Nicolette Doukas, Mystic Nice Girl

Walking Nicolette 

By Nicolette Doukas

Since I have a unique name, I wasn’t given a nickname so I just now created my own.  I like to walk and I am known for organizing a group walk, so I think Walking Nicolette is an appropriate nickname for me.  It was my sister Suzanne who invited me to join the Nice Girls (NGs), so we’re always introduced as the “sisters.”  This makes the group extra special having my sister to hang with, but, many of the NGs confused our names.  Sometimes calling me Suzanne and Suzanne being called Nicolette.  It’s a small price to pay to be able to hang out with my sister and the many NGs in this group.  As they say, “Call me anything you want, just don’t call me late for dinner.”

I don’t have a recipe to share because almost all the cooking I do, it comes straight from a posted recipe, except for the times that I stop by the store and buy an already cooked roasted chicken.  I’m happy to share that recipe; get in the car, drive to Stop & Shop, get out of the car; go straight past the Deli counter, pick up a warm and juicy chicken, pay for the chicken, drive to the potluck.  Pretty easy, huh?

I have said to other NGs, I have a pretty boring life, and the most interesting thing about me is I come from a family of ten children.  So, belonging to the NGs and doing things in a pack suits me just fine.  But what I like most about belonging to this group, is makes me a better person.  There have been times when I have had a bad day, week or month, but once I walk into the house of the woman hosting the potluck, I’m able to let all the anger, frustration and bitterness seep away.  Why?  Because, suddenly I am surrounded by lively banter, smiling faces and a smorgasbord of entrée’s and deserts.  And I am reminded that this is a time to forget about that bad day at work, or the person who cut you off on the road and embrace the warmth, humor and stories of your fellow Nice Girls.   I choose to be like Scarlet O’Hara and “I’ll worry about that tomorrow!”