She introduced them- my parents
She met me when I was 8 months old
The oopsie baby who rolled over on her living room floor
I was 4 years old when she became Mom #2
At age 6- I spilled blackberry brandy in her purse
What a sticky mess
Beautiful blue eyes with a dark ring around the edges
She was sassy, smart, articulate, and feisty
5’ 2” who didn’t take crap
From anybody
Watching Dad and her dance was a thing of beauty
They loved to dance, they loved to laugh
They were always touching- connected in a way I’ve never seen
Every Sunday I woke to coffee & chocolate chip cookies
She was foxy, those hips in her turquoise bikini turned heads
Cherry Monte Carlo with a T-top- our hair blowing in the wind
We would sing like pop stars to Barry Manilow & Neil Diamond
She gave wise council
Shared life experiences
Had more energy than my Puerto Rican friends
She was fierce, she was fun
She let me drink wine on special and not so special occasions
Taylor Pink Catawba
Oh the parties, the friendships, the jokes
Laughter, always laughter
Everyone loved Hal & Ardena
They never judged
They always would lend a hand
An ear, a hug, a drink
They worked hard, they played hard, and they loved hard
Embraced all
Their home was a place of calm, freedom, honesty
She was an amazing cook- her Italian- AYYYYY
Her idea of fast food was a bucket of KFC
Pool parties
Cherry chocolate chip ice-cream out of the bucket- two spoons
She built her own home, yelled at contractors
Stomped her feet and gave them hell
She had three sons; Army Ranger, still born in Scotland, diabetic Scott who is gone
Now with her
She gave her time, her heart, her continuous support
Without pause
Her life experiences helped her to see angles no one else did
Her perspective was unique and different
No one else saw it until she did
Many times she was misunderstood
Her battle, her passions
But EVERYONE admired her grit, her moxy
Her fierce ability to never let go
I loved her, I will miss her, and I will mourn her
I’m grateful she’s pain free
And with the man she truly loved
She’s dancing again
Cutting up a rug- once again, reunited
In each other’s arms
For Ardena B. Taylor (11/17/1939 – 4/20/2018)
strengthdefined 