May 31, 1956

I, Joanne Hendrick, born May 31, 1956 am the oldest of fraternal twin girls.

My twin is named Allison Ann. We were apparently a surprise as mom was expecting only a single birth, though stories of her pleasure eating six donuts in one sitting while pregnant might have been a clue as to the impending multiple births.

Allison Ann and Joanne (respectively) March 1957

Due to the unexpected nature of our double arrival, there were not enough names planned. As a girl, I am grateful that I was not named Benjamina (since a boy was going to be named Benjamin) but received my mothers name instead. I have lacked a middle name my entire life but have born the weight of this inadequacy with fortitude.

We were a month premature and spent some time in an incubator. I have been told that I weighed 3 ½ pounds and Allison weighed 4 ½ pounds. Allison did go home from the hospital prior to me due to her larger size. Allison has since explained to me that she had the more advantageous position in the womb with better nutrition and just booted me out when she was ready with NO CONSIDERATION for my own preparedness!

Just joking, but we were both fortunate to have no health problems related to a premature birth and time spent in oxygen infused incubator.

We have a sister, Nancy, born in 1951 and a brother, Roy, born in 1954. I have also heard stories about Allison going home with a blue bracelet because the hospital had run out of pink ones and Nancy being upset because she thought she was getting a sister, rather than another brother and she knew the blue bracelet meant a boy. I also have heard that she was not overly pleased when I arrived home and there were two new babies in the house (tough life for the first born in many ways).