Gale Nye: Unusually faith-filled

As she dances with the Red Hot Mamas (RHM), she sings, "I like it. I love it. I want some more of it!"

She named her salon Avant-Garde. According to Oxford Dictionaries, Avant-Garde is defined as: "New and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them." In this case it is the person introducing them: Gale Nye. This RHM is a bundle of unusual ideas.

Gale's perception of reality is not mainstream. As Jane Wagner wrote in "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," "What is reality anyway! It's nothing but a collective hunch." Those who know Gale simply nod (or shake) their head at her exploits, yet those who don't know her may be inclined to think, "No one would really do that." Hey, she really would do that!

Like what, you say? One time she got sick and tired of nagging her husband to pick up the dog doo-doo in the yard, so she took his most prized possessions into the yard, dug a hole, put them in the hole, and piled the doo-doo on top of it. When he asked where his guns were, she gave him "the look" and pointed. Uh-huh. True.

Another? One day her boyfriend's employer called looking for him. She said, "Well, he's either at the bank and he'll be there soon, or he's dead and he won't." When he didn't show up to work a few hours later, Gale went to his home where she found him lifeless on the floor. When she saw his shade of blue she said, "Hey hon, you aren't looking so good," and went outside to call 911. When law enforcement came cautiously toward her with hands on holstered guns, she put her hands up and said, "I'm the finder, not the do-er."

Gale wears her faith like explosives. She'll tell you, "I don't care if you like it or not, it's the truth."

Everything she says is peppered with Bible quotations such as the one she lives by: "Ye are of God, little children, and ye have overcome: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." It is this faith that brought her through many losses.

The worst loss of her life was the death of her infant grandson. He spent his entire time on Earth in her loving arms as she ushered him into life and into heaven within eight hours. She pleaded with the medical staff, "Do something!" but there was nothing they could do. She yelled at them, "Well, at least pretend you are doing something!" Sitting in her rocking chair, she held him close and communed with God. She believes there is no greater pain than to lose a child and explains, "It sets on your chest as a heavy weight and never, never goes away. There is no greater pain."

In spite of the pain, she finds blessing in the close introspection it took to go on living. She offers this to anyone suffering this loss: "Remember, God gave His only son to the world. God watched His son suffer and die too. It is the closest you can feel to God. Your pain is His pain."

Her favorite book reads, "He will turn your mourning into dancing." She cries for joy dancing with RHM and her little Lake City home is an exhilarating dance of kids and grandkids Avant-Garde activities. They all love her.

Gale says, "Give all your stuff to God and He will give you peace and comfort and rest. Without Him, you are nothing."

Meet Gale Nye

Age: 62

Two daughters, six grandkids, two great-grandkids

Hair designer, owner of Avant-Garde Salon

"Well educated"

Red Hot Mama: 5 years

Pet Peeve: Congress ... fire them all!

Highlight of her Life: The survival of her one-pound granddaughter

Favorite Quote: "It is what it is."

Enjoyments: Prime rib, chocolate, red, Pride and Prejudice, Isla Mujeres, skiing, gardening

RHM Besties: Laughing. Best amusement ride of all time. There is no closer support than RHM friends.

RHM Tuffies: Nothing. Christ makes it so simple.