An non-poetical ode (!) to Tara

I realise I have not blogged in a while, not because I have forgotten, but because I had something running around in my head that I was trying to make sense of. It was around the theme of tolerance and the many ways we use the word; promote it and demise it in the same instance (maybe some other time). All that came to an end this morning when I found out that my cousin had died, so please excuse me while I write a little cyber tribute that no-one may wish to read, yet may leave a permanent mark.
Tara never moaned, never complained, never outwardly craved another life or situation. She was born with spin bifida and was given less than a year to live. Tara spent the whole of her 40 years in a wheel-chair, throughout her life she was a medical miracle; a hole in her back that went through to the spine; numerous operations; loss of internal organs; amputation of a leg; blood poisoning; weekly dialysis and many more things that I either have forgotten, or did not know. As you can see Tara had more to cope with in life than others, yet she was the one who taught people how to live life. Nothing was ever out of bounds; her numerous trips to the nations cricket grounds; winning the dancing competition at Pontins on a family holiday (she could move in that wheelchair); retiring from her sports club because she won everything and it was getting boring; being friends with some very famous cricketers, and not being afraid to tell them what she thought; living in her own flat and watching lots of sports (if you could call watching Liverpool (her favourite team) sports!). Throughout her life she always was more concerned for others than she was for herself (I understand she was giving relationship counselling to one of the nurses towards the end!) and even in the final hours, her concern was for the family as she came to peace with what was about to happen. Families are funny, you don’t see each other as much as you should, and it is times like this that you regret it, but I suppose like good friends you always pick up where you left off and knew that in times of difficulty then the Penny’s; Parkman’s and Murphy’s would always be there. Sadly, there won’t be that opportunity with Tara, but I know the family will support each other. Today is a dark and sad day for those who knew and loved Tara we have lost someone special, and for those who never knew her, you missed someone special. She will live on though in the hearts and minds of those who loved her. Tara taught the world that nothing can get in the way of living. Will miss you x