Taking the meaning of my name in Greek seriously, my doppelganger might just be out there somewhere.
Work with me, people.
Here’s how: Read all about my fascination with legendary twins and my appreciation for inspiring twins I’ve been honored to know.
The article requires a subscription to Lancasteronline. If you’re already in the system, you’re ready to read. If you’re not, it’s well worth the subscribe.
David Greene, formerly of All Things Considered, has recently put together a non-profit ownership team of his hometown newspaper. He intends to keep it alive and make it thrive, and I’m honored to be a regular contributor.
They publish my Side Ways column about once a quarter. When various oddball subjects overtake me like tiny monster Blobs, I pitch them to my long-suffering editor Jenelle. She usually finds one she can peel off me and dress up for our refined audience.
Since LNP owns my columns, I can’t pass them on in full without being visited by yellow safety-vested JournalCops in the middle of the afternoon. So, here’s an excerpt:
I’ve maintained a keen interest in twins generally. Maybe it started that fateful day I responded to an ad in the back of Popular Mechanics and ordered a bombshell of a book: “Very Special People” by Frederick Drimmer. One chapter was devoted to Chang and Eng Bunker, the famous conjoined twins from what was formerly called Siam (Thailand).
Their exploits are legendary, as Mo Rocca recounts humorously and respectfully in his March 3, 2019, “Mobituraries” podcast. Between the two of them, Chang and Eng fathered 22 children with their respective wives (sisters, not twins). Their descendants number around 1500 in and around rural Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
I realize conjoined twins are extreme rarities, unlikely miracles of survival. But twins in general are amazing enough. I’ve never met someone who wasn’t at least a bit fascinated by twins of any sort.
They’re a welcome reminder of just how unlikely any of our births are. A double dose of wonder, if you will.
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