Twins celebrate birthdays, much more together

I had a birthday this week. When you are a twin, birthdays are a little different, even from the start.

It is never just your birthday. It is our birthday. The cakes have both the names, the parties are shared and the songs sung to both of you at the same time. Often the gifts are double of the same item, two sets of roller skates, two bikes, two radios, games addressed to both of you.

When it’s time to go to school, you walk together, are generally in the same room and often sit alphabetically (at least it was that way in the old days).

Sharing comes naturally, after all, we shared the same room before we were born. We knew each other even before our parents knew us. In that small space we probably hugged each other and maybe even gave one another a good kick.

When you grow up and move away from each other, there are still times you connect, always at holidays and especially on our shared birthday.

When Jack and I were in school and the teacher would ask for the oldest one to take home a note, he would always proudly say he was 20 minutes older than me. He prided himself with being the oldest until we hit 50! Then it was my turn asking him how it felt to be older than his sister. He had a tough time on the 50th birthday. It was as if he suddenly realized we were now older. He did not know, of course, that he would not get much older than that.

We were the only set of twins in our graduating class in Superior. That was unusual because there always were several sets at one of the schools. I cried on graduation, Jack laughed and said that I should be happy we graduated at the same time. He was not a very dedicated student!

Jack went into the Navy and I went to college. He was best man when Dave and I got married.

Jack died of cancer when we were 54. One of the last things he said to me was, “I never thought I would die this young.” I asked him to hug my little boy, Tim, when he got to Heaven.

We had a birthday this week. Although he is in my prayers every morning, on June 4 we have a longer conversation and, of course, I wish him a happy birthday.

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This is the best rhubarb custard pie you will ever eat. I have had it and my family loves it. The recipe comes from Karen Mayle, in Bergland.

Show-Off Rhubarb Pie

Mix together 2 well beaten eggs, 1-3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup flour. Add 4 cups chopped rhubarb and mix well. Arrange in an unbaked pastry shell. Dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Top with the top pastry crust. Bake in hot oven 450 degrees for 15 minutes and reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 30 minutes longer.