On Friday, August 9th, my wife, Veronica and I had to do something that no Godparents should ever have to do. We were at a service and Celebration of Life for our Goddaughter, Tara Cziko Strek, who left this life unexpectedly at the age of 49.
She left behind a wonderful husband, Peter, and two remarkable children, Conner and Morgan. Peter asked me to say a few words at the service. Here they are:
My wife, Veronica and I are Tara’s Godparents. We knew that she was special when she was born on my wife’s birthday. We watched her grow into a beautiful woman, become an incredible wife and equally incredible mother. Let’s talk about Tara.
One of her favorite stickers was “Live A Great Story.” What does that mean? This is what it meant to Tara.
Tara made every day count!!! She appreciated every moment and took from those moments everything that she possibly could because she might never be able to experience it again. She fell in love, raised children, and set her sights high. She held her head high because she had every right too. She was a great individual and believed in herself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. She made her life the way that she wanted it. She lived life with absolutely no regrets.
When she went shopping with her children, they would not let her procrastinate and would say things like, “Just buy the dress. Tomorrow is not promised.” Tara left this reminder for all of us to help us understand that we need to live life every day.
Tara loved to party and loved her cocktails. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She loved her dogs, Remy and Abbie.
She loved the beach. It was evident in all her Facebook posts of where she always wanted to be. Simply put, the acronym B.E.A.C.H. explains Tara’s feelings: Best Escape Anyone Could Have!
She loved and was very good at playing the dice game, Left, Right Center! I must be too old as I had to look up online to see what the game was.
Another of Tara’s likes was the Dr. Seuss book: The Places We Go!
Dr. Seuss said it well:
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
Dr. Seuss also said something else that Tara would want us to know: “Remember me and smile, for it is better to forget than to remember me and cry.”
I think that if Tara could speak to us now, she might say something like this:
Tomorrow when the sun rises without me,
take in a breath of the breeze,
Remember me like the ocean,
and the waters in the seas.
Unlike the ebb and flow of the tide,
the pain of your sorrow stays,
but please don’t cry.
Dry your teared filled eyes,
and know that I’m not far away.
Tomorrow when the sun rises without me,
look to the painted skies,
and keep me in your memory
Like an anchor in the tide.
-Monika Eden Baldwin
© 2024, Herb Segars. All rights reserved.
