Last Thursday my hairdresser began talking about a favorite relative, her grandmother. Everybody most likely has a favorite relative. Mine was my Uncle Buzzy. I don’t know if “Buzzy” was his real name, but it was the only name I ever knew.

For a time, Buzzy was a semi-professional football player. Then he was drafted and because Buzzy was also a photographer, we were told, he taught camera use to soldiers. Out of the service, he opened his own photo studio. Somewhere along the line he met a gal named Dorothy whom he married. Dorothy was gorgeous–a great figure and a beautiful face. Her personality was not soft, but full of smiles. The only problem with Dorothy, said the family in whispers, was that she was “divorced.”

Rules were different in the 1940s and to have one of the Taylor boys marry a divorced women was initially, not quite acceptable. And, furthermore, as time went on, Buzzy and Dorothy had no children. I remember more whispers–(was it his fault or Dorothy’s). No one even thought, back then, that a couple would make a decision NOT to have children.

With no children and a thriving photo studio (Dorothy was the studio’s receptionist), Buzzy had the money for a housemwith a pool so summertime family gatherings were held at Buzzy’s. Buzzy also owned a boat which went fishing with lots of relatives on board. Because Buzzy also had a real live slot machine in his den, he was especially popular with the children. We kids could deposit money and sometimes become winners! (Yours truly is still punching buttons.)

Family holidays were celebrated mostly at my parents’ home, the whole family would come. The highlight was the arrival of Buzzy and Dorothy. Dorothy always wore three-inch heels (none of the other women were as smitten with three-inchers) and she dressed “to the nines” in colors and prints that woke everyone up.

Family members who visited Buzzy’s studio said that more than once, Buzzy and Dorothy had words–- loud words. They argued (the other couples in the family didn’t argue, at least in front of others,) but the Buzzy-Dorothy conflicts didn’t seem to dull the love between them.

And their “kids”? Buzzy and Dorothy owned well-bred and “talented” Basset Hounds. At one time they owned three Basset Hounds which appeared on several years’ holiday cards. Basset Hounds are bred to hunt rabbits and hare, but they typically aren’t known as being “show hounds.” But Buzzy had his ways. The Taylor Basset Hounds competed in dog shows-–all over the country and often won. Buzz had lots of trophies and would send us articles about him. Buzzy even became a coach for the dogs of other owners. He lived in Florida during retirement. One of his customers was Jack Nicklaus and his dog.

Buzzy and Dorothy both died years ago. I have now only their pictures. I loved knowing them both.