It was 50 years ago this July 9 when my parents Norbert and Linda Monohan got married. I like to joke how great it is that they still like each other. In my generation's fast-paced lifestyle we may have to add marriages together to get to 50.
I am the youngest of the three of us girls, well shoot; my sisters will probably read this column, so I better fess up about really being the oldest. However there were three under age 3, so we are very close to the same age.
I want to share a little history about my family but I will keep it short. My parents both grew up in the San Fernando Valley east of Los Angeles, California. They met at a high school basketball game. Dad proposed to my mom when she was only 161⁄2. My mom turned him down explaining her parents would never approve at such a young age for her to be committing to marriage.
A year later my dad was on leave from the US Navy and Mom told him if he asked her again she'd be turning 18 on July 2nd. A week later they tied the knot.
They talked about having children. Dad is the oldest of five boys so he wanted five boys. After having three girls in a row, Dad said that was enough.
When I was young we were really into dirt bike racing. We'd camp out at the racetracks on the weekends. One year we camped out 51 weekends and the next year only 49 and we felt deprived. We were always told that "a family that plays together, stays together." Then there was Dad saying, "Keep your motorcycle seat between your legs and we won't have any problems."
On this intimate family gathering for my parents' anniversary, my mother is wearing the pearl necklace she wore on their wedding day as well as the cross necklace my father gave her when he asked her to go steady. I wore the pearl necklace when I got married as well as both of my sisters. My soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Rachael, will wear it when she marries my oldest son Garrett this September.
Mom, you are my best companion and Dad, you are the greatest. Happy 50th. We love you both so much.
Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.
Editor's note: Linda and Norbert Monohan retired in 2002 after more than 20 years with the Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Linda Monohan wrote The R-C's Fish Springs Flier column from 1985-2009.
