SEASON’S GREETINGS

Can you believe another year has gone by? What a trip it has been. Some good, and some bad. Let’s get rid of the bad first. I have had 3 major surgeries on my eye this year and am still recovering. The good part is that I have had a fantastic eye surgeon from the USC Dohney Eye Center, one of the best in the nation. Dr. Bhatti has been the best and we have become good friends. The rest of my parts are gradually wearing down, but I feel good.

On the down side my Son-In-Law, Ken Lloyd, Debbie’s husband passed away at Thanksgiving. This has been especially hard on Debbie as she is raising a 13 year old girl and now has very little income to live on.

We sold our big Mac 1955 Firetruck last year and were able to buy a 1997 4 WD Ford Fire Brush Truck. It was getting a little too big to handle for this old guy. We can still use this truck to put out a fire if we had to, and we use it in parades, etc. See the pictures on our website: www.firetruckforfun.com

We had a lot of company this past year with the Murrells staying here several times throughout the year. Our good friend Bill Parrack visited several times and watched our house while we went to Idaho for a week in the spring. Anthony Piscitelli our long time friend from Arizona visited for several days.

I am still working for Azusa Pacific University as a Mentor Instructor for new teachers, helping them as they work toward their State Teaching Credential. Sharry and I attend as many of APU’s home basketball games as possible. This past year at the NAIA National Tournament they lost by one point in the final game by .09 second. Very disappointing having to settle for #2 in the nation.

In the Spring we headed up to the cabin in Idaho where we do our annual clean up for a week. We really love the place as it is so serene and beautiful. We go back in June and stay until Sept. That time of year is when we have a lot of fun. We invite company to come and stay for a week and, as usual, we had many takers. If you would ever like to drop in for a visit, feel free in letting us know.

This coming August will be Sharry and my 25th wedding anniversary. We decided to throw a big barbecue and renew our wedding vows. There will be hay wagon rides for all, as it will be on a big horse ranch that overlooks the water; a beautiful site. This will all take place in N. Idaho near our home on Aug.13, 2011. If you would like to attend, please let us know.

My favorite activity is supporting the best Boxer Dog rescue anywhere. It is called Take Me Home, and their web site is Takemehome.TV. The Boxer Dogs are very special to me as we have two of them, Princess 8 yrs. and Bear 18 months. Bear has just about chewed up everything we have, which is another story. But he is so loving, cute and fun.

Sharry and I have had a fantastic year together, as we always do. She is still busy teaching AP Chemistry at Glendale High. She is truly the love of my life. We do just about everything together. She is such a joy to be around. She constantly lifts me up and keeps me happy. God gave me an Angel.

I am very fortunate in that I get to see my children often. Cathy is still unmarried, except to 4 cats. She is finishing up her teaching credential so she can be a full time teacher to handicapped children. Mindy is happily married to Rick and they live in Spokane Washington with their 3 of their 4 children. Alex is married and finishing up his college degree. Alex, Aaron, Zach, and Carrie are the best grandchildren anyone could ask for. Aaron is in high school and is quite the baseball player. He is planning to play American Legion baseball this summer. Zach is still the ladies man at 10 and Carrie is just too beautiful for her own good. I am very proud of them all. Debbie is now a widow and finding it very difficult. Ken was a good husband and we all loved him.

Well, here we are at Christmas again. We have been invited to the Fire station for Christmas by our good friend and family the Roewarts. It is a real honor for us and we always love celebrating with them and the men at the station.

Probably the most difficult thing for me about being retired, is how much I miss all my past students. It is always a thrill when one or more of them contact me by e-mail or on Facebook. It is very rewarding to me to hear of all their successes. They are still very special to me and I will still do anything to help them. Please continue keeping in touch. I’ll always let you take me out to dinner or lunch.

Lynn Shourds stopped in to visit the other day and we had a wonderful time reminiscing and visiting. I would love to see all of you so don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello.

We are very lucky as we have the best by living in Idaho on a lake in the summer, and here in Pasadena Ca. in the winter. Maybe one of these days I will see you in Idaho at the cabin.

I am available on SKYPE and just LOVE being able to talk face to face online with video calling when you are available online. Skype is free. Just download it from: http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home

It is awesome and is available for Mac & PC. They use it a lot on the News. You can talk to anyone around the world for free. Even without a camera on your computer you can still talk to someone. Check it out! My Skype name is: georgetaylorson

Hope to “see” you!

Princess, Bear, Sharry and I all wish you the best and hope you have a very, very, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

MR. T (GEORGE) AND SHARRY TAYLORSON