A light to heaven.
In the darkest of tragedies, sometimes beautiful things are created. Bob and Linda Taylor did just that 23 years ago with the Christmas House in Glen Cove. Recently Bob & Linda announced this would be their final year.
(KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco video story on Bob & Linda Smith)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVx6G86vsOI
(Below is their Facebook Page)
https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasHouseGlenCove/
In an interview (link below) with ABC News with Bob, the house on 817 Old Glen Cove Road tells the story. "My daughter was scared to death to fly,” according to the article. “She finally got the nerve up to fly, and she was flying from San Francisco to Little Rock, Arkansas. They were landing in a storm and the plane crashed." Bob's daughter, Debra Taylor-Sattari, tragically was killed that day back in 1999.
"I tell everybody I had to make it bright enough that she could see it from heaven," said Bob.
(Courtesy of ABC News Bay Area YouTube pages story on the Christmas House in Glen Cove)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeEri74ajkg
Christmas had always been Debra's favorite holiday so they decided to do Christmas in a big way to celebrate her life and decorate the outside of the house so she could see the lights in heaven. It has grown to great proportions and was even featured nationally on the popular Christmas Lights Fight special on ABC in 2014. The Vallejo Times Herald did a feature story on it.
https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2014/12/06/vallejo-mans-holiday-lights-find-national-tv-spotlight/
With Bob and Linda now being in their 80s, it’s become too difficult for them to do the immense work needed to put on the display, so New Year's Eve of this year will be the final day the display is up.
I was lucky enough to live in Glen Cove for 10 years and talked to Bob and Linda a few times. You couldn’t wipe the smile off their faces when you saw them with so much joy spread by their amazing work. Bob explained it took 3 months to build and two months to break down and even with lots of help from volunteers and the fire department, they say they no longer can do it. With so many Americans now paying construction crews or creating high-tech musical light shows, it’s refreshing to see a display so pure and fun with so much joy and love with something that everyone can relate to.
From toys for tots drives, a life size hugging bear, free candy canes, to having Santa himself, they put out all the stops for everyone to enjoy.
Earlier this week, Bob and Linda were met by Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell and other dignitaries who shared congratulations by honoring the couple with a certification of appreciation and enough kind words to leave the hosts in tears.
In a story by the Marin Independent Journal, Bob humbly accepted the award. “I’m thanking all of you from the bottom of my heart. All of our hard work would be worth nothing if you didn’t come out here to enjoy this over the years. So thank you.”
(Marin Independent Journal story link)
https://www.marinij.com/2022/12/19/bob-and-linda-taylor-recognized-for-iconic-christmas-house/
The house will be lit up for the last time on December 31st and the display will be parted out and sold. And even though the lights will be dim, the spirit of Bob, Linda & Debra will burn bright in the great memories and joy that they shared with so many.
A light to heaven.
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