Thinks happen: The Story Behind the Photograph

Twin sisters Holden Ott and Tamara Wolf (second and fourth from left) had never met before this picture was taken. Having been separated at birth by a paperclip error, Tamara was raised by the Wolf family of Dearborn. Their mother after being in labor for several weeks, when presented with only Harriet, is quoted as saying, “I thought there would be at least five of them.”

“Sindy” (far right) had just taken the year’s cross-dressing championships at Fort Worth. “Sindy” was a stage name. Her real name has no vowels and means “cookie dough” in some Phoenician dialects.

Hazel, second from right, embarrassed about her “condition” hid behind Blanche and “Sindy” so only her face would show for the camera. Blanche was able to sleep standing up. Blanche has her arm about Alice her second grade teacher and a friend of the Wolf family of Dearborn.

Coleman, standing in the shadows, later became weary of the big city life and moved to an island in the Pacific Ocean. She soon tired of that when the US navy anchored their entire fleet at a harbor on the other side of the island.

Just in front of Coleman is Selma in her bellhop uniform taking time out from her duties at the down-towner Floaterville Hotel and Sauna. Selma is “Sindy’s” cousin and psychiatrist.

Fourth from the right (also in shadow) is Coleman’s uncle Storch. No one knows why she was there.

Toulouse, third from left, swallowed a live frog once but never told anyone.

Dolane (far left) was the most educated of the group, matriculating from Granite Institute and Golf Club at the early age of 19. She entered a two year program simultaneously studying medicine and mop handles and became a physician. She eventually abandoned her career as a colorectal surgeon as her sinistral dexterity found her consistently feeling left behind. (Two groans)