
I’ll end with Linda’s closing thoughts to Taylor:
Taylor, I could write forever for I have had a front row seat watching you grow up. You showed me the joy there is in celebrating the moment and having fun just for the sake of savoring the day. There is freedom in not worrying what others think, or what tomorrow may bring or what society may view as important. There is love in holding hands, being together and sharing secrets. There is peace in simply embracing the art of living.
I knew freedom, joy and love before my friendship with you began. You taught me that they can come at unexpected times from unexpected places. Perhaps that is life’s greatest lesson.
Respectfully submitted,
VP of Mischief
Linda Love Talmadge
