Fifty Cups of Coffee #1: Robyn Taylor | Friend of 20 years, marketing and events manager
Date: January 10, 2024
Location: Haven Coffee, 800 NW Murray Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97229
How we know each other
Robyn and I first met almost 20 years ago through the organization I founded, Portland Mamas Inc. (eventually changed to The Power MOB). Back then, she was an entrepreneur, running a video services company. I ran the organization, a PR company, and a design/stationery company.
She and I have been dear friends ever since. We’ve watched each other’s kids grow up into capable, amazing young adults. We’ve been there for each other through career changes and life changes.
Robyn is my people. I love her, and am 100% biased in writing this article. She is amazing, and everyone would be so lucky to have a Robyn in their life!
What Robyn is doing now
Robyn currently is the marketing and events manager for the Jewish Family and Child Service in Portland, Oregon. She’s the mom of two 20-something daughters, a devoted daughter, and forever friend.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?
“I think people know me as being very organized and the caretaker, but what people might not know is I’m actually fun, spontaneous, and adventurous. I’m always up for an adventure! If you had something come up at the last minute, I’ll be there. I love to try new things. I used to skydive!”
“I never go to bed before midnight. It’s a holdover from my theatre days. I spent much of my life in my theater as a stage manager and traveled around the world. I still have those theatre tendencies – and the adventurous tendencies.”
Robyn and I first met almost 20 years ago through the organization I founded, Portland Mamas Inc. (eventually changed to The Power MOB). Back then, she was an entrepreneur, running a video services company. I ran the organization, a PR company, and a design/stationery company.
She and I have been dear friends ever since. We’ve watched each other’s kids grow up into capable, amazing young adults. We’ve been there for each other through career changes and life changes.
What is your deepest fear?
“Honestly, my deepest fear is the phone call. It’s the fear of getting a call about my parents or my kids. What if something’s happened? What if they’re not safe or they’re hurt? It’s the fear of when the phone rings, what’s going to be on the other end of the line? I think those of us in the sandwich generation – where a lot of us are taking care of or starting to worry about our parents and (doing the same) for our kids. Living in this world between both… it’s a roller coaster.”
If you had unlimited funds, what would you do with your life?
“I’d love to be able to fly to see my parents anytime, and to see my kids anytime. I would love to go there as often as I can, even for a weekend. I would love to go there once a month to spend time with my parents. For me right now it’s traveling to be with my family. I like to spend on experiences over things, and a lot of that is travel, and doing things with other people.”
“Also, I would love to be able to use some of the money to help women who are struggling. People who are in a place where they’re wondering how they’re going to survive and take care of family with what they have. I would give money to people in that space, to give them enough so they can breathe. So they can go out to dinner or pay for every day things without having to worry. The gift of time — what a gift that can be to people.”
Lessons learned
My biggest takeaways from this coffee chat:
- No matter what, at the end of the day, we all share some similar hopes and fears. Worrying about our parents, our family, our kids. We all want our loved ones to be safe, happy, and healthy.
- Women supporting women is always important. Robyn is always there for everyone – she truly is a wonderful friend, and a cheerleader for other women in general. I love her answer about how if she had unlimited funds, she would use some of that to give to other women to help ease the stress and the worries so many of us have. She sees the struggles we all go through, and she always wants to help.
- Experiences over things. Spending time with our loved ones is priceless, and if and when we get the opportunity to spend more time with them, we should jump at the chance.
And, this coffee chat was a reminder that we shouldn’t let too much time pass between seeing our friends. I relished this time with Robyn, just like I love every single time we ever get together. She’s a dear friend whom I admire a great deal, and time with her always makes my day.
But like so many adult friendships, it’s too easy to let months or even years go by without seeing each other. Social media makes us feel like we’ve seen people or like we know what’s going on, but it never tells the full story. And online interactions will never be able to replace the pure joy of spending time catching up, hugging, and laughing with good friends.
Thank you, Robyn! Let’s get together again SOON!
Learn more about Robyn
You can connect with Robyn on LinkedIn, and be sure to visit the Jewish Family and Child Service website for more info on her wonderful work.
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