By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
It was early December of last year. I was getting into my car, rushing to my next appointment, when I noticed I had a voicemail. It was from Rick Taylor. He’d occasionally give me a call to let me know that he just finished reading the newest issue of All Around Pennsauken and shared with me how much he enjoyed it. Seeing I just missed it, I gave him a quick call back. It was a brief call, but it was very good to hear his voice. He reiterated his message. I thanked him for his kind words and let him know that coming from him, it was high praise. I told him that his thoughtfulness meant a lot to me.
It would be the last time we talked before his passing.
I’ve been thinking about that phone call a lot in the past few weeks. Rick Taylor touched so many lives during his time here on Earth. The fact that he thought enough to give me a call, brief as it might have been, even with all he was going through, speaks volumes about the man. I was lucky; and I wasn’t the only one. Rick had a knack of making the people in his life, whether longtime friends or people he just met, feel that way. He valued relationships and respected folks from all different walks of life.
It also makes you realize that we need to savor the little moments in our lives. That quick call was sandwiched in between meetings and deadlines and schedule changes. But in the back of my mind, I knew it was important to return Rick’s call, or I may not have gotten another chance. Our lives can be whirlwinds that spin us from moment to moment; it almost seems impossible to take a second and really appreciate where you are and who you’re with. It’s at those times when you need to stop and do just that. There are some things that just aren’t worth the price of missing them.
From talking with people who were close to Rick, I have a nagging suspicion that there was a little more to that phone call; and that I wasn’t the only one. I believe he reached out so that we all would have one, last memory with him that we could hold onto. It was a way for him to say goodbye. And I, like so many people touched by Rick, are grateful for the moment. So on behalf of everyone here at All Around Pennsauken, our publisher, designer, and editorial contributors, we once again offer our sincerest condolences to the Taylor family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bernice, Holly, and Scott. On a more personal note, I believe that where Rick has gone, there are many dwelling places. We will meet again. Until then, I’ll have one very special phone call that I’ll cherish for the days in between.
