Some days I really miss court reporting school and all the friends I made there

[Sharla Preciado]

I heard something today when watching a taped episode of "The Forgotten" from October 27, 2009. Does anybody else watch that show? It's not great. I'm not sure why I was even watching it, other than the fact that my job cancelled today and I was enjoying the freedom of an unexpected day off and being able to sit and watch something while eating lunch. But anyway, this monologue at the end of the most recent episode really grabbed my attention, so I paused the recording, grabbed my laptop and steno machine, transcribed it, and I'm posting it here for my dear CR friends from the not so distant past. I miss you guys.

"Looking back, it was my mistake. I didn't want to grow up. I wanted to go back to the beginning to the days when all we had were ideas, and all of us were best friends. But you can't go back. People change. Friendships evolve. I tried to keep our group together when it was meant to come apart.
"Places can be magic, and certain times in your life can be magic, too. But when they go, you have to let them go. I know that now.
"You still take them with you, the great days, the days when you were part of something, when all of you joined together because you cared about the same thing.
"Old friends, they may not be with you, but they're a part of you."

A bit melodramatic, maybe, especially since many of us still keep in touch as much as we can, whenever we can, but it seemed to apply in many ways. I especially liked the part about how we all joined together because we cared so much about the same thing. That applies to our little court reporting community so perfectly. The journey was a little different for each of us, but we all had a common goal, and that brought us together.

Have you ever stopped to think of how much we've been through with each other, not only getting through theory, speeds, qualifying, and the CSR test, but how many life events we've gone through together? Since starting school, some of us have gotten married, some of us have gone through break-ups or divorce; some of us have lost loved ones, some of us have brought another child into the world. We've hugged and laughed and cried and supported each other through so much. I have some friends whom I've know longer than I've known most of you, but I don't know any of them in the same way that I know each of you. We have a common goal, a "steno bond" that no one outside our profession can understand!

So often, I read something in a novel or hear something on TV or at the next table in a restaurant, and I think, "Wow, that's a great thought," and minutes later, it's gone...poof...just out of my head. Well, at least this time I managed to get it down in writing and share it. I hope it makes you pause and think of all that we went through together, and I hope it makes you smile.

Those are days I will never forget, and I'm glad that we still have many days and experiences together to look forward to in the future. Let's not lose touch.

[Jamie Lee Asbury]

Awwww....... sometimes I totally miss school too! I miss the feeling of waking up knowing that I was going to learn something new and get to share it with people who actually cared! I can't wait to see you this Friday along with all the gang! I will never forget what we gave each other during school........ motivation and support! We both had some hard times there during the last leg, but look at us now! Miss you ;D

[Angelia Bell]

That was beautiful, Sharla! Thank you for sharing that!! Its all very true too. I went to a brick & mortar & the friends I met there, we all had this common steno bond (as you put it). There was a group of us that went thru the struggle together, had dinner & drinks together, even vacationed together, but sadly everyone went their separate ways. Most of them quit (decided court reporting wasn't for them), a few transferred out, & one of them (who is one of my best friends now) is considering going online like I am. I miss our little circle of friends but I'll always have fond memories of that time we shared. :-)

[Maggie Cline]

Thank you so much for sharing this, Share. I was a teacher of court reporting for many, many years. I felt what you felt only from a different angle. I used to always say, "I never met a court reporter or student I didn't like." This blog exemplifies what I felt as well.