Victoria and Vanessa
Their parents came to the USA before the girls were born because they wanted to provide a better life. One with opportunity. They lived in a beautiful house with beautiful dresses and huge, expensive hair bows. They rarely smiled.
Could have been the shoes.
“Irish Twins” (but not from Ireland) Nora and Opal, born to immigrant parents 10 months apart in the same year in 1901. Nora, with striking dark eyes that could pierce through the toughest of rules her father set for her, she was the free spirit. Her sister, as equally exotic-looking was more withdrawn, was into a world of caring for two younger brothers.
Their mother had been ill during most of their adolescent life, bedridden with exhaustion. She’d taken ill before they reached their teen years and died when they were 20 and 21 respectively.
Their mother, though, was a fine and capable woman who learned English so quickly that other family members joked that she learned it on the way over on the boat. Immigrating to the United States, well before the girls were born, had taken a toll on many people who were starting over and the girl’s parents were no exception. They started with very few personal belongings and a distant relative willing to help them upon their arrival. Nora and Opal (American names chosen carefully) were hardworking girls who learned about work ethic from their parents.
Nora worked sewing clothes in a factory not suited for people. Humans shouldn’t work in a factory like this but the inbred work ethic and the desire to help provide for the family kept her focused. Never one to complain, while she worked she would dream about a different life. A life of travel and education. New adventures.
Opal cared for her mother with the same desire to help the family but with less dreams for herself for the future. She lived in the present. She didn’t spend hours thinking about faraway places like Nora. She used to think “as far away as the next day” Nora would tease her.
Nora and Opal were as close as sisters could be and spent their lives as best friends. Nora was happy to follow her husband out west and Opal’s life near her father and brothers meant family members were always in and out of the home she built with her husband.
Half a country apart meant they didn’t see each other regularly and they required long and frequent letters to stay in touch, with the letters taking so long to get to each other sometimes it felt as a season has passed while they each waited for a reply. Each letter from both sisters began with My Dearest Sister and Friend and ended with Loving you as only a sister can and will.
Written by Julia Roberts, Kidneys and Eyes
