From Matty Elder
Reflecting back on our formative years instills me with great confidence that cancer is simply no match for my sister. It's an unfair fight every day of the week. Taryn is extremely strong, brave, defiant, bullish, and maybe even a little bit cray cray! And upon further reflection in penning this memory, perhaps both of us are.
The year was circa ~2002. Mum and dad were out for the night and we'd been left to our devices and survival skills. It was a good 12-18 months before my culinary skills had taken off so my range in the kitchen was quite limited. I had an ever-reliable can of baked beans and two slices of bread (toast cut) waiting for me in the pantry. After returning from a hard day at the skatepark, I was flabbergasted to find the baked beans were missing.
I enquired with my dearest sibling, Taryn, who defiantly and smugly informed me that the baked beans were gone and that she enjoyed them only 30 minutes prior to my arrival home. In the heat of the moment, I can't recall the exact words and profanities that were exchanged. However, it's safe to say we both saw red. What started as a heated verbal exchange, quickly escalated towards physical pushing, slapping and pulling.
Before long, the alternation had spilled into the entry foyer and onto the staircase. Punches were thrown by both parties before each individual realised they needed to fight creatively. Fight dirty. The next series of blows involved a kick to the chest (Taz to Matt), a punch to bossom (Matt to Taz), before one almighty giant kick to the crown jewels (Taz to Matt, obviously).
At this stage it was clear the fight was not a fair one and Matt retreated to the kitchen, pulling out a large kitchen knife, before the stoush was broken up by gleeful observer turned mediator Justin Bullen.
Neither of us regret our actions that evening, knowing that they inevitably made us stronger.
I know deep down (and as recent IVF sperm testing will confirm), if Taz can kick cancer in the balls, half as hard as she hit me that night, the cancer doesn't stand a chance!!
It's not a fair fight. Taz will be victorious!
Going through some family photos recently and seeing the uncanny resemblance between toddler Taz and Olive (Taz’s niece)! If Taz was my brother, some serious suspicions would be raised
