12-15-2020, 05:01 PM
Rocky was an old friend of my family. He and his wife Jo joined Welcome Wagon at the same time as my folks when we all moved to Svale nearly 50 years ago. They all loved golf and enjoyed many local activities together.
Jo passed away years ago - she was a chain smoker. Rocky went blind a few years back. He and my mom got together a few times a week with some other friends (my mom was the last one that could drive). They'd grocery shop, hit the senior center, or the fast food joints - mostly Arbys and Taco Bell. I joined them at Taco Bell a few times, which was amusing. They loved that it was cheap and the portions were small and they could get soda refills.
He was a jovial sort, obese, a thick hearty man, extremely proud of his Italian heritage and loved his pasta. He was a member of the Elks club and always treated my mom and their friends to their Italian feasts while he wore a huge Italian flag hat and a 'Kiss me I'm Italian' sweatshirt. Knowing he was Catholic, I gave him one of the touristy rosaries I brought back from the Vatican a few years ago and he was so happy with it. I was so happy to give that to him.
Rocky has been in and out of the hospital for some time now - an assortment of ailments. He and my mom would chat every week on the phone, except when he was in the hospital. His daughter Pam, who is close to us in age, moved back in with him to caretake, with her daughter. I haven't seen her in years but I've seen Rocky a few times. He was a funny sweet man, always generous and considerate.
He became a client of Stacy's, as did Pam. She'd work on them on the first Sunday of each month. Rocky raved about Stacy's work. He would walk straightened up instead of hunched over for a week after she saw him. That really impressed my mom. My mom is too ticklish for massage so she doesn't understand it at all.
Stacy saw him last a month ago. He had just returned from the hospital again and was too fragile for a treatment, but she was there for Pam and her kid. Stacy held his hand and the thought crossed her mind that it would be the last time she might see him.
Rocky passed peacefully in his sleep a few days ago.
Jo passed away years ago - she was a chain smoker. Rocky went blind a few years back. He and my mom got together a few times a week with some other friends (my mom was the last one that could drive). They'd grocery shop, hit the senior center, or the fast food joints - mostly Arbys and Taco Bell. I joined them at Taco Bell a few times, which was amusing. They loved that it was cheap and the portions were small and they could get soda refills.
He was a jovial sort, obese, a thick hearty man, extremely proud of his Italian heritage and loved his pasta. He was a member of the Elks club and always treated my mom and their friends to their Italian feasts while he wore a huge Italian flag hat and a 'Kiss me I'm Italian' sweatshirt. Knowing he was Catholic, I gave him one of the touristy rosaries I brought back from the Vatican a few years ago and he was so happy with it. I was so happy to give that to him.
Rocky has been in and out of the hospital for some time now - an assortment of ailments. He and my mom would chat every week on the phone, except when he was in the hospital. His daughter Pam, who is close to us in age, moved back in with him to caretake, with her daughter. I haven't seen her in years but I've seen Rocky a few times. He was a funny sweet man, always generous and considerate.
He became a client of Stacy's, as did Pam. She'd work on them on the first Sunday of each month. Rocky raved about Stacy's work. He would walk straightened up instead of hunched over for a week after she saw him. That really impressed my mom. My mom is too ticklish for massage so she doesn't understand it at all.
Stacy saw him last a month ago. He had just returned from the hospital again and was too fragile for a treatment, but she was there for Pam and her kid. Stacy held his hand and the thought crossed her mind that it would be the last time she might see him.
Rocky passed peacefully in his sleep a few days ago.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
