Celebrating 40 Years

Although it's a little late, I'd like to take a some time to brag about my dad, Phil Taylor. In May, he celebrated his 40th year as an employee of Marian Inc! He started working there in the factory as a college student and over time has worked his way up to vice-president of sales!!

During their annual company dinner in May, the whole family surprised him by showing up to celebrate this major occasion! The president of the company, Bill Witchger had a few things up his sleeve including a trivia competition between Dad and Dave Hurrle, a long time family friend and another a 40 year employee at Marian!! In the end they were both given die cast trophies marking their anniversary and were welcomed into the "Old Timer's Club."

Dad, I know you don't like to be in the spotlight but you deserve some recognition. I am so proud of you and all your hard work! Thank you for providing for the family and for providing a secondary "Marian" family for us as well. We are so lucky to have a dedicated dad like you!!

Love you!!

The whole family was there to celebrate with Dad!!

The current members of the Old Timer's Club, Al Leighton and Joe Carol,

wait to welcome Dad and Dave into the club.

They are showing off some company products too.

Bill grills Dad with another Marian trivia question.

Dave and Dad show off their die cast trophies with Bill.

Congrats guys!! We are so proud!

Congrats Runners!!

The 34th annual running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (more fondly referred to as the Indy Mini) took place on Saturday, May 8th in downtown Indianapolis. Among the 35,000 registered runners were some of our family members and close friends! Even the non-running Taylors couldn't be left out of the action despite the frigid temps and brisk wind. Mom, Dad, Katie, Julie and I walked along the White River and the race route to watch for our favorite runners!

The Indy Mini is the largest half-marathon and the 6th largest running event in the US (according to their website) so finding our runners was proving to be difficult!!

But we found many of the people we were cheering for!! First we saw brother-in-law Kevin Koke!! He was in the head of the pack and striving for a new personal best! It's a good thing he wore his bright yellow jersey because if not, we would have missed him in a blurr as he sprinted by! Congrats Kevin on finishing in 1 hour, 25 minutes, 27 seconds (according the website.)

Katie, Julie and I waiting behind an electrical box along the race route for our sisters Laura and Catherine who were sure to run by any minute!! It was pretty chilly if you weren't running!

Sure enough, Laura and Catherine ran down White River Parkway on their way to the finish line with Dave, their number 1 cheerleader in tow. When this picture was taken they had run over 10 miles and had less than 3 to go. Don't they look great?!?! They finished in 2 hours 9 minues and 8 seconds. This was Catherine's first half-marathon but I have a feeling, she will be training for more after this experience! Congrats on your first of many races, Catherine!!

In addition to Kevin, Laura, and Catherine, our friends Christie Wise and her father Brian Wise, Matt Branic, Tom Martin, Stacy DesJean, Andy Jones, and many many others ran and finished the Mini. Congrats to all on your accomplishments!!

What is HOME to you?

When preparing to return to Indiana this past April, several people here in Okinawa asked, "Where are you going?" My answer was naturally, "I'm going home!" But upon arriving in Indy, people asked, "Where is Mike?" Again, my answer was, "He's at home." Even when talking to strangers during my many trips (as I have been known to do), the question, "Where is home?" usually comes up. My answer is not always that simple. Do you mean, Where do I live currently? Where is my stuff being housed? Or where have I spent the most time? All of this made me think about what it takes to make a "home" and what it means to be "home."

Initially, I thought "home" had to be a physical location. Naturally I considered it to be Indianapolis. This is the place where I grew up and the city where I have spent most of my time. I went to high school, graduate school, and got married here. My parents, my 4 living grandparents, all 4 siblings, their spouses, and a multitude of extended family are all located within the city's boundaries. In addition most of my closest friends have now returned "home" to Indy. I know my way around. I feel comfortable there. But when it comes down to it, I don't feel that I am meant to be in Indianapolis right now. So "home" can't be a city.

Maybe "home" is a region. I do love the Midwest where people are down to earth, welcoming, and wholesome! It includes Cincinnati, Maysville, and Dayton where Mike's family lives as well as Lake Monroe and Brown County, Indiana where my parents have a condo and we enjoy hiking the beautiful countryside. In addition, the midwest holds South Bend, IN, where St. Mary's College is located. When I arrived in South Bend for Mallory's college graduation in May (more details to come) I instantly felt "at home." This was a place where I learned so much about myself and grew exponentially. But still, I feel like this in NOT where I am supposed to be at this point in my life!

So, maybe "home" isn't a location at all! I really miss the people from Indy and the Midwest more than the physical location. It's the friends and family that keep me coming back! But to be honest, the longer I was away from Okinawa and more specifically, Mike and Rusty, I realized that my home is not a city, a region or even a country. It is not a place where I keep my stuff, where I have spent the most time, or even where I am the most familiar with the surroundings! My "home" is with Mike. It is with him that I feel that I belong. I have felt this with all three locations that we have lived, and it is comforting to know that with each move, "home" will follow!

So, even though I don't have a job here in Okinawa and my family and friends are far away, I feel that I am meant to be here. Hopefully my specific purpose will show itself soon, but in the mean time, I am happy just knowing the I am where I should be.

One Long Trip

Hello family and friends!

I am so sorry for abandoning the blog for so long. These past several weeks have been filled with planes, trains, and automobiles, friends, family, and feasting, graduations, congratulations, celebrations and frustrations. To try to sum up my last 6 weeks in one post would just be silly. So over the next week, I will post some of the highlights of my trip along with pictures and comments, of course! Please be patient because there is much to share!!