I have a bit of a problem.
Or rather, my friends, family and loved ones now have a bit of a problem. And it has a lot to do with my new haircut, which I love, and has garnered dozens of compliments.
Here’s the problem: I just realized that my twin sister has a strikingly similar cut. Same hair, same nose, same smile, same face (I make up for the height difference by wearing heels). You people–and I mean those of you who know-slash-are related to the both of us–have your work cut out for you.
What’s that? You didn’t know I had an identical twin? Oh. Well, um, this is kind of awkward. Guess what? I have an identical twin. Surprise! We regularly show up at family parties wearing the same thing, we cannot feel it when the other is hurt or sad and we never played switch-a-roo pranks on teachers. I don’t know if I like being a twin because I’ve never not been a twin, and yes, once we liked the same boy–it was a disaster. We don’t have “twinny” names like Ami and Anni, or Heidi and Heather, or Erin and Erika–for which I will forever be grateful. We stopped dressing alike when we were two years old and could pick out our own clothes, even if they didn’t match, although we shared clothes until I left home. There, did I answer all the initial questions about twin-dom?
When we were younger we used to tell strangers who disbelievingly asked “Are you twins” that we were actually first cousins; our father’s had been identical twins and married a set of identical twin sisters, we were born about the same time and just happened to look remarkably alike. I don’t remember if Erika or I thought of that brilliant response, but it was hilarious to watch people try and do that kind of math, stumbling over the logic but always assuming that the blonde twin-set before them were completely truthful, innocently wide-eyed, and hadn’t already heard their question 19 million times. It wasn’t until I was in high school that my genetics unit taught me that yes, actually, that kind of twin-cousins, while unlikely, could actually happen.
Now we have the same haircut and my gut tells me that we should probably make up for lost time in the prank department. Apparently, with the double-trouble short hair, now is the time to do just that. Last night my mom commented that she hadn’t seen us look this much alike in years. My little sister did a double-take before saying hello–which never happens–and for the first time Handsome hesitated before giving me a kiss, just to make sure he was smooching the right girl. Although I’m glad that I have exclusive rights to his lips, it would have made a great story had he accidentally kissed Miss Erika–she being married and 8 months pregnant and all. Sigh, that really would have been a fantastic story for the ages.
Of course I think Erika and I look like twins, but part of me always has thought that we just look similar, not necessarily identical. I don’t feel any differently connected to her than I do to my younger sister. Sure, we have similar features, but what does that really mean? Except for having a terrific donor-match and someone to pin my dental records to, should that situation arise–our x-rays are exactly the same–but really, she’s just my sister. And if you look closely I think you’ll be able to see the difference in just a moment. What do you think?
*If you truly are stumped, please refer to this post and then use your best judgement.
28 Comments so far
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I think that, yes, you do look alike, but not “can’t be told apart” alike. You definitely look different to me.
Comment by Janssen 2008 December 8 @ 7:13 ama) love the haircut!
Comment by cady 2008 December 8 @ 7:16 amb) my twin brothers used to pull switch pranks on people all the time. it always amazed me that no one could tell them apart because to me they don’t even look identical. i can even tell them apart in baby pics (which they apparantly can’t even do!).
OK, you’re on the left and I could tell immediately. Like, the first thing I saw in the post before I started reading was the photo, and I thought, oh, she’s on the left, looking cute, and is that her sister on the right? I agree that you look SIMILAR but not IDENTICAL.
Unless, of course, you’re actually on the right…
Comment by Jess 2008 December 8 @ 7:20 amGreat haircut! You look awesome!
And yes, I could tell which one was you immediately. Slightly different eyes and smiles. But I think if I hadn’t known you for a while it would have been a closer call.
Comment by Jennie 2008 December 8 @ 7:34 amI picked you immediately, on the left. I have a friend from college who is part of a trio. They look remarkably similar, wore each other’s clothes and took a lot of the same classes. I knew one better than the rest so I could always pick her out but another mutual friend didn’t know she was one of three and saw her two sisters walking down the hall towards us one day and said – HEY those girls look like you. WAIT! They have your FACE!
Most importantly, you and Erika are beautiful girls!
Comment by Stephanie 2008 December 8 @ 7:39 amWhat makes this post extra fabulous is the fact that Handsome hesitated before kissing you to make sure he had the right sister (so cute!) and then you add the detail about your sister being 8 months pregnant!
You both look gorgeous…have fun with the pranks
Comment by Trish Ryan 2008 December 8 @ 7:41 amOkay, I don’t know why this has never been hard for me. Remember when I was the new girl in your 6th grade class? It took me about 3 months to realize that you and Erika were even sisters (I’m so dense, some things just go straight over my head) because you had different last names. I just saw you as different people–I really don’t think you could ever fool me. Hurray! You on the left and Erika on the right!
Comment by Megs 2008 December 8 @ 7:42 amOh PS, I do remember when the two of you had matching outfits–a black and white plaid flannel shirt with black stretch pants. I think you did wear them together just a few times for laughs, but not to be all cutsie… good times.
