I didn't plan on doing this. I thought about it before, but thought it might be a little weird, so I chose not to. But I keep remembering things and now I can't help but write about it.
I found out a week ago or so that an old friend (and by old, I mean 4th-5th grade, and by friend, I mean someone who I hadn't really talked to since 5th grade or so) passed away the night before New Years Eve. Macy Gillum (or as I knew her, Metcalf) is survived by her family--including a husband and son. An 18 month old son. I haven't talked about it much, just kind of to Ashley at work when I found out, a little with Lisa that night, and then one night I called Jenny crying/blubbering like a baby because I just couldn't imagine that poor little boy (Jackson) having to grow up without his mom.
My memories of Macy aren't very many... and they all date back to elementary school. Most of my memories of her had to do with my mischievous days. I never got in trouble except for when I was her friend. I think that's why she and I stopped hanging out, I got tired of going to the principal's office (yes, twice. Once was the assistant, Mr. Swearingen, and the other time, the LAST time, was with the principal, Mr. Davis... both deceased now, sad...) I will say one thing--she gave me the childhood stories that my safe, boring, good-girl self never would have had on my own. Just to name a few...
For some reason, Macy et al did not like a 3rd grade boy. I don't remember his name, I don't remember if he was someone I later knew, I do remember where he lived. In the blue house on the other side of the street of Sageyork from Macy. For whatever reason, they taunted him. I think this is reason #1 why I was sent to Mr. Swearingen's office. I guess if you can't (or are too afraid to) blame the big dog, you blame the little follower who really can't do anything to you (because she, herself, is sized like a 2nd grader). I was blamed for picking on him. I honestly remember that I never was guilty of that. I just remember being her friend... walking home with her... and somehow I was blamed. I was NOT happy about that.
Then there was the chase. I can't even remember the other girls involved, but I do know there was me, Macy, and Elizabeth Peabody... and then a sprinkling of other girls from our neighborhood. They chased (I think) the same boy down Kirkvale. I don't know if he instigated it, but whatever it was, I just remember about five backpacks dropping to the ground and me and Elizabeth just standing there. Now that I think about it, I'm surprised Elizabeth didn't run too... after all, she was always physically fit like that. I hated running, even back then. I was NOT about to go run after some kid that I barely knew. But who got called into the Principal's office? Me and Elizabeth Peabody. It makes me sad to imagine it... a bunch of 5th grade girls running after a 3rd grade boy. Aaron's in 3rd grade. OH MY GOD. I WOULD MURDER ANY CHILD WHO CHASED HIM AND TEASED HIM. I'm glad I got in trouble. Well, NOW. I don't think my parents ever found out, cause it was 5th grade and I had never EVER been in trouble like that... I think the principal knew I wasn't a ringleader, but I'm glad I got called out on being a blind follower. So stupid. I think from that day on I just couldn't hang out with her without feeling like I would get in trouble.
There were good times , though.
I remember I used to think she was Gwen Stefani's twin. I was in love with the Tragic Kingdom cd and Macy would come over and we'd sit in my garage, listen to the cd on my little white cd player and sing "Spiderwebs." I remember she did not believe me that the words were, "Sorry I'm not home right now, I'm walking in a spiderweb so leave a message and I'll call you back. A likely story, but leave a message and I'll call you back." I wish I remembered what she thought the lyrics were, because I remember having a very heated discussion about why her lyrics were obviously impossible. Since the cd player I had did not have ff and rewind capabilities, we'd have to just go back to the beginning and wait to listen again and again... and again. But I remembered telling Macy she was so pretty (cause she was tall and blonde and white, everything I wanted to be when I was young) and that she had to be related to Gwen Stefani (who I'm pretty sure we all pronounced "Stephanie" at some point).
Then there was the break-in of my twin house on Sagecanyon, the street right next to Macy's. It was right next to the Cirilo's, across the street from Elizabeth Peabody's grandparents, Michael Johnson, Tam Nguyen, and Travis Daigle. I was always jealous of that street. Not just because Michael Johnson lived on it, and I had a huge crush on him since Kindergarten, and not just because Natalie & Krystin lived there (they were both separately my best friends at different times)--but because they ALL lived there, and they all got to play outside like it was a big party everyday. The only kid my age who lived on my street was Daniel Petty and, until high school, he went to private school. Anyway, back to the break in. There was a house that was identical to mine, except that it was a mirrored version (like Amy Knutson and Liz Nguyen's). To the rest of the world, it was for sale. But to us, it was an empty house that was just begging for us to make it our hangout. All of those named previously (with the exception of Daniel of course, and possibly Amy?) were there. I'm pretty sure Trinity Coody & Henry Busby was there too. Someone climbed onto the balcony, which, luckily enough for us, had an unlocked sliding door. They came down the house and opened the side garage door and we all filtered in. We ran up the stares, we chased each other. I mostly marveled at how a house can look exactly like mine and be so empty. I kept trying to find the difference--things we'd changed to our house. I have a vague memory of a boy (Henry?) peeing off the upstairs loft to the ground... which is gross, so it may have just been a dream, but we were young so who knows? I remember giggling, doors slamming, and lots of yelling. I also remember someone saying that Michael's mom was coming and she was going to call the cops! We all ran outside and jumped the fence to the Cirilo's. It was exhilarating. It was the baddest thing I had done up to that point.
We never had a falling out. We just had a... change of groups of friends. We'd still say hi if we walked past each other in the hall. I only heard stories about her throughout middle school and high school, and I remember them doing a Dobie News thing on her because the Volleyball (right?) team was in Las Vegas (or something) and ended up on a tv show as a Julia Roberts look-a-like. Was it the View? I don't know. They gave her a makeover. I remember being annoyed because I didn't see why someone, who was already pretty, would need to get a makeover to be more pretty--and get to be on tv for it.
But that was it. That was all I knew of Macy Nichole Gillum (née Metcalf). Then, early January, Stephon wrote a facebook status about her and I investigated. She died in a car crash on her way home from work. Left a husband and a son. I wish I could say that she lived a long and fulfilled life. Maybe it was fulfilled, but it certainly wasn't long. Instead, I'll say that she will forever be in the memories of her family and friends (old ones included) that she left behind. And it whistles through the ghosts still left behind.
