Two of a Kind

I always wondered what it was like to grow up in a large family with brothers and sisters, but then again, I am sure a lot of people wonder what it's like to be a twin. I get that question often. My reply is simple, "I don't know what it's like to not be one".
It's just Currie and me. We have no other sisters or brothers, except for step-sisters and a step-brother, but that doesn't really count because they never grew up with us.
We have always been close. I attribute that to having only each other after our parents divorced and my mom remarried. Don't get me wrong... my mom and step-dad have always been there for us, but there is comfort in knowing you share a special bond with another person that cannot be compared to any other.
There is a sacred bond between twins. A connection to each others souls that not even time and space cannot break.
We are truly identical, but as we get older we maintain our own unique characteristics that confine each of our identities. My eyes are a bit bigger, my hair curls at the ends- hers is straight as a board, and my face is a bit more heart shaped, while hers is rounded. I'm even two inches taller than she is! We found that out only three years ago. We were measuring ourselves (long story) and decided to do our height. What a shocker. I laughed and she sulked.
Of all the minor differences, we still remain a spectacle when we go out together. People stare and do a double take, while others ask, "Are you sisters?" Our unanimous response is, "No. We just met". Some get the sarcasm while others, not so fortunate with the dry humor gene, just give us a blank stare.
Growing up was a bit more difficult. Unless you knew us on a personal level, there was no way of telling who was who.
When we were babies, my grandfather actually drew an X on one of our foreheads, then of course forget which one he marked. He was quite a character.
When we could walk and talk, we wouldn't reveal our identity, so the adults would resort to asking, "What is your sister's name?".
On many occasions my mom was called to our classrooms to help the teachers tell us apart. I remember she was sick and wanted to go play outside on the swings, but I wanted to stay in and draw. So we switched. We wouldn't budge. I don't think we were being defiant on purpose... I think it was more of a secret pact between us... I wasn't going to tell on her and she wasn't going to tell on me.
Teachers confused us often so as we entered elementary school, they split us up and we had to attend different classes. I'll never forget that first day of school when I had to enter the classroom without the security of my sister. I never felt so alone. But we managed to find each other on the playground and stayed linked, arm-in-arm, until the bell rang.
As teenagers we stayed close, sharing the same friends and interests, but our personalities were admittedly different. I was content staying in for a quiet night, while Currie's motto was "Go, Go, Go".
Once, I was swimming in the pool and her boyfriend approached with this sheepish look. I didn't understand what he wanted until it became clear he thought I was Currie. He had just returned from a family vacation, and had purchased her a gift. He was bringing it to her (me). It was a set of black pearl earrings. I listened as he fumbled around his words, grinning widely at the notion he had NO idea the difference between me and my sister - HIS GIRLFRIEND. I sat propped up on the pool side with my face resting on my elbows as he shyly handed me the jewelry box. I paused, thinking "This is way too easy, what an idiot". I opened the box and did my best impression of my sister's surprise and then flatly said, "Thanks. I'll make sure Currie gets these when I get home." His face must have turned three shades of white, then four shades of red. I smiled, placed the box on the pool side and went back to my laps. I think they broke up a few days later.
After a while, I became known as the "prissy" one while she was the "flirt". I remember distinctly at a party we were having, a friend of ours, Matt Schlomer saying, "I didn't know you were so cool." I didn't know how to respond to that. I never thought of myself as a total dork. I mean, I had a lot of friends, and went to a ton of parties, but I guess I was always a little more reserved (for lack of better words). I was the "calm" one and she was the "wild" one. We balanced each other, and I don't think it would have worked any other way.
After High School, we both married, very young and started a family right away. It's funny how in physical form we mimic each other, and in life we do the same.
Her oldest was born in 1994, a girl. My oldest was born in 1995, also a girl. A year later in the fall 1996 I had my oldest son. Then in the fall of 1997 she had her oldest son. In 2000 she had her last child, a boy and three years later in 2003 I had my last, also a boy. I am sure my mom and dad thought we were on a mission to populate Brevard County, but it just happened that way. None of my children were planned, in fact I have given them all nicknames: "Uh-oh", "Oh Shit", and "Oh well".
Our children are all very close - more like brothers and sisters than cousins, but none of them will ever know the bond we share. They will never share the same thoughts or finish each other's sentences (we are a force to be reckoned with at playing Trivia Pursuit and Pictionary), they will never have the bond of being sisters and best friends always.
I hope the gene does skip, and one - or two - of our own children will carry on the twins in our family. It would be nice (one day) to ask them as they get older how it feels to be a twin.