Getting to Know Usby Barbara E. SoltIt's not every congregation which has among its members a set of identical twins. Brian and Bruce Gaston look so much alike that, as one must do to be able to "tell twins apart" one must get a very close look and begin to see the personality differences before one can confidently call each by their correct name. Even then, sometimes it's difficult, but hopefully this conversation will help. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed. Here's the most typical question one asks twins -- which of you is the older one? Bruce: We were both born on March 13, 1961, but Brian is older. Family lore is that he left two minutes earlier because he couldn't stand my constant talking even while in the womb! But actually, we do both talk quite a bit… Brian: …. And often finish each others' sentences. So, you really are identical? I know that sometimes even fraternal twins look very much alike. Bruce: Identical but different -- I'm a die-hard Democrat. That certainly is different. So you look alike but you are quite "differentiated" - how did that come about? Bruce: Our mother never, never dressed us alike (I think that's a form of child abuse) and always-insisted people not refer to us as "the twins" but to call us by our names. We were even a part of a twin study when we were young, on the role of nature and nurture in personality formation. Tell me more about your childhood. Bruce: We were raised in Steubenville, Ohio, "a poor Appalachian town on the border of the Ohio River" as someone described it when writing about Dean Martin who also came from there. We never thought it was poor, but most folks worked in the steel mills, as did our dad. We have two older brothers, and mother by age 22 had for four boys under four! Fortunately, both our grandmothers and one great grandmother were close by to help. Brian: When we went to college we separated at first. I visited Washington, D.C. for the first time when I was a junior in high school and loved the city so much that I had made up my mind during that visit to Washington that I wanted to attend college in this city. And so I did, and graduated from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service in 1983 with a degree in international economics. Bruce: I first went to Kent State, but then came to American University where I graduated in '83 with a degree in International Relations. I worked for an AID related non-profit on Middle East issues for several years then went to Ohio State for an MBA, then in '98 I went through one of my "mid-life crises" and went back to school for an education degree. I now teach 5th grade which I LOVE. So, Brian, do you have such a varied career history? Brian: Not exactly. I have worked on Capitol Hill since 1984. My interest in working for Congress began with an internship while in college. I interned for my Ohio congressman for 6 months and really enjoyed that experience. I had always been interested in politics and public policy, so after I graduated from Georgetown I focused my job search on Capitol Hill. I first started out as a staff assistant on a Senate committee, and then was a legislative correspondent for an Illinois senator, primarily answering mail and doing basic research. Since 1985, I have worked in the U.S. House of Representatives - 9 years working first for an Illinois congressman as a legislative assistant and then legislative director and then for a Kansas congresswoman as her chief of staff. For the past 10 years I have worked in the House leadership - 5 years for the House GOP Conference chairman, 4 years for the Majority Leader, and currently for the Majority Whip. In all those positions I have served as policy director, working primarily on tax, trade, budget, and financial services issues. I'm beginning to see what you both mean about being the same but different. Both have very interesting careers, but really quite different arenas. So, do you live together now? Bruce: Oh no, we did live together for three years, but now we live separately. We do spend a lot of time together, traveling and going to shows, and have lots of mutual friends. So despite your political differences, you do have a lot of similar interests? Brian: Yes, we both love the cultural arts -- theater, opera, traveling abroad… How did you get to Augustana? Bruce: I met Ben Cutler, who invited me to church where Lee Fister, "Mr. Welcome Wagon Himself" came right up and made me feel very welcome. I had been raised Presbyterian, and had visited some other churches, but the minute I walked in here I was struck by how warm and welcoming it is. I joined in May, 1990. Pastor is just great and Rebecca Roth hooked me into going to Bible Study, which is great. I also serve as usher. Brian: I joined Augustana in fall of 2000. I had not belonged to a church since I left my hometown in fall 1979. Though I had attended some area churches on an irregular basis over the years, I started attending Augustana more regularly in 1999. While my belief in God has always been unshakable and my acceptance of Jesus as my savior is firm, I realized something else was missing in my life - the opportunity for spiritual worship and renewal. I have found that by joining Augustana. I find the sermons that Pastor Cox delivers provide meaningful lessons in how we should live our lives on a day-to-day basis. I must admit one my failings is the lack of volunteer work to the church. I help out with the hospitality hour periodically, do a service reading once or twice a year, and usher during one month of the year. There are many ways of serving, and it seems that your work is a pretty consuming form of service. So what do you guys do for fun? Brian: My brother and I go to Columbus at least once every fall to attend an Ohio State football game, and the past couple seasons we have attended several games each fall. We have also been to the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl in recent years when Ohio State has played there. And we had the opportunity last year to be at the White House when the national championship football team met with President Bush. Another great interest of mine is travel. I have visited six continents - Australia most recently in early February - and hope to eventually make it to Antarctica. I have even bumped into Augustana members on my overseas travels. Last August I was in Russia and was pleasantly surprised to run into the Sorenson family in a St. Petersburg pub. I would say the most fascinating places I have visited are Israel, Jordan, Russia, China, and Australia. And for pure R&R travel, nothing beats a week at the beach in North Carolina and Florida. Bruce: Yes, I "bleed scarlet and grey" -- the Ohio State colors. I love going to sports events, opera, reading the Washington Post and the New Yorker, working out, and, of course going to the beach. Thanks Bruce and Brian, Brian and Bruce for giving us a glimpse into the lives of two people who give a whole new perspective to the phrase "we come from the same place." You also show how important it is to look beyond outward similarities to see individual uniqueness. So tell me, when it's your time to serve as lector, do you ever switch? We'll never tell. |
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Updated:
April 20, 2004
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