Nicole "Lillyh" LaLime
2-9-95 - 12-16-08
Lillyh Rainbow.

AS we try to cope with the tragic loss of Nicole Lalime, the devastation and immense pain overwhelm us. Yet as we think of her, we keep getting images in out minds of rainbows and lilys. These are symbols Nicole chose for herself, and we can't help thinking how fitting they were for her.
Nicole loved rainbows. she was always draing and rainbows adorned almost every piece of paper she touched. Nicole was as complex as a rainbow, and its many colors represent different facets of her personality. the blue of the rainbow reflects her loyalty to her friends, especially her partner in anime Ino. No friend was truer than Nicole when a smile, a hug, or a ready defense was needed. The greeen of the rainbow represents Nicole's tremendously whimsical nature; we never knew what color her socks or hair bows might be as she tried to expand the parameters of the Banff School dress code. And she could make something as mundane as duct tape into a creative and beautiful object or toy. The yellow reminds us of Nicole's happy nature; she was, as one of her teachers said, a ray of sunshine wherever she went, and we all will remember that smile. The red of the rainbow exemplifies the passion and joy Nicole had for whatever caught her fancy. Her friends, her drawing, her impulses to share stories.... everything Nicole dealt with she did with enthusiasm. Finally, the orange of the rainbow illustrates the glow she left us all with evry time she left the room. she may not have completed all her tasks that dayin a timely fashion, but we were blessed that she did leave in each room a bright spirit that lingered. Of course there are other varying shades in the rainbow, and like any other teenage girl, Nicole could have some moments of different hues in her personality. But the strong colors remain in our minds as representative of her essence.
Another image we associate with Nicole is the lily. She decided last year thatr she wished to go by the name lillyh. Many of us had a hard time with the switch, but after a while we learned to accommodate her. Now that is another image we will forever link with Nicole. A lily often symbolizes purity and innocence, and we will remember Nicole for her purity of spirit and the child-like innocence that she often displayed when she just had to share some joy or thought in class, no matter how off topic it might be! She was kind, trusting, and open....and she expected the best from othersd. In addition, during the Easter season the lily represents hope and the promise of eternity, and we will take comfort in knowing that Nicole does wait for us in a beautiful place.
Nicole signed most of her papers as "Lillyh Rainbow." She could not have chosen better sumbols for gerself, for both names evoke images of her that will last forever in our hearts and minds. We love yhou, Lillyh Rainbow.

for those of you who dont know lillyh lalime was hit by a drunk driver on december 16 2008 and died in a helicopter on the way to Texas Childrens' hospital from a break in her spine.