Balancing And Rocco’s Neck On The Line, Part I of III
Balancing And Rocco’s Neck On The Line, Part I of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
The chair, with foldout bed, was delivered for Mom’s recuperation.
Once Mom was discharged from nine days in ICU, doctors advised me “to have a bed” here. “You may need it.”
Mom spent 57 days in multiple hospitals.
When she was discharged from her quarantined room in the third hospital with acquired hospital infections – to include the MRSA, C-Diff and other hospital bacteria – (mere days before her 60-day insurance lapsed), my 6’ 4” brother carried Mom to his car and to her bed in his arms. She was too ill and weak to sit up.
Her goals then and now? To sit up and walk.
Rocco and Joseph delivered the chair Saturday evening. Getting the chair through the hallway and around a quick turn was a serious challenge.
I breathed a sigh of relief once the chair was through the doorway.
Rocco was struggling with the chair when I noticed the large scripted, cursive, multi-colored tattoo, running (large print to smaller print) the left side of Rocco’s shoulder and neck – up to his left jaw line.
I blinked and looked at the large word – counting at least eight letters.
I said softly, watching Rocco, “That’s some tattoo. Is that a name?”
He beamed, “Yes, it is.”
I pointed to his neck, “That must be an important person, yes?”
He beamed, “It’s my mother!”
I blinked hard, “Your mother?”
Rocco nodded, still chair-struggling (for my mother) and said, “And the other side of my neck has a name, too.” I blinked harder.
Rocco proudly twisted his body, holding the chair (with foldout bed, not a light piece of furniture) to show me the right side of his neck.
A second tattoo with multiple letters, each large and multi-colored, ran from his neck up to his right jaw-line.
I was stunned. Joseph, also holding the chair, just sighed.
I had a feeling he had heard this conversation.
Rocco then said, “The second name is my sister.”
My reply after listening to details of my father’s recent multiple midnight ER (serious) visits?
My reply after listening to Dad detailing how he left Mom alone (gasp) “again” to drive himself to the same emergency room Mom and my brother were recently patients?
I replied to Rocco a simple, “Get out!”
Rocco, “Yes, and do you know why my sister was upset?”
Hungry and stunned, I just shook my head.
Rocco, “My sister was upset I did my mother’s name first.”
For the first time in many hours, I threw my head back and laughed.
Monette Benoit may be reached for tutoring and coaching: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted June 11, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted June 23, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Motivation Management & Life Coach,
Tutor and Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching
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About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material and an instructor, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, students and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.