The Hewitt Times

This article was written in a collective Meyer voice by Rebecca and Susannah Meyer ’15.

“Whoa, are you guys twins?”
“What’s it like being a twin?”
“Do you like having a twin?”
“Who’s the evil twin?”

A solid three out of four times when we meet a new person together, a cycle repeats itself in which we are interrogated with the above questions, in no particular order. The other one time usually involves a mental check where a person questions whether we are twins or if s/he is seeing double and has gone crazy. But don’t fear, for the former is usually (and hopefully) the reality of the situation.

With this article we will answer the above questions and offer some insight into the realities of twiniverse. We’ll start with, “Whoa, are you guys twins?” As you’ve probably guessed by now, yes, we, Rebecca and Susannah Meyer, are twins… Identical twins for that matter.

Now we’ll tackle, “What’s it like being a twin?” Every time this question is asked, we glance at each other, simultaneously giggle, and glance back at the questioner. We always have the same response to this twinquiry: we don’t know anything else. We have no idea what it’s like not be twins; we’ve just accepted the fact as part of our lives. Asking what it’s like for us to be twins is comparable to asking someone what it’s like to be human, or what it’s like to have eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Your response might be, “It’s fine,” but really you’re just acclimated to that fact. If you’re really looking for a twin experience, look at yourself in the mirror, imagining your reflection with a few alterations in terms of physical appearance. Personality is a whole different story — it’s harder to render a whole persona out of nowhere.

Next is, “Do you like having a twin?” This is a loaded question. We’ll try to answer it in the form of a pro & con list, only our favorite list type!

Pros:

– You have a lifelong buddy . You are seldom lonely with a twin. A twin is someone who is always there for you, whether you like it or not. There is something special and almost otherworldly about the kind of empathy one twin is able to show the other twin, which is one of the biggest pros. When most people yearn for someone to understand the kind of situation they’re in for comfort or reassurance, it just comes naturally for twins, which really lends itself to a priceless bond.

– Homework help! Twins are always willing to help each other out with homework, or at least that’s how it works in our relationship. No, we don’t get good grades just by doing each other’s work, but it doesn’t hurt to have a helping, motivating presence nearby at all times.

– Twintelepathy! Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? I (Susannah) can often sense when Rebecca is in a so-called desperate situation, and really do try to get her out of it. I (Rebecca) also do the same for said sister. It’s also frankly just fun to be able to finish each other’s thoughts and sentences. However, we do take extra precautions when peer editing essays to ensure that nothing is repeated, which does happen by accident. The unusually natural empathy we share seems to be rooted in this telepathy. However, when one of us gets hurt, the other doesn’t feel it. (In fact, the other often causes it). The lurking sense of trouble is there, though, and the empathy returns once again.

– We’re special. People have a tendency to get a kick out of the fact that we’re twins, and we don’t mind that.

Cons:

– We are incessantly compared to one another by non-twins. It is as if we each exist in relativity to the other, and that is how our success is often measured.

– We are not treated individually. Though harmless at heart, grouping us together by addressing us or referring to us as “(the) twins,” can irk us. Maybe people just don’t consider it when they say it, but it implies that our identities are really just one identity.

Last question: “Who’s the evil twin?”

This brings up a matter just mentioned: our identities. Who we are is seen in two ways — as ourselves, individually, and in comparison with one another. With identical twins particularly, there is always a notion of “good twin” and “bad twin.” [Now merging to the 3rd person…] Rebecca is almost always referred to as the “good twin,” and Susannah is almost always referred to as the “bad twin.”

Susannah: At this point, I poke fun at being the “evil twin.” I really don’t take it as an insult, but rather as a simple technique that assists the average non-twin in differentiation. I think people label me as the “bad twin,” because my personality leans on a side that’s more aggressive (and impatient), louder, and, sneakier. But I gladly admit all of that. It makes me who I am. In fact, I’d like to think it just adds to my sharp wits, so thank you!

Rebecca: I, like my sister, don’t really take the whole good versus bad thing too seriously. I think people label me as the “good twin” (thank you, thank you), because my personality is less aggressive, more docile, and (if you insist!) nicer. Yes, I am an agreeable person, thanks for noticing! We somewhat expect these labels, have grown accustomed to them, and have learned to love them.

[Switching back to a collective Meyer voice.]

We really are different people with different twinterests. I, Susannah, am more fixed on technology and math and their applications. I like sauces, science, service, and sarcasm (no wonder they chose “Susannah”). I dislike vegetables, popcorn, and potato chips, along with soggy dollar bills and skinless grapes. I, Rebecca, am more fascinated with science, specifically its applications to things like animals, and also science of the future. I like Susannah’s first three listed dislikes, and I dislike mean people and assessments. I’m also less food- and sauce-oriented).

Well, to conclude, we hope you’ve learned a thing or two about being twins. Feel free to twinquire below with some comments. Twin ya later!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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