Growing up as a twin had its ups and downs. You always had somebody to do something with, but at the same time it was a little harder to try and figure out who we were as individuals. We were otherwise always together, and when you are identical, have red hair and freckles, and are some of the smallest kids in your class, you tend to get picked on more. We relied on each for support on this. You could always count on each other when the going got tough, but that does not mean you did not have your own moments when we fought as well. We had some drag out, rolling on the ground fights as well. The name calling would start, and my brother-in-law always helps reminds us of what we would say to each other:
I remember this line! Maybe we were not the brightest color in the box at that particular moment, but I also remember a line out of the movie “Cheaper by the Dozen”. In that movie, the 12 kids of the family would have their arguments, and then would always be there for each other. As one of the siblings stated: “There are times I want to kill you, and other times I would kill for you!” No truer than with my twin brother.
I remember when I first started running, it was in middle school, and my oldest brother Ray went down to the park closest to our house and ran laps. For whatever reason, I joined him one day. I found out it really helped when it came to getting ready for the 600 meter run in gym class. You get tired of being picked on, or singled out, that you want to do anything to help improve things. Well, prior to that, I was toward the back of the pack. When I started doing some running, and we came to the end of our gym class, and got timed on a 600 meter for a grade, I got second place in my gym class, but losing to one of the kids who had been running track all of the time. I got asked to join track following that, but I was not really interested then. Besides, I had to figure out how I would get home after practices, and transportation was not the easiest thing then for us. I did do a lot of bike riding, and we rode bikes to school most days, which was between 2-3 miles. (I could say it was uphill, both ways, a line I always heard from my Dad, but I won’t!) We had lots of practice riding bikes back then…we did it every day as a kid!
I had done some other running after that, but very limited. I did not really get interested to the extent I am now until later in high school. That will be a story for next time. But needless to say, it gave me a taste of how things could improve, and how you could get noticed by running. My twin brother has done a marathon before too, but he is not has into it as I am. We both developed more of our interests, and this has evolved in different ways as we have gotten older. We get busy with our own families, and I live in Watertown, and he lives in Parker SD. We don’t get to see each other that much, but one thing still holds true: I would do anything for him, and vice versa. He is still my best friend!
.jpg)
Nothing will change this! We still have a sense about each other that is hard to describe about any other sibling. One day our sister took us out shopping, and one of us went to the Western Mall in SF, and the other to the Empire Mall. Neither of us had any idea what we were going to get, but we ended up each buying one thing, a book. Turns out it was the same book for each of us! One got it as a paper back, one as a hard cover, but the same book! Even that surprised us!
We went through school together, life together, and each had different experiences, but yet similar. That twin bond will always be there. We both still run, but his marathon days may be finished. It now is just more a stress reliever for him. Someday that competitiveness in me may finish, but I still really enjoy it. We both teach people, help people in times of need, and support them when needed. I am a family physician, and he is a Lutheran minister, and was a elementary teacher prior to that. He was Mr. R, now is Pastor Don, and I am Doctor Dan. Similar, but different. We found our own callings, but still managed to take care of our own health in the process. To my brother Don:
It has been a great life! Here is to many more years! Let me know if you got another marathon in you!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3571
