Autobiography:  Sharon Taylorson

 

I was born in Syracuse, New York to two wonderful parents and an older brother who was a big time tease.  I grew up in Houghton, NY, a small rural college town.  My high school graduating class was about 90 students and we were together all the way from K-12.  Upon my graduating in 1973, my family moved to sunny Southern California. I went to Rio Hondo College for general education classes and then transferred to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where I majored in Microbiology with a Chemistry minor and got my B.S. in 1979.  I then was accepted at ChildrenÕs Hospital Los Angeles Medical Technology internship program, and after that year I took the State and National Board exams to become licensed as a Clinical Laboratory Medical Technologist.  I was hired at the Clinical Lab in the Microbiology Department where I continued to work for 10 years. 

                        

After this period of time I met my husband, George through our former church, Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene. Our first date included a horseback ride, a swim in the pool, and dinner by BBQ master George. After a conversation filled afternoon and evening, he asked me if I thought I could marry him, and I said YES!  It was five years later that we did actually get married and have now been together for almost 25 years with every year getting only better!  George has been a professional stage and television director along with being a teacher of high school theater arts.  Some of his professional work includes directing two Broadway shows out of New York, the 1976 NBC Bicentennial TV Show, ChildrenÕs Hospital Network Telethons, and recent Tournament of Roses Special Event shows.  He now enjoys working in his Video Editing studio at our home and also loves being the ÒfiremanÓ and driving our 1955 Mack fire engine in parades, and providing it for various events such as kidÕs birthday parties.  

                                 

After being together for almost 10 years, George encouraged me to go back to school to obtain my teaching credential because I had become bored with my work at the hospital, and was admittedly jealous of his weekends and vacations.  My father was a teacher, and that was the last thing I thought I would ever become with my somewhat shy personality, but after being around GeorgeÕs ÒkidsÓ at school I felt like it was the right fit for me.  While continuing to work full time, I went to Cal State LA at night and earned my teaching credential in Chemistry and Life Science in June of 1991.  I was hired in September at Glendale High School, teaching Chemistry and Physical Science. That year I also went back to Cal State LA and in 1993 received an M.A. in Computer Education. In 1999 after several years of teaching Chemistry, I also started teaching AP Chemistry. From my very first year, teaching has been a joy.  I love the students, the interaction, the challenges and I just love Chemistry, which I continuously try to make more accessible and fun.  The year 2005 was my chemistry website inaugural year thanks to all the help and encouragement of Mr. Wigger.  Thank you, Les!

 

Outside of school, one of the things I truly enjoy is going and being involved in our newly formed church, Restored Life Fellowship (www.rlifefellowship.com). A special blessing is rehearsing and singing in our church choir, and being able to hear our incredible pastor each week.  During our free time, my husband and I keep active on ham radio, and we continue to love riding our Appaloosa horses, Dakota and Cochise in Eaton Canyon near our home.  In the past we would take them to the desert on campouts as a part of our involvement with the Southern California Bighorn Sheep Society.  Our other animal ÒkidsÓ are Buddy & Princess, two wonderful boxers we got through Boxer Rescue LA (www.boxer-rescue-la.com).

                  

Through marriage, I have 3 step-daughters who are more like sisters, and so I now also have 5 grandchildren.  The youngest daughter, Mindy and her husband Rick, who is a Pediatric Cardiologist, live in Spokane, WA and have 4 children. They live only an hour from our cabin on Lake Pend OÕReille in northern Idaho where we spend our vacations. 

         

Pictures from 2003 with all 5 grandkids at the cabin (below).

                

Some of the things that keep us busy at the cabin include all kinds of water sports, riding the ATVÕs on the mountain roads, fishing, reading, gardening, hiking in the woods, camera hunting for wildlife, making fresh fruit jams, canning peaches, cooking, and treating our friends and guests to a fun time in Idaho. 

                             

Well, that about does it for now.  Thanks for listening.  Sharry, June 2005