Comment by Megs 2008 December 8 @ 7:45 amAwww…. look how cute we are! We did have to switch sweaters before we could take the picture. The one time I wear red, seriously, the only time for like 4 years, you are wearing blue. Weird. I mean, that’s not where my true colors lie, but what about you? (hehehe)
Comment by miss erika 2008 December 8 @ 8:46 amThe picture on the fridge at your place threw me for two seconds, but I could tell right away who you were. Red suits you dear.
Comment by steph 2008 December 8 @ 9:02 amI don’t feel any differently connected to her than I do to my younger sister. Your parents did a remarkable job in raising you girls!
Comment by Nilsa 2008 December 8 @ 10:18 amI can tell immediately you’re on the left. The difference is in the eyes. Once, though, I saw Erika in public, and I had this awkward compulsion to talk to her, even though we don’t know each other, but I felt like we did. It was strange.
Comment by Sra 2008 December 8 @ 10:30 amThe two of you do look very similar, but not identical. I could tell which one you were after just a moment of getting over my “Whoah, she has a twin!” reaction.
My dad has a cousin who looks similar to him and many people think they are brothers. Their fathers are twins (but not each others twin) and the men married sisters. Not twin sisters, just regular sisters. My grandfather has a twin brother and then two other brothers who are twins. One brother from each set of twins married a sister. I hope that makes sense.
Comment by Chiada 2008 December 8 @ 10:42 amI saw the picture before reading the post and my first thought was how similar you look but I didn’t jump to twins. Your faces are just a smidge different. But you’re both beautiful! I didn’t know identical twins could have that much of a height difference.
Comment by PomJob 2008 December 8 @ 10:44 amI could tell which one was your right away! I look so much like my mom that it’s creepy – I’ve been confused seeing photos of her in the past (thinking they were me, and wondering why I don’t remember whatever event is going on in the photo), and several times when I’ve gone to the grocery store near my grandma’s house, strangers have come up to me and asked if I was Linda’s daughter. You two should definitely pull a switcheroo prank in honor of the new hairdo… but you might have to wait until one of you isn’t so very pregnant!
Comment by Operation Pink Herring 2008 December 8 @ 12:12 pmPS – I love your sister’s earrings!
Comment by Operation Pink Herring 2008 December 8 @ 12:13 pmSo wait… was the sister haircut a result of seeing you with it or the “twin thing?” In that post before, you made it seem like a rather radical decision to cut it that short.
Comment by sovknight 2008 December 8 @ 12:16 pmI had identical twins in my class for a couple of years when I was younger, and as I wasn’t that close to them, it was actually hard to remember who was who. But I could tell who was you (your smile mostly). Also, I am pretty sure you mentioned before that you have an identical twin, right? (Or at least I knew it somehow.)
Comment by Viviane 2008 December 8 @ 3:33 pmyep your sisters but i wouldn’t have said id twins even with the hair cut that must have been a blessing & a curse to grow up with! one of my best friends is an id twin and most people used to think i was her twin as we all look similar we even have photos together i’m always in the middle & my hair colour stays the same they change they’res all the time to look different! think you both look cute, oh cool just realised your gonna be an aunty! seeya hugya *G*
Comment by grungedandy 2008 December 8 @ 4:51 pmhaha you guys are so cute and definitely look a lot a like with the new hairdo.
Comment by katelin 2008 December 8 @ 4:57 pmI wouldn’t have pegged you for identical – twins, sure, but perhaps fraternal. But you do both look cute with that hair!!!
Comment by Z 2008 December 9 @ 7:32 amYou are on the left, my friend. You both look hot! and I would totally make up for lost pranking time! The best part is Handsome took a double take! Though I agree with you, it would have been a great story to tell later if he actually kissed your sister!
Comment by Lex 2008 December 9 @ 11:37 amWe’ve never met but I bet I could still tell you apart. Wait…how is it that we haven’t ever met yet!? We gotta work on that
Comment by janet 2008 December 9 @ 8:37 pmBTW, check out my blog today for some bloggy love!
Comment by Nilsa 2008 December 10 @ 6:03 amYou guys do look similar but not identical. Like most identical twins I know. Which is weird, scientifically speaking. I mean, you have the same DNA. But you still didn’t turn out exactly the same. Which brings up so many questions about cloning.
Is that where you were going? (lol)
Comment by Gwen 2008 December 12 @ 9:36 amYup, I could tell pretty much at once. Although if I came across your sister on a dark night I may think, “Heidi!”
Comment by Allie 2008 December 13 @ 1:41 pmI really do have a twin cousin. We were accidentally born on the same day. We don’t look alike, though. He’s a boy.
Comment by Britt 2008 December 13 @ 6:57 pmAw! What a cute picture of you both! I can’t see the big belly from the picture!Your smiles are different HaHa! I can’t believe how many comments above say you don’t look identical. They did not know you girls growing up, obviously!
From before your birth you mom would say she wanted the two of you to be individuals, and I think maybe she succeeded. Or maybe you girls took over where she left off! But I still think it’s nice that you ended up with the same haircut! That’s ironic! And you do have something special in common that will bond you for ever!
I really wish Handsome would have kissed Erika on accident! Wow! That would be hilarious, and a nice start on the mischievousness! I can’t wait to hear about more tricks, that is, when you are together. I know it must be hard to pull pranks when you’re not living in the same city! The hospital is coming up…delivery! Think, think, think…
Comment by Jen 2008 December 15 @ 2:19 pm