Have You Met Your Match?

There are many things in this life that come in pairs: socks, shoes, gloves, and of course twins. There are even different kinds of twins (maternal, fraternal, and identical). There is however one group of twins that is often overlooked, and that is the Doppelganger. Read on….

The Doppelganger is defined as a ghostly double or a counterpart of a living person. Legend has it that everyone has a Doppelganger somewhere out there in this vast world. It’s someone who looks like us. Basically, it’s our twin. You never know where, when, or even if, you will find your Doppelganger. And that is why I am so excited to finally relate the fascinating story of the day my Doppelganger found me.

I remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday. I was in elementary school and I modestly submit that I was the star of the track team. On the fateful day I was at a track meet and entered in my specialty, the 100 meters. The day dawned warm and sunny and I was pumped. I was also feeling a bit of pressure because my parents were coming to watch me.

I was talking with my teammates, and doing my warm up when my event was announced . My heart jumped and I started to get nervous. I eventually calmed down by telling myself if I can out run both of my brothers when they are chasing me around the house, I can win this race. I often used that thought as my motivation.

Waiting to be called to the start line was agony. I finally took my place in the blocks, and my thoughts went right to my brothers. The gun went off, and I shot out of the blocks, running as fast as I could. It felt like the race was taking forever, but I crossed the finish line in first place, and right away my teammates came to congratulate me. I had my best time ever. It wasn’t Donovan Bailey fast, but Little Sis fast….a personal best. It was great, but now I was looking for my parents.

The track was quite busy, but I was determined to find my parents and bask in the glow of sweet victory. Finally, I saw them walking just ahead of me. I could hear them calling my name, but they seemed to be chasing after someone. I thought this odd, but my parents always seemed to have difficulty with my name, often calling me after one of my siblings. Once I caught up to them, they were aghast because they were 100% certain that I had been walking in front of them. I was like, “No, I have been behind you the whole time.” I looked around, and I now realized why they were confused.

The girl they had been following stopped to tie her shoe and as she did so, she looked up. Our eyes immediately locked. I shook my head because the girl looked identical to me…. beautiful red hair, clear blue eyes and a petite but very athletic stature 🙂 Sorry, I digress…. I think she was shocked too but we stared at each for only a few seconds, and then she was gone. My parents were completely bewildered and I was stunned! I had actually met my Doppelganger.

This experience haunts to me to this day. I wish now that the circumstances had been different because I would have liked to ask her if her favorite color was purple, was her favorite food sushi and did she watch cartoons on Saturday mornings? So many questions…..

Of course when I tried to tell my friends they didn’t believe me. When I told Big and Middle Sis they didn’t believe me either (they are just jealous). Big Sis said all that ever happens to her, is people often say she looks like someone’s Aunt, Mother, or Grandmother. As for Middle Sis, well she has not had anyone say she looks like someone they know. I suggested to both of them to not go looking for their Doppelganger, stay chill and they will find you. Just be patient.

There is a strange twist to all of this. A few years back, I decided my image needed updating and asked Big Sis, who is renowned for her outstanding fashion sense, to assist in the transformation. Big Sis enthusiastically agreed and the result was astonishing! Unfortunately, some siblings, who will remain nameless, derided the make over with an accusation that Big Sis was trying to turn me into her Doppelganger. This was of course an outrageous claim and quickly laid to rest.

I am forced to admit, however, that there have been a few remarkable and completely spontaneous incidents which may in fact support such an accusation. The picture below is perhaps the most vivid illustration of this phenomenon.

As uncanny and mysterious as the concept of a Doppelganger may be, it is intriguing to think that one’s twin is out there somewhere and who knows when or where you might meet each other. It’s definitely something to think about. Have You Met Your Match?

We plan on publishing a new post every Monday so stay tuned for our next one entitled “Have You Tried Turning It Off and On?”