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Show Local family reunited By Jay Wamsley There have been a lot of "firsts" happening around the Noel Taylor household lately, and everyone was sorry to see them end. It all started over 20 years ago when Mrs. Taylor, Winifred, left her native Scotland to come to Utah. This past month marked the first time in 21 years Mrs. Taylor has seen her mother. It's the first time grandma, Mrs. Margaret Annan, has seen her three grandchildren. It also was the first time the retired shop clerk has been able to visit America. Ilasn'tchanged "She hasn't changed a bit," Mrs. Annan said of her now-American daughter. "She almost looks younger. She must have a wonderful family." "It's the American air," Mrs. Taylor retorts. "And I had forgotten my mother was so short," Mrs. Taylor said, to which her mother replies, "Good things come in small packages." Mrs. Annan now lives in Rugby, Warwickshire, in east central England. Previous to that she lived in London where she worked at Harrod's the biggest department store in the capital city. In fact, Mrs. Annon, reported, it was the store noted for its most famous customers--the Royal r amily. Her husband, not able to make the trip, is a metal cutter in a General Electric Corporation factory. He missed a lot sightseeing. First foot long "I saw where they make the cowboys movies," Mrs. Annan said in her delightful Scottish-mixed with Cockney-with a touch of Midlands-accent Midlands-accent as she began her list of firsts. "And I rode a horse for the first time, had my first 'foot long,' first corn on the cob, and first squash. "And I had my first root beer, first sourdough bread, and my first T-bone steak. I tried my best to eat it all, but couldn't." Grandma also said she had some pizza during her visit-"But I didn't like picking it up with my hands. I used a knife and fork." Other highlights of the visit, extending ex-tending from the 10th of May until June 1, were a visit to the National Parks nearby, to Las Vegas and to Salt Lake City. Loved Salt Lake "We saw the Salt Lake Temple," Mrs. Annan , not a member of the LDS faith, said. "Salt Lake was a very beautiful city, a beautiful place for flowers. That is the place I would like to live." (continued on page 3) ( ) I '-I I ! El 1 I I21YEARS. Mrs. Winifred Taylor, center, was reunited this past month with her mother, as she arrived for some sightseeing from England. Mrs. Annan, left, had never seen granddaughter grand-daughter Stacey, right. Happy reunion s I (continued from page 1) I Mrs. Annan also said the drive through smaller southern Utah communities com-munities such as Toquerville and Rock-ville Rock-ville was very pleasant. And nobody back in Rugby will believe, Mrs. Annan said, that she fed chipmunks at Bryce Canyon who were 1 begging for goodies. "I wished I would have had a camera. I couldn't believe it." Another humorous moment in the families travels, Mrs. Taylor said, was visit to an ice cream store, one that features a vast array of flavors. In England, she notes, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are basically the only flavors available. When given the many choices, what flavor did grandma choose? Right. Strawberry. Sorry to go And the family will be sad, needless to say, to see grandma go. "Sure hasn't seemed like three weeks," thegrand-children thegrand-children said, "We are sure going to miss her." Mrs. Annan said she has been impressed im-pressed with the friendliness of people locally. But, her daughter revealed, grandma is a very open, outgoing, friendly person herself. "I dropped her off at South Main Square to do a bit of shopping," Mrs. Taylor said, "and when I returned I couldn't find her anywhere. A while later we found her entering the parking lot-- she said she had taken a 'wee walk.' " The "wee walk", Mrs. Taylor said, "turned out to be down to the Town and Country and back again. "But I'm used to walking," Mrs. Anna said. "Not everyone has a car in England like they do here.' Other differences noted during the recent visit by Mrs. Annan were: clothes are less expensive in England, no "prams" here, nobody eats like the Americans, no pavement in some parts of town to facilitate walking and, of course, the money takes a little getting used to. One of the main reasons the visit was tied into this time of year was so Mrs. Annan could see her grandson, Doni, graduate from Cedar High School. "It's quite an experience to see your 17 year-old six foot-three son kiss your four-foot-ten mother for the first time," Mrs. Taylor stated. |