* * In Memoriam * *

[SharMarali]

I know that, generally speaking, we like to keep things lighthearted and fun here, but I have a few things I want to say.

As many of you know, Tayko passed away on October 15, 2003. Her sister just informed us of this last night, November 6th. I respect her sister's decision to wait as long as she did. She didn't want to be the one to tell us that our friend was gone.

Tayko was my very first friend in FFXI. Unless I'm terribly mistaken, I believe I was hers as well. We used to fight together, beginning around level 6-7. We got our support jobs on the same day (then both proceeded to make perfectly idiotic choices for our support jobs - she became a THF/BLM and I became a RDM/WAR) and leveled those together as well.

Tayko began playing as a Thief, then later moved on to become a level 39 Dragoon, before ultimately giving that up as well and becoming a level 64 Red Mage.

She was stricken with leukemia when she was a child. With treatment, the disease went into remission. Then, when Tayko was 16, she became ill again. She lived to see her 17th birthday before her worst fears were confirmed, that the cancer had returned. Tayko told me this the same night we got our Eldiemme AF coffer keys together, a few days before she informed the rest of the linkshell that she would be going to the hospital for a week to have a complete blood transfusion.

It appeared that she was going to recover for a while, but ultimately Tayko lost her battle with cancer.

Although we had our differences at times, and although she had major differences with one of my very good friends on Ramuh, Tayko was a good-hearted person.

I know there are surely people of many different faiths on FFXIonline.com, but I believe that Tayko will live again and bring happiness to those around her. I believe that where she is going, will become a better place for her being a part of it. Whatever you believe, please know that I am richer for having known her.

I also want to share with everyone this link:
http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/sho...?threadid=8384

which happens to be one of my happiest/funniest memories of playing this game with Tayko. Nobody could find a Bull Dhalmel quite like her. ^^

My heart and thoughts are with her brother Travis, her sister Ria, and the rest of her family and friends.

Goodbye Tayko.

[StarvingArtist]

While I may not have gotton to know Tay as well as some others, I still offer my sincerest condolences to her family and friends. We had our moments too, like clearing out stuff in Gusgen Mines while looking for Mithra race gear. Us cats gotta stick together~

She will be greatly missed..

/salute

[Orko]

This came as a bit of a shock to me... I didn't know much about Tayko's condition before reading this... Tayko was a cool mithra and was always welcome in IMT. I may not have spent a lot of time with her, but the time that was spent was spent well.

We'll miss you, Tayko~
/salute

[Shadosaber]

I didn't know tayko very well but I would like to thing she was my friend. Right before she went into the hospital when I was trying to do my RSE she helped me one day, but the race week had ended. She told me that she would help me the next time if she had time. When I heard the news, I started crying. and I couldn't stop for hours. In fact just going over this and writing this post has me crying again. I still don't have my RSE shirt but when I go get it. I will have to dedicate some time to getting it in rememberance of Tayko.
I've had trouble making real friends my entier life. When I was little my family move away from where I was born to Arizona. I think that somewhere in my mind, I spited my parents for making me leave my friends back there. And it ended up causing many many problem in my life. but when I become determined to do something, nothing can hold me back. When I decided to play FFXI I wanted to do it alone. I was visiting this site as I waited for my game to arrive. Trying to learn all that I need to learn to play the game. It wasn't enough. After days of frustration dieing as a WHM at lvl 8. Seeming to have countless Japanese players /tell me for no reason at all. Just so I could tell them I didn't speak japanese even though I can speak it a little. I had enough money to go buy something. so I bought the armor to play a WAR. But even that only got me so far without anyone to talk to in english. So I decided to ask and see if IMT would take me. It was a happy day when Estya and Ork came to Bastok to give me my pearl. Estya I think was the first english user I met in the game through /tell. The next was Triel who was around the same lvl as me at the time.

After 8 monthes of playing a war, I give it up but not entirely, I still want to get it to 60, because I am jellious of Wingwing's DRG and how powerfull it is. I didn't want to play a DRG at first because there were so many of them in IMT. But I am having fun playing one now. I finally have a clear direction in my mind what I want to do in FFXI. DRG/THF/NIN. I think my reflection on the past after I heard the news helped me finally decide. Tayko is in a better place now. And someday I will meet her in that place. But now it is time to have fun and be with those who are still here. I've been scared of the thought of actaully meeting with the other IMT member if the chance arose. But now... I think I want to meet you all 100%.

I will miss you Tayko, but someday we will meet again

firesped / WAR 53. THF 27, DRG 25, DRK 20, NIN 16, MNK 16, SAM 15, WHM 11, BLM 10, BRD 10, SMN 8, BST 6, RNG 4, RDM 2, PLD 2
I'm either way too confused or I have way too much time on my hands.

[Lucrus]

I read what you all say. And it makes me cry. Last night I had a few words with Chingching and what he said made me cry very hard, for hours. I cried my self to sleep but not of sadness; happiness. I guess I just want to say thank you all. I didn't know her friends thought of her so nicely it really makes me happy to know that. Tay was good at having differences and being angry w. But also very good at being happy no matter what.. I don't mean to offend anyone but Tay never believed in god or life after death. I don't believe in god or life after death. But I think is was for the best.......
"Everyday is a day to enjoy no matter what as long as the sun still shines and the night sky shines with stars. I want to see tomorrow. -Tay"
I like to remember that everytime I think my life is dull or pointless.
-Ria

You meet many people in your lifetime but few you can call best friends. Tayko was not my real sister, she and I were adopted. (lazy parents hohoho) But without there choice to do so I would have never met such a wonderful person I could call "my sister" You are all very cool people i'm glad she had friends like you. Your words mean alot thank you. (hoho BTW don't forget Tayko was not a cat Estya.. Half-Cat hohohoho! Somethings you never forget )
-Travis

Tayko Viola Acore; May 8th 1986 to October 15th 2003.
RIP

[Rishu]

I didn't know Tayko that really well.

We had some fun together on some quests and missions, but just to disappear from existance really makes me sad.

It's just weird. Someone you know, just gone..... Kinda like an emptiness has filled you up somewhere.

My sincerest condolences to her family and friends.

Miss you forever.

Rishu

[Osaka]

Of the unfortunate~

Im not sure what to say. I really dont remember when I met Tayko, but I felt that a few weeks before she had to go in for the transfusion we really started to connect as friends. Of all the people I have met on Ramuh there are a few that I always look for when I log on. Taytay was one of them. I loved to just chat with her about stupid FFXI stuff and I think I made her angry with me once because I got raised by a japanese player right before she was going to raise me. She always talked highly about her brother and how she wanted to be like him. I always loved to just talk to her, but now...

Ive only lost two people in my life, Taytay being one of them, and I'm very sad that I've never really gotten to know either of them. I will sorely miss Taytay and she will always have a place in my heart~


::~ I have more to say but there are no words ~::

[ZeroRadius]

I wish I could of known her but sadly I was not an importer. I wish you guys all the best and may her spirit rest in peace.

[stoicism99]

I haven't posted anything because I am not sure what to say that hasn't already been said.

I will not forget the endless minutes of hilarity we would have as I would try to step on her tail and she would /fume and /poke me.

PTing with her in Valk and her helping me learn the game.

I will miss her strong will and her spirit.