Years ago, before DC or New York or San Francisco, before Southern California, before St. Louis, I lived in Southern Illinois. My folks went to SIU in Carbondale, and spent the next several years working for different organizations in Jackson and Randolph County. One of the towns we lived in was Chester, Illinois, nestled on the banks of the Mississippi.

Chester had one street light, and about 6000 people. The official population was 8500, but that included the 2500 or so “residents” of the Pierre Menard Home, a maximum security correctional facility for the criminally insane. It also had a food factory, Gilster-Mary Lee, where they made cake mix. I always remember that smell.

I lived there from fourth to sixth grade. I haven’t kept up with anyone I went to school with, though I remember many of the names, and even some of the faces. Of the ones I do, perhaps the face I remember most vividly is Melissa Reiman. She was athletic and tall, a born achiever, and a radiant person. Whenever my mind stumbles back through what remains of my memories of being 11, she’s in them, a bright, shining star.

So, how did this come up? Well, just a little bit ago, another name popped into my head that I couldn’t place, so I Googled and the name came from a site dedicated to Chester High School’s Class of ‘87. I clicked, and my stomach flipped and dropped.

The Chester High School Class of 1987 has lost their “Favorite Punk Rocker.” The City of Chester is remembering Melissa Reiman who lost her five-year battle against cancer Friday morning, May 1.

The 40 year old CHS Hall of Fame member passed away around 6:30am central time Friday morning in a San Diego hospital with her family surrounding her.

I haven’t talked to her in probably 25 or 30 years. I didn’t know she’d married, or had a son, or moved to San Diego. But I’m certain of two things: I know she fought like hell, and I know she’s left a massive crater of a hole in the lives of those she left behind. I feel it a thousand miles and 30 years away.

This is insignificant in the scheme of things, but I’ve made a small donation to my Livestrong account in her name, the eighty-seven cents to mark what would’ve been our common graduating class had I stayed in Chester. Melissa, you’ll be on my mind and in my heart while I ride.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Farewells, Laments, Livin' Strong. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.