The Kids are All Right: A Memoir by Diana and Liz Welch with Dan and Amanda Welch

Shortly after both of her parents died in a car crash, leaving her in the care of her older brothers, Rita often stayed at the Welches. She became Liz’s best friend and roommate during their Junior year at Fox Lane, but moved out when our mother’s illness became too painful for Rita to live with. This is Rita’s story.

“When my parents died, Liz and I were friends, but not yet the friends we would become or still be to this day. She is my “forever” friend. We go months, even years, without contact. Life gets in the way. I took one path, and she another. When we do get together, we reconnect in a way I have with no one else. It is always as though we were always together. We have developed a connection and an understanding that no one else can understand.  I think that is because Liz and I spent so much time together through our most difficult time in our lives.”“After my parents died, my home had become so lonely and empty.  All my relatives felt I should move in with them, but my brothers and I refused; we had lost enough and wanted to stay together. Being that they were of age, my oldest brother became my guardian and we remained in the home our parents left us.  Since my brothers were in their twenties, they were off doing all the things twenty somethings do leaving me home alone. That’s part of the reason I spent so much time at the Welches house. But really, it was because I could never stand when people pitied me. I could feel it when people felt sorry for me and I hated it.  I never felt that there. I was one of them.

I remember their mom being sick. She was a gentle and caring woman. I liked talking with her in the absence of my own mother. She treated me like one of her own. I remember she was almost always there, but hardly ever seen.  Still, she was a quiet presence amongst a house full of chaos. It became more difficult for me, the closer we became. I knew the end would come and I was not sure I could deal with it.

I never met their dad. The book really introduced him to me. I only knew stories and scattered references from our teenaged years. After reading it, I think there was a bit of him in all of them.  Amanda was someone who we looked at with an awe. She was at NYU,listened to cool music and drove around in her Karmann Ghia convertible!   We looked up to her. She made it alright to not be like everyone else. I loved that about her.  Danny was the little brother I never had. My memories of him are his wise guy remarks that were always teamed with a smile, and those dimples.  He was such a wise ass–he loved walking into Liz’ bedroom with his snake wrapped around his neck, knowing full well I am terrified. I loved Dan the Man.  Diana always made me smile. The sweetest little girl. She always seemed to look at all of us with wonder. In she would walk, with that red hair and big eyeglasses, and just give you a hug for no reason. She had such innocence. I loved her.  I saw her recently and was not surprised that she has grown into a such a beautiful person.

Liz was my rock. We leaned on each other. One of us would come down the hallway at school in tears. The other dropped everything and we were out of there. We’d jump in the Jeep Wagoneer and sweet talk the school security guard to get off campus.  We got away with a lot because of our situation, and we totally took advantage!  We were two girls thrown into growing up too fast. We pushed the envelope at times, but still remained even on the surface. Liz was better at the facade than I was. Everyone knew I was a wild child. I wore it on my sleeve, quite literally. Liz can attest to some of my crazy outfits. She was perceived as the beautiful rich girl with all the nice clothes, and the perfect life. Nobody knew what was going on because she didn’t share that. I was an exception. I knew.”