Written by Steve Sloan, 2021

You and I are twins… always remember that because if you fall, I will pick you up as soon as I finish laughing.

Hi… my name is Steve Sloan, and my twin sister, Suzy, is writing this book, and I’m so proud of her! Over the years, whenever I teased her about anything or called her Sue instead of Suzy, she would roll her eyes at me, and the look wasn’t pretty. I remember when we would ask Mom what it was like at the dinner table growing up with seven siblings, she would also answer with a roll of her eyes and say, “There are no words to describe it.” I’m sure there were no words to describe how she felt at twenty when she learned she was having twins.

DOCTOR: “THERE ARE TWO HEARTBEATS.”

BILLIE: “SAY WHAT?” (Billie is my Mom)

Fast forward to eight months. We were born on October 1, 1948.

It turns out we were a “Double Feature.” I came out first at 5:27 pm, weighing in at 5lbs. 15 oz. Suzy made her appearance at 5:33 pm, weighing in at 6 lbs. 10 oz. I mention our birth time and weight for two reasons. First, it seemed as if people were only interested in who was born first. I always answered “me” with a little smirk on my face as if to say. “I got her beat.” The weight thing -  let’s just say I got a kick of letting people know my twin sister weighed a pound more than I did.

Everyone referred to us as “Billie and Paul’s twins” or “the Sloan twins.” My parents were so proud to show us off, and I smile, thinking of them and how much they loved us. Here we are at the Easter Parade in New York City.

When we were about to enter the third grade, our family moved from Pennsylvania to Columbus, Ohio. We lived just east of Bexley and went to Broadleigh Elementry School. Tetherball was our main focus, and we considered ourselves the tetherball champs of  Broadleigh. I have good memories of watching over sister Suzy after we were named Gould Road Crossing Guards.

Everything got more fun when we moved to 2629 East Broad in central Bexley. Whenever I drive down Cassingham Avenue, I think about the funny conversations Suzy and I had every day as we walked to school past the Keenan’s, Clowson’s, Kaplan’s, Cohen’s, and Lowenthal’s. Mom and her very unique and funny brothers and sisters had a field day making us laugh, especially crazy Uncle Eddie. And, of course, that unforgettable walk down the alley to see our grandparents, Nana and Papa. Every Easter, we posed for a picture on their front lawn, Suzy in her Easter bonnet and me with my bow tie and brown plaid sport coat.

When Suzy and I were in the fifth grade at Cassingham Elementary, little Bobby was born. Suzy was probably too busy to notice, but we started bringing him with us to all the usual places: the Toddle House, Esquire Theatre, Grill and Skillet, Jeffrey Mansion, and the Excelsior Club. Anywhere our family went, Bobby happily came along.

I don’t know about Bobby, but I was rarely allowed in Suzy’s room. I think you needed a secret password to get you in. Either Betsy, Linda, Judy, Carol, or one of her girlfriends were always keeping Suzy company. If she only knew some of the things I heard, listening at the door.

The biggest of all days came when Suzy ran away from home for two weeks. I remember saying to my concerned little brother, “Bobby, don’t worry, she’ll be back soon, and I’m sure she’s missing Mom’s brisket and twice-baked potatoes.”

Soon we were off to Ohio State for new adventures. I joined the ZBT fraternity, and Suzy joined rallies. Suzy, good grades, and me, straight C’s. Suzy, good looks, and me, a big head. Suzy, an artist. Steve, a wrestler.  Suzy, Dad’s favorite. Steve, Mom’s favorite. (***book author and editor’s note: Not true!)

The Hippie and the Marine in real life was never more evident than when Suzy and I traveled to Dayton in Suzy’s yellow VW Bug to pick up Rocky. He was flying into Wright Patterson AFB on a Marine Corps helicopter. We waited in the operations center dressed in our bell-bottoms, hippie beads, and wire-rimmed glasses, talking with (and amusing) the airmen and pilots. Soon Rocky appeared in the doorway in his flight uniform, looking a little bewildered. I asked him in the car on the way home if he was embarrassed we looked like hippies, but he just laughed.

I’ll never forget our 1975 trip to India together, especially the visit to Kathmandu. We saw the sun come up over Mt. Everest. We ate at the famous Yak and Yeti and watched a monkey leapfrog on and off Suzy’s shoulder as we walked behind her. One evening, Rocky, Suzy, and I went to a tea house recommended by our Nepalese cab driver. He told us to make sure and order their Special Tea. We ordered it, drank it, and felt it just as we stepped outside into the night sky. The streets were packed with people, animals, beggars, and carts; the smells,  colors, and energy were Nepal at its best. It was as if we’d traveled back to the 15th century. We even saw weary, burned-out Americans and other Westerners who came to visit and decided never to leave. Who knows, maybe they drank too many cups of Kathmandu’s Special Tea.

Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was growing up with Suzy and Bobby in Bexley, Ohio. I’m also filled with gratitude that I had, hands down, the most loving, coolest parents on the planet, and anyone who knew them would say the same. Lastly, regarding Suzy and being her twin - Surely, God must have a sense of humor; he created the two of us, after all.