“Son, I’m going to give you a word of advice. Sell your house while you are still young, and go and travel the world!” These are the wise words of William Taylor as he devours a tuna sandwich at the dining hall at the Breakers Residential Community, off Ocean Boulevard.
Taylor, who just turned 91, is an adventurer at heart. The day after his birthday, he went down to the DMV and passed his driver’s test with ease.
Born in Ohio in 1918, Taylor moved to Long Beach in 1924 when his father took a job in the local oil fields. Growing up in Long Beach, he recalls how he narrowly survived the 1933 earthquake. “I didn’t even know I was injured until the Red Cross showed up and pointed out the blood on my pants.”
Taylor dodged death again some years later when he was stationed in Honolulu during the Pearl Harbor strike, but fortunately his ship was assigned away from the chaos.
Having recently returned from a trip to Germany, Taylor is preparing for a trip to Ireland in a couple weeks. At his ripe age, he continues to choose to travel alone—like his recent flight to San Francisco, where he walked across the Golden Gate Bridge to commemorate turning 91. // DENNIS PUNCHES
Brian Russell Says:
Terrific post! Great to hear him so active and healthy at age 91!