Nicole
Happy New Year.
It’s a bit bittersweet for me to say that, as I write to you with sad news.
In 2017, I became friends with Nicole. And today, I got a message from her husband saying she lost her battle to cancer and died on Friday. He wrote, “she liked you a lot.” That means the world to me, because to have her seal of approval, is a damned good feeling. And it makes her passing all the more unbearable. We never know just how much we love someone, until they are gone.
Nicole was Australian, moved to Austria 6 years ago, and among the many things she did, she had a market stand at the Kutschkermarkt in Vienna. She baked healthy, yummy, bread and cakes, and sold them every Saturday on the Kutschkermarkt. She was a professionally trained chef, and knew everything there is to know about health and nutrition.
We became friends over our mutual love of plants and gardening. Whenever I think of her, I see her where she was happiest - surrounded by plants, animals and Mother Nature. She was a very outdoorsy type and in her gentle, kind, caring way, she would laugh at me, the city girl, whenever nature became a little too challenging for me to handle. She would give me a hand if I needed one, or wait patiently for me, letting me do things in my own time.
Nicole lived on her permaculture farm, which she owned together with her Austrian husband. The farm is an hour’s drive out of Wien, so we didn’t get to see eachother as much as I would have liked. And now it’s hard to think that I will not ever be able to spend time with her again. Will never be able to hug her. My time with her was always very special and very precious. Because she was a special, precious person. She was one of these people who really contributed to making the world a better place, not just talked about what needs to be done. She lived sustainably, grew her own vegetables, kept chickens, and sheep on her farm, and together with her husband, they were building their own farm house with their own four hands. It was a huge project which inspired many to live a better life.
“The time to act is now. There are times to learn, times to grow, times to reflect and think……… now we need to put what we know into action.” ~Nicole Caran
One time, when I was visiting her on her farm, she put me to work collecting seeds. After an hour or so, she came to check up on my progress. I asked her if I was doing it right, and she replied with a puzzled look on her face that I was, but wanted to know why I wasn’t wearing gloves. I asked her if I needed gloves. She said no, but it would help against getting my hands scratched on all the thorns. I told her I was fine collecting the seeds bare-handed. She gave me a nod showing that she was very impressed. I felt a bulge of pride that I had impressed outdoorsy Nicole with my seed-collecting style! Me, the city girl, collecting seeds from thorny plants without wearing protective gloves!
Nicole loved hosting friends on her farm and was so much fun to be with; she had a great sense of humour. She was three years younger than me, and one of the few people I could really be relaxed and at ease with, and have good, long, deep talks with. She had a very easy-going, friendly, down-to-earth, no-bullshit personality. She was delicate and strong. And above all else, she was beautiful, both on the inside and on the outside. But especially on the inside. Her heart was pure and her soul was pure. To be her friend was to be honoured and touched by the Hand of God. And now God has taken her back, and we will have to do without her. Everyone who knows her, loves her.
Nicole, to know you is to love you.
Rest in Peace now, dearest, dearest Nicole.
Namasté.
