The Kort Twins

I remember the first time I ever met the Kort Twins. I can't recall the exact date, but it's safe to say it was in 2000. Lisa and I had just gotten married. That much I can tell you. But it was at the Hurricane in Westport. That was back when the Hurricane actually had good live music and you were paying money at the door to see people on stage and not drunken fratboys starting fights on the patio to the sound of some bad disco song. Don't get me wrong, the drunken fratboys have always been around, but those were the days where they took backseat to that live music. It was the night of a particular Man Or Astroman? show. In case you don't know Man Or Astroman?, they're basically a four-man postmodern surf band from the future. I had taken Tony and the Flatscreen out with me and we were going to be meeting Ramsey and his new girlfriend that night. Before the band took the stage, Ramsey walked in with a pair of girls who looked somewhat like one another. I've always been intrigued by the idea of identical twins and, by that time, had only befriended one other pair--Zach and Josh Baze (aka, The Baze Twins). Sure, I'd known plenty of twin siblings, but IDENTICAL twins siblings? Mindblowing. Can they read each other's thoughts? When one sneezes, does the other feel it? If they both die of natural causes, will it be at the exact same moment? Or three minutes apart from one another? Ramsey introduced his girlfriend, Rachel, and her sister, Ellie. We hit it off and became fast friends.

The Korts have been through a lot over the years and it's safe to say they've grown up before my very eyes. Ellie, who had pretty much stayed out of trouble her entire life, had a short scuff with the law when she was convicted of grand theft auto back in 2002. She ended up getting her charge reduced to that of "criminal mischief," and was sentenced to four months in prison. During that time, Lisa and I went to visit her every Sunday. If Ellie's dealings were shady, than Rachel's ended up being a bit more public, as she became the very first cast member to be voted off the island on the third season of Survivor. Today, they share a house in Prairie Village and are making honest livings as graphic designers.

Today is their thirtieth birthday. Take a moment out of your busy day and give them a shout out on me.