Courtesy Phil Meyer:
A few days before Christmas, a note came over the JBAA News Wire:
“Nikki’s aggressive cancer has got worse. This will be her last holiday.”
Within a day, the tree on the boulevard in front of Nikki and Franni’s home in Victoria was inundated with Christmas ornaments, hung from every branch and twig – brought spontaneously by friends whose lives she had touched.
Nikki Yano was born, and lived the first half of her life, in the Cowichan Valley. She was an outstanding athlete – in field hockey, where she notched two BC Championships; in soccer; in rugby. With friends, she started girls’ rugby at Cowichan RFC – went on the play for Nanaimo Hurricanes – and then for the rest of her sporting career, played at James Bay.
Rugby was one of Nikki’s passions. Quiet (mostly), seamlessly graceful, strong; her influence extended far beyond the sidelines. She was at the heart of every sports organisation where she played – and touched the heart of everyone she encountered on her life’s path. When Nancy and I took four months of travel round the world, we entrusted our cottage by the sea to Nikki and Franni. We knew they would keep it safe, and they did.
Nikki’s beautiful light blinked out on Christmas Eve. She was supposed to go earlier. But her courage carried her forward, until she could suffer no more. Yesterday, hundreds gathered at the House of Bays to celebrate her life– and her effect on ours. This in the same place where Nikki and Franni met – fell in love - and decided to spend their lives together.
We arrive early – sure that lots of folks from Cowichan and other mid-Island points will be here. We are right. When we get here, the “Cowichans” have already arrived. Only a few chairs (and one parking spot) are left. Following the old rule: “those living closest arrive last”; most of the JBAA gang then begins to come in. And so we sit and stand – jammed hip to hip, and cheek to jowl – teammates, club mates, friends from now, and from before. Nikki’s class, her passion and love for those who encountered her, has touched us all!
The service is strong – embedding Nikki deeper in our hearts. Toward the end, a montage of pictures from Nikki’s life displayed. And suddenly, wafting forward from the back of the room – finally reaching Francis, and parents Rhonda and Dick in the front, soft strains of song.
Where is this coming from! The source is soon apparent. Nikki loved to sing. Her teammates are singing softly to her now – singing with her, as in times before. “Goodbye”, and I am sure; “Hello again my friend”.
As we say at JBAA, when one of our special lives move on: Nikki now rests, welcomed in our Upper Deck – in Juan de Fuca clouds – from where she can watch the girls and boys on MacDonald’s Field, playing the game she loves. Others may see her in the Cowichan Valley, or in other special places which remind.
In the fall this year, JBAA will place Girls and Women’s Rugby back onto MacDonald’s fields carrying on the work that Nikki and her friends started. We need to find a place for Nikki on our wall – to inspire rugby girls going forward.
Don’t count the days that are left. Let the days that are left count.
(Handwritten note from Nikki in her Celebration of Life program.)