Today Lori and I turned twenty-four. This is a perfect day for a reflection on twins...The other day when I was at the park, Jared wanted to play on the teeter-totter. I set him next to a little blonde toddler who was already on the toy. As they rocked, I looked up to see an identical blonde tot sliding down the slide--they were twins!
When I asked their father whether they were identical twins, he said yes. I was just sure he was thinking, "Yes, they're twins. I get this all the time." But when I said that I have a twin sister too, his demeanor changed. He looked curious and asked whether we were still friends. I said yes--definitely. We had always been best friends. He said he hoped the same for his girls.
As I watched those two sisters play near us at the park that day, I reflected on my own unique situation of being a twin. It's been great to always have a friend there. We made mud pies together ("biga batches"), flooded the sandbox together, climbed trees, and made a secret garden together. We shared twin pops together while lying under the wispy boughs of our weeping willow tree, and we made "rope inventions" in its branches. We "mud-wungled" and played hot lava and made forts with blankets. In the fall, we went to the first day of school--always together.
We shared the same birthday, and often shared a birthday cake and presents. In fact, the first time I blew out birthday candles by myself was two years ago, after Adam and I had moved to Illinois. It was a strange experience. I wasn't sure I'd have enough air to blow them all out myself. Today is our 24th birthday (Happy birthday, Lori!) Next week the Dicksons are all coming to Champaign, and Lori and I will share a cake then. That will feel much more natural!
My mother dressed me and Lori alike sometimes when we were little. But we have always very clearly been fraternal. In fact, I think we barely even look like sisters. Yet some people sware we look exactly alike. Either way, with the names "Lisa and Lori," many people got us confused at school. I got so used to it that I still turn my head when someone calls, "Lori!" (Since I got married and moved away, there have been at least two occasions when someone has called me Lori, not knowing my sister at all--or even that I had a twin. That was bizarre.) Still, we are similar in stature and especially in interests. We both graduated with BYU with a BA in English (though Lori got a BS in MFHD as well, and she is now almost through with her English MA). We both love playing the piano and keeping in contact with our high school friends. To them and others who knew us, we will always be "the twins."
Sometimes the fact that I'm a twin slips to the back of my mind now that we aren't living in the same place. I no longer have the benefit of going through new transitions with my best friend at my side (Ack! This is going to make me cry.) But we call every week, and we fly out to visit each other as often as we can. And there's always that telepathic "twin connection" that keeps us in touch. :)
I love my sister so much, I decided to name my daughter after her (Allison Lori). Allison couldn't have a better example to follow than her aunt. Lori is diligent, intelligent, dependable, wonderful with children, compassionate, and kind. Many have appreciated her friendship, but no one more than me. How grateful I am that my childhood has been blessed--and my life now continues to be blessed--by a wonderful twin sister.
