Remembering...Happy Birthday Twins

For years, Beth and I tried to trick people into thinking we were twins. We were together so much of the time, we were often asked if we were sisters.  We couldn't resist saying, "Yes. In fact, we're twins."

You see, that story isn’t very far from the truth.  Biologically ... no, we are not related.  But ... twins, in a sense, yes.  Let me fill you in.  Our Moms were best friends when they were younger and what a joy it must have been for them, to both be expecting babies at the same time.  Even more of a joy, those babies were delivered on the very same day, just a short time apart.  By the same doctor! [just kidding about the Dr.] And, an even greater joy, both had girls.  My Mom still laughs when telling the stories of how we shared everything when we were babies.  We would play on a blanket on the floor and share our bottles and teething rings.  We've shared everything, ever since.  While growing up, we were inseparable.

Many people find this hard to believe ~ Beth and I have never had a harsh word with each other.  Never, one argument!  Now isn't it hard to believe, two little girls, together all the time, never fighting?  Okay wait, I’ll admit, there was this one fight that I’ll never forget!  I think we were ten years old.  Beth’s parents were at the beach and she was staying with me.  For once, I think we were actually getting on each others nerves.  (imagine that) We ran out of things to do. There was nothing left to talk about.  Out of the blue, I suggested that I thought Wonder Woman was stronger than the Bionic Woman.  Beth raised one eyebrow, gave me a scornful look and said, “No, Mia, You are dead wrong, the Bionic Woman is way stronger than Wonder Woman.”  We went back and forth on this disagreement for quite a while. Realizing we would probably never see Lindsey Wagner and Linda Carter in the ring, we decided we would have to prove it.  By me, playing the role of Wonder Woman and she, the Bionic Woman.  We were actually fighting, for the first and the last time, ever!  Just in case you are wondering, it was a tie.  To this day, we are convinced that Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman possess the same amount of strength, only in different areas.  What a perfect balance! The same can be said about the two of us.  We are both strong women.  You can bet, if one of us isn't feeling very strong, the other is able to give of her strength, to lift the other and help her make it through.  We've shared many tears and much laughter. I can't imagine having an identical, biological twin that I'd feel closer to than Beth.

~Remembering our teen years in the photos above~

We were very "nice" girls. Really, we were!  We would spend our weekends reading books. How boring is that to most teenagers? Beth would read a chapter, then I would read a chapter.  When we finished the book, we'd have deep discussions about it.

Then, they had to go and invent MTV! We still did a lot of reading, but spent a huge amount of time eating pizza in front of the TV, and wait patiently to see Journey videos. While waiting for the really good videos, we would make fun of such bands as 'The Flock Of Seagulls' and the like.

The only picture album that I could find was from age 15 to about 17 or so. We were quite the camera hams so I have no idea where all of those countless pictures are.  A shame, I don't think our moms took baby pictures of us together.


Another year older, another year to share with my twin.  We've always wanted to go to the beach for our birthday, just the two of us...no family, no children. Just us. We've dreamed of sitting on the beach all day ... sipping on cold drinks, reading books, and having deep discussions again without the interruption of having to take care of husbands and kids. I have no idea when or if that will ever happen. Tomorrow, I leave with my family for the beach. Tomorrow, Beth comes back from the beach with her family.  Maybe, we'll pass somewhere in south Alabama and honk our horns at each other!

Beth will read this while I'm still in Florida, so ... Happy Birthday, Beth!

LYLAS!