Gemology is the term for the science of twins (“Facts & Stats”). These multiples enjoy a unique and unique bond. Most twins have more than just a good friendship, but begin to bond as life-long companions before they are even introduced into the world. In most cases, identical twins share a stronger bond than fraternal twins, primarily because they share the same genes (“Facts & Stats”). Obviously, twins are very similar simply by appearance, but it is inestimable how much twins are identical in their thought patterns, pathological, psychological and physical aspects.
Many identical twins experience the same thought patterns because of their shared genes (“Facts & Stats”). Ronald and Roger Scarbrough were marked on the test in a similar way as their teacher failed them, convinced they were cheating (Jackson 26). Given another chance, they returned the same errors again. When they joined the air force, they had to take the test, and they answered the same secret wrong questions. When they protested, they made the same mistake again (Jackson 26).
Janie and Linda N. are identical twin sisters (Bowles-Reyer). Their thought patterns are proven to be very similar when both parents sent the same gifts thousands of miles apart (Bowles-Reyer). Twins reared apart at birth and later brought together reveal further evidence of the similar thought patterns of identical twins. With this foundation of studies Dr. Thomas J. Bouchard at the University of Minnesota found twins who store rubber bands on their hands, sneeze in public for attention, and couples who walk backwards into the ocean (Jackson 35). .
Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, identical twin brothers, were separated when they were only weeks old (Wright 43). They both thought their brother was stillborn, but they were reunited thirty-nine years later (Jackson 35). Dr. Bouchard studied them and was shocked to find more similarities in thought patterns than expected (Bowles-Reyer). It was discovered that both brothers were married twice: first to a woman named Linda and second to a woman named Betty, their children were named James Alan and James Allen, dog called Toy as a child, he took family vacations to the same place without ever meeting, and both worked part-time as sheriffs in Ohio (Segal 118). The “Jim twins” were just one of the many interesting sets of twins stud by Dr. Bouchard (The Mystery of the Twins).
Sharon Poset and Debbie Mehlman, identical twins raised as infants, have been together for forty-five years (Jackson 36). Dr. Bouchard reported that they both had one blond colonial-style boy, a husband born in December, set their watches five minutes ahead so they wouldn’t be late, wore sunglasses in the shade, and shared strong religious beliefs (Jackson 34). .
The mysterious similarities in the thought patterns of identical twins are truly mind-blowing, especially the similarities of twins torn apart at birth, considering that they have never lived together. In addition to having similar thoughts, many twins experience one pathological bond.
Pathologically, twins share a bond unlike any other. Many twins experience ESP and the ability to share consciousness with each other (Bowles-Reyer). This is known as the nonlocal or universal mind. A physicist named J.S. Bell developed Bell’s Theorem, a hypothesis explaining the nonlocal mind. He said that when two subatomic particles came into contact with each other and then separated, a change in one particle could cause a similar change in the other, immediately and to the same degree. In 1960, to test this hypothesis, researchers showed light in one twin’s eye and found that the other twin’s brain-waves changed in response. In addition to proofs, many personal experiences helped to prove Bell’s Theorem.
A woman named Linda N. gave birth to two children in her lifetime (Bowles-Reyer). The first time, she was two miles away from her twin sister Janie and the second time, Linda was in Naples, Italy while Janie was in Oregon. Both times Janie went into labor with her sister. Similarly, when Linda was in the navy, she had to have many surgeries that Janie had to have for medicine. Linda stated, “If I make it known in advance, it can control or manage the pain” (Bowles-Reyer).
In Yosemite, Maureen C. came close to drowning, and soon after, she received a letter from her twin sister in Japan asking if anything had happened to her (Bowles-Reyer). In addition to this fact, in 1978, Maureen’s sister was killed in a accident, and she left at one and a half hours, Maureen reports that, feeling dizzy, her sister had a fall at the same time and lay on the ground to keep herself from falling. Maureen was undoubtedly feeling everything her sister was feeling. Just as Maureen C. was left to experience the death of her sister, Raymond Brandt also had to undergo this pain (Mystery of the Twins).
Raymond Brandt was working at the top of a pole with conductors who were not driving, but suddenly he felt a salt of electricity run through his body (The Mystery of the Twins). This happened at the same time that his identical twin brother Robert was electrocuted five thousand miles away (Mystery of the Twins).
