To Macedon

We moved to Macedon sometime in the latter part my 3rd grade. I didn’t like it, as it meant switching schools to Macedon Elementary and being “the new kid” which is always a challenge for an introvert. My last day in Palmyra Elementary was a bust – I stayed home from school due to the “itches” - severe itching all over my body. Rita got it, too. We suspected the laundry soap, but never nailed down the cause. The kids in the class each made a good-bye card, which was really nice and very encouraging. I specifically recall the one from Linda Higbee who had recently moved from Macedon to Palmyra and ended up in my class. She told me that when I attend Macedon Elem that I might get Mrs. Wilkinson as a teacher. She meant to tell me that Mrs. Wilkinson was strict, but wrote it “she’s stict”. I did indeed end up in Mrs. Wilkinson’s class and found out she was really quite nice after all and not stuck to anything.

My first day in Mrs. Wilkinson’s class was dreadful (it wasn’t the class, teacher, or kids, it was me). A couple of highlights: I meet a kid named Greg (can’t remember his last name) who had recently come back from a trip to Florida and was quite tan. Never having been anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, I thought it was quite impressive and exotic - Florida seemed like another world far away. Another was Martha Rothfus: I had my head buried in my desk trying to be invisible when she presented herself to me and asked if she could take me around and introduce me to the other classmates. I declined, but I’ve never forgotten the kindness and mentioned it to her recently at our class reunion.

Eventually I got to know my classmates, made friends, and fit in quite well despite my introversion. In particular I remember Roland "Roly" Jones - he was extremely good looking with a kind and winning personality as well as the coolest name ever; I wonder whatever became of him as I do not recollect seeing him after 3rd grade.