Woman: WOMAN IS MOTHER AND LIKE NO OTHER

In Loving Memory
Laine Nicolls

Ode To Laine, My Friend

"In all the years I have known Laine Nicholls, her greatest moment, in my opinion, was the day she coordinated a fashion show with such grace and elegance. Her professional demeanor and sincerity were reflected as each model gracefully displayed original designs sewn by Laine Nicholls herself. The skirts, tunics and shawls were beautiful, but none surpassed the beauty and radiance of Laine as she displayed her natural gifts and talents to the success of all concerned. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I celebrated my friend’s personal growth and success. I was so proud of her, and wished her family had been there to see her."

Patricia Carroll, 1/10/98

It was in the summer of '86 that I first met Laine Nicholls. We were all to meet at a seminar. I was already late for the workshop and as I got out of the car in the hotel parking lot, I heard the sudden squeal of tires and brakes. This small Toyota had not stopped fast enough, however, and it managed to come to a halt on top of a cement parking barrier. The car door flew open and suddenly a mane of flaming red hair and a pair of piercing brown eyes peeked out from beneath the door. She searched for where her tires rested to see if there was any damage done. Assured that all was well, it was only then that she caught me staring at her. Quickly, her head came up and her eyes shone the most amazing smile.

"Hi," she said, "I think we're late", and we laughed at her parking prowess.

Thus began my beautiful friendship with Laine Nicholls.

There were so many things that I admired about Laine. She had an almost mystical impact on me. I think though that it was her courage and unstoppable search for truth that moved me the most. She would almost never let me get away with hiding from any of my responsibilities and would usually find a gentle way to deliver her truths to me. From anyone else I would have found it almost impossible to accept but from Laine it was always delivered with love and caring.

In those early years, she almost never let her doubts show. And even though I would sometimes let mine slip, she'd gently find an alternative way to look at an issue I would be currently wrestling with.

I always cherished the long talks we would have as we traveled many times together to Friendship Village. Her story telling capabilities would keep me enchanted and I would keep her talking for hours on end.

She was quite the artist as well with her sewing and pillow making. She would amaze me with her meticulous attention to detail. It was a trait that I myself had but I did not have the patience usually to see my creations to completion.

It was her poetry though that surprised me the most. She didn't share her poetry with too many people so I always felt privileged when she would share one with me. One in particular will always come to mind when I think of Laine. It was a poem about her earlier life and times with her family. In it she wrote about each member of her family, joyfully detailing events and times with such a surprisingly delightful turn of phrase. It was clear to me that her love for her family went way beyond those sibling squabbles common to all families.

This was the Laine that I would go to when I needed clarity and advice. Even when greater distances kept us apart for a while, I would many times, find myself talking to her in my dreams. She would always be telling me things were alright. She would always hold me in her arms when I cried my tears of pain. And she would always be the one to gently show me my way home again.

I still dream of her when I need her.

You are greatly missed little one, and you will always be in this one's heart.

Eda Heichota

Tributes

True Love In The Fire

Teen Parenting in the 90's

Talking to the Trees

YS was activated in Ohio in 1985.