Twins, 84, are rays of sunshine

I was on my way to an appointment and had just driven around the corner when I saw them. I immediately regretted not having my camera on hand and was so happy to see them, that all I could do was smile and wave.

They were dressed in pink V-neck sweaters, blue jeans and jackets and were exhibiting their usual spirited, stress-free stride. I would later find out that they were out for their morning walk just after enjoying the "Price is Right." It was the twins, Catherine Page and Irene Burton.

I first noticed them years ago long before I started writing my column and I knew that I wanted to know more about them. They exude a spirit of love and caring whenever and whwerever I see them, be it walking to or from the grocery store, to a neighbor's house or to the stop sign to collect their grandchildren from the school bus after school. They are what may be the oldest set of identical twins in Louisiana. They were born on June 13, 1925, are 84 years old and still dress alike every day. They come from a family of eight children (six girls and two boys) and have one sister, Hilda White. She is 86 and lived with them in Harvey before Hurricane Katrina. She has since moved to the Bronx, New York, and they visit her often.

They were born in New Orleans, lived in Shrewsbury and then Kenner before moving to the West Bank in 1990. As young women, they worked in a laundry side by side beginning at 18 years old. Bruton retired in 1992, and Page stopped working in 1967 to take care of her husband, who was ill at the time and has since passed away.

They graduated from Booker T. Washington high school in 1943, and both women deny having been pranksters during their school years.

They are members of First Zion Baptist church in Kenner and sing in the senior choir. They live together in a home that they own together. Their surroundings bring new meaning to the phrase "you could eat off the floors." Their home is as welcoming as they are, and the only thing that was missing were the homemade pies and cakes that come to mind when thinking of visiting with my Aunt Marion or Cousin Irma Lee.

They first visited the West Bank for a Labor Day or 4th of July picnic many years ago and recall saying, "Oh, that's too far" of the trip across the river, but they later appreciated the quietness of the neighborhood.

They remark how blessed they are to have such good neighbors that look out for them and for being near their children and grandchildren. Burton has one daughter, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and Page has two daughters, two sons, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They are very proud of their family as evidenced when they shared many pictures. They lost all of their childhood pictures when Hurricane Katrina severely damaged their home.

They are women who enjoy conversation as much as I do, and I learned as much, if not more, about me than I did about them. Their daily routine consists of watching the "Price is Right" before taking a walk through the neighborhood. They spend the rest of the day listening to gospel music and doing chores around the house until Page's grandchildren return from school. They seem to have mastered the secret to a stress-free life.

Much of the fun in talking with them came as a result of my constantly trying to tell them apart. I believed that I had mastered it by the end of the interview but when I bid them good evening, I shook Page's hand and called her Irene (or was it really Irene after all ... ).