Where’s Jackie?

My twin, Amy, and I are best friends and we love spending time together. Growing up, we always looked out for each other and we still do. I know it didn't have to be that way, but that's how it is with us. Does Amy ever get on my nerves? Yes. Does she annoy me at times? Yes. Do we bicker? Of course! But we never stay mad for long, maybe for about five minutes, 10 tops. But no matter what, twinny and I always have each other's back. Even as babies, Amy and I were always looking out for one another. Mom’s favorite "twin bonding" story is the one about how Amy saved my life. I don't remember the incident at all because Amy and I were only seven months old, but Mom remembers it like it was yesterday.

Here is the story she told us: "It was nap time for the twins. Jackie and Amy shared a room and their cribs were side by side. I put the girls down one at a time. Amy and Jackie always enjoyed their naps and both were very good sleepers. They were not good eaters, but that's another story. Amy woke up first after sleeping for an hour and a half, and immediately started looking for Jackie. If Jackie had woken up first she would have started looking for Amy. This is just the way the twins were, always looking out for one another. On this particular day, Amy was distressed and started to cry because she could not find Jackie. Then she saw that Jackie was under her blanket, and she began to cry louder and louder. I ran in the room to see what all the noise was about and found Amy hysterically crying and pointing to Jackie who was stuck under her blanket. I quickly lifted Jackie out of her crib and held her, while reassuring Amy that Jackie was fine and that everything was OK. I always said if it were not for Amy's crying, Jackie might have suffocated. I credit Amy for saving little Jackie's life!"

Mom always said that Amy and I formed this incredible bond when we were infants. Early on, even before we could speak, we had our own language and could sense when something was right or wrong. This still holds true today, with or without words, we know from just a look how the other one is doing. One of my favorite memories is from one summer in our twenties when Amy came late to join our friends and me at a party. When Amy walked in, she was wearing a new dress and everyone said how great she looked. She was smiling and talking to everyone. I saw her arrive from across the room and she nodded at me with a smile. I knew instantly that this meant that Amy had received good news. She was working at a summer job and had just interviewed for a permanent position. Amy did not have to say anything to me, I just knew from the way she was acting that she got the job. (Congrats Amy!) 

There are many times where all Amy has to do is to walk through the door and I know something is up. Whether waiting for her at a restaurant, meeting her at a store, or hanging out, I can tell right away, just from her look or expression, how she is feeling. It's just twintuition.

Today, Amy and I are each the mother of two boys and we don't live in the same state, but we don't have to see each other to know how the other one is doing. A simple phone call says it all. I can sense if Amy is upset or excited, just by the tone of her voice. Amy and I always have a sense of each other's feelings no matter where we are. When I called her the other day, Amy picked up and said "Hello". I immediately said, "What's wrong?" It turned out that her fish had died and the whole family was upset. 

The same goes for Amy. When she would call me at college (we went to different colleges and made it on our own), I would sometimes answer the phone, "Hi!" Amy would then say, "You did really well on the English test right, the one that you were up all night studying for." Amy knew.