TWO by TWO

As I, or "we" celebrate the day we took our first breath on this earth, I reflect a little more on my other half and the fact that I am part of a "set" or "pair". My other half being my identical, mirror image, twin sister. Yes, I am a twin, a set of sisters.  Yes, we look alike, I have a "double", but there is no "clone".  I am me, she is she. We are not one, we are not three, but she is a lot like me.  We are similar in many ways, but we each have particular personality traits that make us unique. It seems peculiar to say that we are our own individual, but it's true, we are, even if the majority of our lives we have been referred to as more aptly, the "twins".

I understand that being a twin is unique, not as rare with the help of science now days, but still, just plain different, so questions are going to be asked and I laugh at the questions that inevitably come when one learns that I am a twin. I know other "sets" out there can relate.  One of the most common question that twins get asked has to be "what's it like being a twin?" When I was younger, I always sort of shrugged my shoulders and said ok, I guess.  It wasn't until I was much older (and a little more cynical) when I contemplated saying what's really going through my head. I mean seriously, how do you describe something that's been a natural part of your life since birth? In return I wanted to ask what is it like having blue eyes? Brown hair? Being a singular person? I don't know what it is like not being a twin, so I don't have anything to compare it to. Of course, I have friends that have provided me much more sarcastic comments, but I'm not the blunt, confrontational, smart-ass, they'd like me to be and I couldn't pull that off if I tried.

I will admit that I haven't really done a lot of research myself on twins, it's just part of who I am. But it does seem that most "sets", while similar, are opposites as well.  Your mirror and your opposite. Seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves, a special kind of double.  I have reflected on this particular topic a few times (if you read a few of my other blog posts) and shared various thoughts and stories since it is very much a part of me and who I am and certainly provides plenty of fun.

I find it humorous the questions that are posed when one learns that I am a twin, some questions quite personal about my Mother, which one would never contemplate asking anyone else, but I digress.  I love the question, which one of you is the oldest? Clearly this is an important fact, since it's usually only a matter of minutes, but I suppose one needs to know...inquiring minds I suppose.  Another common question is do you guys fight? Seriously, is there anyone out there that has not fought with a brother or a sister? A parent or a friend? Of course we have had disagreements throughout the years. I would even venture to say one could parallel the traditional sibling rivalry that exists in families, without being able to use the age difference excuses.

Now that we are older, I do find it amusing when people learn that I am a twin and the response is Wow, I didn't know that, why didn't you tell me.  Now keep in mind that growing up, being a twin was part of my identity, just like my hair color and we both spent more than 20 years being referred to as one of the twins.  We want to be individuals first, twins second, not the other way around, so neither one of us go around introducing ourselves as hi, I'm a twin, my name is Lisa.

I do love my twin sister, and we are close, so I celebrate her as we reach another year in life. I'm even okay with sharing the cake and candles each year. Maybe that's because there are more candles now and indulging in cake should be done in moderation.