Taylor in Monet's Garden

Nearly 20 years ago now, Taylor and I traveled to France. While there, we spent most of our time in Paris, but took a day trip out to Giverny, by train, to visit Monet’s beautiful home and gardens. We had an interesting train ride back to the city; apparently the train had a mechanical breakdown of sorts, and we just sat on the tracks for about 45 minutes while the troubleshooting transpired. Well now we got to meet our “neighbors,” a young American family (so language wasn’t an issue) was sitting adjacent to us; it was time to meet 2-year-old Lucia, pictured below. As most toddlers do, she soon had figured out that Taylor was the big kid here, even though he was the size of an average adult, as young teenage boys can be.

She started by ‘performing’ close to her parents but continued with ‘moves’ that brought her just a bit closer to Taylor, as she became less shy. Next, she did some toddler dance ‘twirls’ in the aisle. As she moved closer to our seats, the sun hit her eyes at a slant from the side windows; this had her dramatically leaning her head back, squinting her eyes, fluttering her lashes and exclaiming, “Unny, unny!” Then she went and stole her mother’s sunglasses and strutted around modeling them, even though they would not stay on her face! She progressed to attempting to climb up onto Taylor’s lap. This was a step too far for her father; he was obviously very embarrassed at this point! He jumped up, grabbed Lucia and threw her over his shoulder and quickly proceeded down the aisle, towards the next car. Lucia was now kicking and screaming and yelling, “I want my Tay-your! I want my Tay-your!” Her little lungs were able to shout this so loudly that we could hear her as the doors between cars opened and then slammed shut. Maybe Dad was able to distract her in the meal car…

Lucia means "light"

I certainly am no 2-year-old, but am I not also entitled to a tantrum? I think yes...

I want my Taylor !!!

Over the past five years, we have received so many letters from all of you, his friends and colleagues who also want their Taylor back. The common (not actually common at all) themes mentioned in nearly each note are that Taylor was so kind and caring, extremely bright and creative, multi-faceted in his talents and interests, an exceptional listener and a devoted friend.

Apparently, we ALL want our Taylor♥️

~ I wrote the text below in 2021, but left it intact here for those who haven't yet seen it ~

Taylor Horn

our...

constant explorer

brilliant star

eternal inspiration

compassionate friend

remarkable academic

peace-maker &

beloved son!

As 9/11 approaches again, I am attempting to design this new website in my beautiful son's honor, as that day in 2001 played a major role in my son's young life. The events of that tragic day steered him down a path full of world politics, cultural exchanges, diplomacy and conflict resolution.

In middle school, he won the National Geographic Bee for the State of Vermont and was granted a free trip to Washington DC; he is pictured here with our Vermont Delegation. Subsequently, he was chosen by the School for International Training to participate in a US State Department program that brought Iraqi youth to Brattleboro, Vermont for a cross-cultural exchange; this led him to want to study Arabic.

Left to Right: Bernie Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Taylor (the VT Geo Bee winner), and Peter Welch just steps away from the Capitol

Practicing his Arabic

Thus, he left for college early (at age 15), in order to further his Mandarin studies, and begin his Arabic coursework. By the end of his sophomore year, he had completed many classes in history, languages, politics, international relations and economics. He was honored with the "Most Outstanding Student in Social Studies" award, and given an honorary tome inscribed by one of his professors.

He spent the summer of 2010 on a Where There Be Dragons program exploring Jordan, including visiting a Palestinian refugee camp, and Syria, even steering the group's itinerary so that he could visit a young woman he had met in the US but who lived in Aleppo.

2010 Syria

The summer of 2011 took him to an internship at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, and hiking in the Alps.

Taylor at a Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

Fall of 2011 had Taylor deciding he wished to double major and add Theater Arts to his curriculum. Therefore, early 2012 found him studying at NTI (National Theater Institute), located at The O'Neill in Connecticut. This entire semester was a "theater intensive" which included: acting, voice and speech classes, dance instruction, general stage movement and even stage combat! Essentially all things theater for 15 hours a day, with barely enough time left for eating and sleeping. This program also included a 2-week trip to the St. Petersburg State Theater Arts Academy, in Russia.

He then worked for the Obama campaign throughout the hot summer of 2012 in Pittsburgh. He proceeded to graduate summa cum laude with his majors in both International Relations and Theater from Bard College at Simon’s Rock in 2013, exactly one week BEFORE his older brother...he was proud (and competitive)!

Outside his Pittsburgh campaign office

He went on that same year to Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School of Public Policy; the first year of this program, he studied in Pittsburgh and the second year took him to Washington, DC. He was awarded his Master of Science in Public Policy and Management degree, with highest distinction, in 2015, at age 21.

CMU's H. John Heinz III College

Public Policy Class of 2015

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