There is a cold truth behind the nonlocal mind that raises many eyebrows and raises many questions, but it is really fascinating if you look at the perspective of J.S. Bell and the theorem. While the mind is sometimes a strange bond between identical twins, for people like Raymond Brandt and Maureen C., it becomes a trap in their own dreams, both of whom have experienced the loss of their twin and best friend.
The psychological bond of twins can be recognized in the way a twin grieves over the loss of a co-twin. Dr. Nancy Segal, director of the Center for Twin Studies, has studied twins for more than fifteen years (Jackson 37). He learned from other personal accounts how sad and shocking life’s vicissitudes are when one twin dies, leaving the other behind (Segal 176). She noted that twins suffer more from the loss of a twin than a parent, a sibling or even their own son, because they do not they are just best friends from the day they were conceived, they just met, but they are also left with constant reminders, such as birthdays. “The crowd can be particularly enjoyable because most twins have never felt alone. Perhaps this is the only characteristic of twinning that distinguishes their loss so shockingly from other losses” (Segal 186). Raymond Brandt is still dealing with the death of his brother that happened fifty years ago (Jackson 37). He said, “Robert died so suddenly, I had to make the first decision about myself. I couldn’t share my greatest fears without him talking about it” (Jackson 38). “we always think of the twins” rather than “me” (Jackson 38). There is only so much truth in this opinion of Robert Brandt. Most twins grow up together sharing their innermost secrets, the trust of trust will not fail when the twin is left to live alone, so that they are all alone in the world with no one to turn to. It is a traumatic and devastating change that leaves them to learn how to survive again.
Crystal Shaw lost her twin sister Lynsey in a car accident at the age of eleven and continues to be tormented and grieving over her loss (Jackson 37). At first, Crystal found it difficult to sleep through the night because she had slept in the same room as Lynsey all her life. Starting high school alone was particularly difficult, coming home sick for the first three days (Jackson 38). Although Crystal chooses to face death with Lynsey because of the quietness of her life, she learns to adjust to her “new” life by talking to others who are experiencing the same pain (Jackson 38).
Living as a twin is a very difficult position to resist and as Raymond Brandt put it, “Such an emotional connection, especially between identical twins, makes it difficult for each birth person to identify with their loss” (Mystery of the Twins). Members can help bear the pain, but the pain is always there, with endless memories and memories.
Some twins even share a rare physical bond. There have been incidents in which twins only hours or days apart were harmed, or died. on the same day (Scheinfeld 228). Megan and Caitlin Coleman broke the same bone in arms less than eight months apart (Mercer). More surprisingly, two twin sisters died in a mental hospital only moments apart from each other (Scheinfeld 228). Eng and Chang Bunker, the original “Siamese” twins, joined only by a thick hand of flesh at the bottom of the chest, died a mere three hours apart (Mystery of the Twins). There was even one case in which both twins lived under almost the same time (Scheinfeld 230)!
The physical bond of twins cannot be conceived. No one will ever be sure whether these particular incidents were due to the mysterious bond of the twins or if they were just coincidences.
Gemini is an old German word meaning “two” (Facts & Stats), which not only defines the literal meaning of twin, but more importantly, it captures the true essence of being a twin. It means “two-one” living as life long partners sharing secrets and laughing about things only they can understand. Geminis share a close bond, mysterious and ambitious to others, but what is the path of life for the twins, to themselves. This bond is so strong that no external force can break it (Bowles-Reyer). Even for those twins who have lost their twins, this bond cannot be broken, because it is not external, but only in the heart. In the words of Raymond Brandt, “Once a twin, always a twin” (Jackson 38).
Notes:
Bowles-Reyer, Amy. TLC Ed. Kristen Lomasney. 2000. Discovery Channel. 9 February 2002
“Facts & Stats.” Comp. A penny of Dottavio. Ed. Sharon Withers. Twins Magazine 9 February 2002
Jackson, Donna M. Twin Tales: The Magic and Mystery of Multiple Birth. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2001. 1-48.
Mercer, Anastasia. “I suffer the same twin breaks in life.” La Crosse Tribune 1997. 9 Feb.
The Mystery of the Twins Dir. Patrick Fleming. Videocassette. Unapix Home Entertainment, 1996.
Scheinfeld, Amram. Twins and Supertwins. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1967. 11-292.
Segal, Nancy L. Linked Lives: Twins and What They Tell About Human Behavior. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1999. 1-396.
Wright, Lawrence. Gemini and What They Say About Who We Are New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. 1-202.
