My heart is heavy today with the news that my sister Mona, passed away yesterday...Mona, 6 years older than me, we grew up together with the usual sibling rivalry, but with the age difference, she became the older sister and I, the new baby, that took her spot as "baby of the family."...As we grew older, she had to put up with me, as I was a general nuisance in her life, wanting to be included with her and her older friends...We managed to grow up with little animosity, and became close sisters/friends in later years.
Mona was outgoing, had lots of friends and boyfriends, was a high school cheerleader, a hard worker, our dad's "right hand man."She loved the out of doors, where she could ride Trixy, and take care of our small herd of cattle, as they roamed 200 acres of timberland...She cared little about book learning and dreamed of riding in rodeos and living on the farm...All of that changed when "a sailor," named Jerry, stole her heart away, in a whirlwind courtship of about 2 weeks and she found herself, married and on a train to Boston, where he was stationed...From Boston, to New York City, to Norfolk, Virginia, she followed her Sailor...When he was stationed at the South Pole, she came back to the farm for a year, but couldn't wait until he got home, so they could continue their life together...During those years, she worked as a clerk, and a nurses aid...Jerry left the Navy to pursue a college education and they started a family...
In the following years they welcomed 5 children, Jerry got several college degrees, Mona continued working, They moved to Colorado, where they had a business and finally moved to California where Jerry got his Dr. of Chiropractic and then moved to Utah and set up a practice...I asked Mona one day, "Why did you marry Jerry?..She said, "Because he told me he was going to be a Doctor."...Then with a rueful smile, and as an after thought she said, "I just didn't know it was going to take him so long!.. "Sending love and hugs to the Park Family...OWAV:)
PS..More tomorrow, memories made with Mona and Jerry.
No comments:
Post a Comment