February 25th, 2008 cancer STOLE a wonderful soul from this world. One of my very good friends, Nola, was taken from us. She was my fellow puck bunny. My fellow 'mom to a boy', my confidant, my rock in my new shaky world of motherhood. She was a relatively new mother too, ahead of me by just about 18 months, but she was a natural. Anytime I had questions, I KNEW Nola would have the right answer. And NEVER in a preachy way, just in her natural loving way suggesting whatever worked for them. Her husband, Rick, was my husband's best friend, so by default, we became very close. We both had boys, we both would enjoy going to the game and watching our men play hockey, and we both felt like we were fumbling our way through new motherhood. Only like I said, she wasn't. She was a pro. Everything from Nola's kitchen was homemade. And by the off chance that you caught her on an "off" day and she used frozen pie crust instead of homemade (the filling would be from scratch), she would apologize for the 'fake' pie. Mostly what I remember about Nola is she LOVED life. She loved the outdoors. She LOVED her son. One weekend, Paul travelled for work and knowing I didn't like being alone, she invited me to come and sleep over. I was newly married and not yet a mother. She had a new baby, but somehow she doted on me making me feel right at home. I felt loved when I was near Nola. I felt all the loves she had too.
February 16th, 2016 cancer STOLE another amazing soul from this world. Nicole Jannis Marchand. I knew her when she was a precocious little girl, and thanks to social media reconnected a few years ago. Nicole is happiness. Nicole is life. Soaking in every moment for all the good and leaving the bad behind. She will never know it, but she saved me. Through various circumstances I had become bitter. My gratitude journal had been growing dust for weeks, no MONTHS. Following her and her journey, transformed me. How could I hold on to my bitterness if she could go through all she was going through with grace, style and a smile on her face?! It wasn't even conscious. All of the sudden I was noticing sunsets, cold ice cream on the chins of my boys, giggles, small arms around my neck, laughter, friends, and the list goes on and on.
Two beautiful souls are in heaven now, watching over us. Nola still guides me as a mother - when I have questions I think, "what would Nola do?" Nicole you will always guide me on my path of living life and taking the good.
Nola, please find Nicole and give her a tour around. She's the new girl with the glowing smile that lights up the room. If you two do find each other, I'm sure you'll be running the place by the time I get there.
I love you both.
#FUCKCANCER
