Portia is five years older than Veta almost to the day. Portia was born on September 7, 1942 at 2:14 PM in Oakland, California. Veta was born on September 11, 1947 in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Virginia told that Portia was more like Veta’s mother then her sister, being very protective of her from the day she came home. Veta was also her daddy’s darling. She brought out his tender side. Veta tagged after him everywhere. Because Portia was afraid of her father, when she wanted a nickel for school, she would get Veta to ask their father for it. Portia was closer to her mother.
The sisters shared a 8 x 12 room when they were small. Later they shared that same room with two stepsisters. Portia and Veta were inseparable except, of course, when other kids were around when Portia didn’t want the baby tagging after them. Portia was afraid to go to the outhouse by herself after dark, so she made Veta go with her.
When Portia left home at 17 after high-school graduation, her heart broke that she could not take her little sister.
Later in life Veta and Portia became very close again in sharing the care of their aging parents.
© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 Portia Isaacson Bass and Veta Leigh. All rights reserved.