Thursday, April 30, 2020
Time has gone by. But I just want to express something in me that will never fade. Julie Nichols was such a strong personality in my childhood and still today. A gracious, kind lady so genuine and straight forward. I'd say kind of rare, too. Here's an example. I lived across from her home in the earlier years. My best friend was her son Donald. Loved Dale and Debbie, too. Ralph, her husband, a strongly built man (Donald is even bigger now), had such a great sense of humor and he was so filled with life. Anyway, I was about 9 or so, and I was quite sick with the flu. I had my new interesting collection of comics. Donald and I would trade comics. My mother brought me in a milkshake from the coffee shop, which was great. But later on, in came this box of cookies from Mrs. Nichols. My God, it was too good to be true! I had struck GOLD! Mrs. Nichols made the best cookies in all the land. I swear. Even today at the age of 58, I have never tasted cookies like hers. I think in the Nichols photo albums with me there, I usually was holding a cookie in my hand. Ha ha! But it wasn't just the cookies, of course. For example, I always loved the times when she would gather me and Donald in the car and take us swimming. Simple and perfect times. And the sleep overs at her house were great. Remember the time in the new house at the bottom of Nicholsville Road, when I was awakened by Dale coming in the room. I felt bad because I was sleeping in his bed. Dale saw me but just went over to Donald, who was sound asleep, and carefully removed his glasses. I'll never forget that. Anyway, Julie was definitely a pillar of our community. She was a hockey mom, a friend, a master chef of cookies, and so much more. Ha, also remember the time when my hockey team played the hockey moms, and I was goalie. Damn, a hockey mom put the puck past me. "What the hell!" I said. Ha. Well, but then again, they were big girls compared to us boys. Ha ha. Anyway, love you Julie. Thank you and God bless you. --Eric Young
