.105 Nichole Landers

Now here’s a fun story: it’s the summer of 2015, and I’m on a flight from Budapest to Athens, sitting alone in the window seat. The plane is almost completely boarded and the two seats next to me are empty (the best). That is, until, just as the plane is ready for departure, two rowdy ladies from New Zealand come down the aisle in a huff and sit right next to me. “Wonderful…” I think to myself. Well, a few hours later, we’ve not only chatted and bonded instantly but they’ve invited me to spend the next 10 days with them on 3 different islands of Greece, as they have an extra spot on their trip, thus commencing some of the best days ever with Nichole (and Hannah!) complete with laughs, adventure, and plenty of booze.

I really do owe so much of that experience to Nichole’s deeply intuitive personality and her ability to trust others (like me) while also staying true to who she is in her strength and values. Nichole is a divine pleasure to be around. She’s absolutely hysterical with her quips and remarks and she’s wicked smart, too, making for a wonderful time, all the time. She’s so much fun and up for any adventure, and she’s not afraid to take risks and try something new. For the entire trip, she was comforting, patient with me, and we got along so well so quickly that it felt like we’d known each other for years. What might be the coolest part of this journey was the fact that we stayed in touch and I visited her in New Zealand almost 6 months later, getting to see where she comes from and tasting the all-too-delicious “fush and chups.”

Nichole, thank you for opening your heart to me on that trip and for inviting me along (literally) on such a wild and entertaining adventure. Thank you for the crazy nights in Mykonos and the angelic evenings in Ios, and of course, the tragic and terrifying moments on the ferry between islands… Thank you for always making me laugh and for being patient with me while I obsessed over your accent. Thank you for letting me teach you some LGBT culture (twink) and just generally being such a wonderful travel companion and friend. Even through the craziness of that trip I could tell you had such incredible maternal instincts and unconditional love, which is why I’m so happy to see you with two littles ones so many years later. They are both lucky to have you as a role model and a mother. Thank you, Nichole, for being you!

-BD