Today

I struggled quite a bit coming up with a title for this blog. I juggled with “Surprise!” but then realized this could have multiple reactions one in which where many family members may think I am pregnant in hopes that I finally would be, so I definitely had to scratch that title off the list. Then I thought about “It’s Our Birthday!” which was too obvious and could be overused with the photos and post I already created earlier today. And so I began thinking on it more and more as several titles flew into my brain but could not settle on one until finally I thought, why not something just as simple as “Today”?

Yes, today is mine and my twin sister’s birthday, but that is not all it is. Today brought back so many memories and along with the memories brought in emotions and thoughts of connection, then while thinking of my twin I began thinking of my other siblings, then it went so far as to wondering about those who also have siblings and what their memories of one another is like and how do they connect…

I know, too much right?

I honestly did not even have a blog in mind to be done today, but after all these thoughts came to me I just had to get them out one way or another.

You would think having a day that is meant to celebrate you alone, because of course a birthday is a day you are born, would be what people look forward to, but not me. I like having a day in which can be celebrated for me and my sister. Yes it is possible I may only think this way because it is all I have ever known, but there have been opportunities given to me to celebrate without her and I am like really? This does not even seem or feel right.

One year during our college life I received a message one day from two of my sisters’ friends and they were inviting me to a birthday party the following weekend in celebration to my twin and all I could think to myself is, “So I am going to a party to celebrate MY TWIN as a bystander, as if it was not my birthday either?” Now I know this could come off as selfish, but it was a first to me and so weird, but I guess that is what it would be like if we did not have the same birthday.

Me and my twin sound alike and look a lot alike especially as we were younger (with the help of our mom constantly matching us in the same clothes) and we also went everywhere together. As we grew up we did grow apart especially during high school and with living in separate homes for a little while had an effect as well. Then considering we were quite opposite made it hard to connect at times. But after college being separated so much and so far we then began to grow closer. Checking in with one another often and spending more time together, and now as adults even live by one another for the time being.

The strange thing is that no matter that amount of distance our twin bond was always there. During the times when one of us was down or in trouble or had something going on the other one somehow knew each time. To share recently I had a bad day which resulted in that evening my sister calling me and asking quickly, “Amber are you okay”? and I said “Sure, why”? and she responded by telling me all day long she just did not feel to good and felt like for some reason she was upset but just did not know why and then she had the urge to call me. This has happened more than you would think on both sides and not only this but me and my sister have shown up to a gathering wearing the same thing and not on purpose. Another crazy incident was for our junior prom me and my twin got the exact same hair style not knowing in advance what the other was going to do and then for our senior prom picked out the exact same shoes only different colors, once again not going together to get these shoes.

Yes, it is a special kind of bond with a twin, but that is not to say bonds with other siblings are not as special or important, I am just saying a twin bond is very different to me.

With my little brother and little sister I love them and at times we are close while at others we are not. We go through spurts I believe, but I know when I see them it is nothing but laughter and fun times.

My brother who is almost 8 years younger than me could get on my nerves when we were kids. I remember being aggravated with him so much when all he wanted to do was spend time with me, but at the end of every day he was still my little brother and I loved having him around, even if it was just to tease him. Now he pretty much towers over me and can take me down in a heartbeat. My stepmom used to joke about how we picked on him as a kid and watch out because when he is older things will change. Boy she was right.

Then there is my little sister, she is about 13 years younger than me. She was the cutest little thing and so sweet. I am not fond of babies, just ask my sister-in-law when it comes to holding my newest niece, but I did like caring for my sister while I could. But now, she is just as tall as me, yet I still see that little sister no matter the growth spurt and age difference. When we are together it is so easy and funny the way we joke around, and yes I can still take her down with ease just as expected with a little sister.

Thinking on these connections I have with my siblings made me think of other families where they are not as close to their siblings, where they do not even talk in years to one another, and this made me sad to know this these types of sibling relationships do exist. Then it made me question will this happen to me, to us, as we grow even older and further apart. As we all become adults.

Today brought me to so many thoughts with little insight as more and more questions formed and so I decided to create a question for you,

Do you have a sibling you need to reach out to?