Time for Goodbye – Grateful for You

It’s been a while since I’ve written one of my regular Sunday posts.

 

And this is one I’ve been putting off writing.

 

It seems like every few years or so, a group of people leave. The last one I remember hitting me this hard was Roger, Melanie, Jen, and Angel all left. The last time I saw Roger, and I remember this, was right after Floco’s show at Bragg Jam that year. I remember looking around during the show and thinking- this is the best of Macon. All of my people are here.

 

After the show, Roger looked at me and said- well, I guess this is the last time I’ll see you. We hugged and I didn’t let myself cry.

 

 

Floco said goodbye to all of us a while ago with his last concert, and it didn’t feel real yet because it was still so far away.

 

I wasn’t on the scene when he moved here and performed with Al King, that was after I had left my first round on the downtown scene. (Like- going back to 2002.) I had heard of him and the music they were doing, but I was engaged or married or something by that point in time- and also working fulltime. It didn’t leave much room for a personal life.

 

We first became friends when I was working at WMAZ, although I think we may have been Facebook friends before that. This was when I made so many friendships that would become crucial in my life, the people I would get to know as I was just getting to know myself again. The people who would show me that just being me was more than enough.

 

The first time we really hung out was for a photoshoot- the first of my “The Muse Project” series on my site with photographer Jacqueline Harnevious.

 

 

(yes i’m standing in the Third and Cherry Fountain)

 

It was right around the time he had wrapped up shooting his video “Catch Me”- still a favorite song of time.

 

I even used it at the end of my Girl Meets City: Birmingham video.

 

It was a year ago that we did our last photo shoot together, perhaps appropriately in the Capricorn Studios- now being renovated- with Maryann Bates.

 

 

The other night Floco and I went to what’s likely our last Mercer Basketball game together- he said I was the person who first got him to go to them anyway. I had hoped to score some courtside seats, but our friend David got us pretty damn close and Floco said “this is tight!” like he always does. And then a friend of David’s got him courtside for the latter part of the men’s game. Something he had always wanted to do. I was really glad for that!

 

After the game, when I dropped Floco off downtown to see some other friends, he looked at me and said- well, I guess this is the last time I’ll see you. We hugged, and I made sure not to let myself cry. I said, well, this isn’t it because I’ll come and see y’all. And maybe I’ll catch you before you go.

 

Perhaps it was fitting that the next night I was way too sick to see anyone, and my grand plan I had to pack a travel box for the road for him and Josy didn’t work out due to going to the doctor.

 

Today is my dear friend, fellow Mercerian, once ADPi sister, and Leadership Macon 2014 classmate Stacey’s last day at Centenary Methodist Church. It seems appropriate to happen the day after Floco & Josy left Macon.

 

 

Stacey and I met at the same time Floco & I met. I had no idea what an impact she would make in my life. The very first time I went to Centenary was because I had heard her talk about it, and I felt lost at that point in my life. She and I would end up around a lot of the same people, but it was during our car ride together for our LM class retreat that we really had the chance to talk a lot and get to know each other (yes- most everyone rides on the bus- our first trip was postponed due to Snowpocalyspe and then she and I had to leave apart from everyone else for the second go round).

 

 

Stacey is someone I look to for spiritual guidance, as well as just good life-in-general guidance.

 

Today, I went to her church and listened to Dr. Bagwell speak of Stacey and our her witness has helped us- how she stands outside of city hall during executions, how she identifies with those on the fringes of life. I remembered how she has helped me open my heart to those same people, how my heart has been opened in so many ways.

 

 

I looked over the congregation and thought about how I am so excited for my friends to move on to these amazing next steps, and selfishly sad to “lose” people who are so close to me. But that there’s still a world full of people who I don’t know yet, even just a room full of people who I don’t know yet, and new friendships are always a possibility.

 

 

There are still others who are leaving and moving on- my friend Ellen is off halfway around the world to Africa. Such a big move! I am in awe and envy of her, but I also realize unless she heads back to Macon, it’s likely I may not see her again. That makes me sad. She’s someone who I do not know as well as Stacey and Floco, but I treasure her friendship and spirit just as much. I’m hearing another Leadership Macon classmate is moving as well. My friend David, a colleague from my short few months at WGXA- it would have been a year ago this month that I started there- is moving on to another station. I know moving is such a part of the news world, but it always makes me a little sad to see someone go on. Claire, another news friend from WMAZ, even though we never had the chance to hang out- we worked together on various other items. And of course with Stacey’s departure there’s also that of her husband, Jonathan, someone I could always count on as one of the few in the small group of PR people in Middle Georgia. With Floco’s exit, Josy also leaves- someone who I value as a creative, as an actress, a playwright, and a friend. There’s always a cycle to those who come and go.

 

 

 

Those of us who stay, I think it’s ok to hold a little bit of envy for our friends who are blazing trails elsewhere. There’s something exciting in the unknown, and I am happy for them, as well as a bit jealous. The idea of being able to start over again in the unknown has a certain appeal. And while, for me, I love to travel and get out-of-town for periods of time- coming back home is always the best part. Macon, at least at this point in my life, is my home.

 

Here’s to always knowing where home is!

 

My love to each of y’all- especially those of you leaving, you will always be in my heart-

 

Molly