Whenever any one of my friends in elementary school asked me, “Who’s your best friend?” I always had the same answer, “My sisters.” This would only spark the next question, “No, no you’re real best friend.” But, I had already given my answer. Maybe it’s because, growing up, my mom drilled into our minds the importance of one another, but today, if someone were to ask me, my answer remains the same.
Because my sisters are twins, people will typically ask me if I ever feel left out, but the answer is no. Maybe this is an extremely strong assumption, but I guess I’ve kind of always considered myself an extra asset to their twin-dom. In a perfect world, we are the outcome of an insane medical mystery where there were triplets born in Boston and the oldest one happened to be born two years before her siblings. (An episode of this will appear on TLC!) For the most part, I’ve never felt left out because the twins know I’m needy, so maybe to them I’m just a third wheel, but I’d like to think otherwise.
Not to say we always get along perfectly, because that is completely false, and I will never believe any sisters who say they don’t fight. Whether it was stolen clothes, broken Gameboys, or who wanted to watch what on TV, it is fair to say nothing was off limits when it came to fighting, (If anyone reading this had the privilege of witnessing a battle firsthand, I’m sorry) but once it was resolved we were almost instantaneously friends again. I can never hold a grudge against my sisters, it’s too hard, and I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to.
When we played house or school, I was always the teacher or the parent, but really my sisters have taught me, and lately it seems like I’m asking for help more than they are. I was afraid to go abroad, knowing I wouldn’t get to talk to them as much, but these feelings quickly subsided. Especially when Christina imposed some tough love on me saying it was dumb to be sad I was going away. She made me appreciate the opportunity I had been given. I realize now they are only a phone call or FaceTime away, and no matter what they have going on, they set aside time for me. It’s hard to think of other people who know me as well as my sisters; I know that I can do anything, and no matter what, they’ll still be there. If something happens to one of us, it happens to all of us, and we are quick to be by one another’s sides. In the fourth grade, when some girls were making fun of me, it was Erica that came to my rescue. She was a fearless second grader who strutted up to a group of fourth graders saying, “Hey! No one makes fun of my sister.” And when it seemed like no matter what I did, I would never understand math, it was Christina who was always the first person I asked. I can’t imagine how frustrating it was for her to explain everything to me over and over, but she did it because we’re sisters.
In my eyes, my sisters are the best at everything. Most people are happy to have one sister, but I was lucky enough to receive a two-for-one special. All the better because there are no two people I’d rather spend time with. Between getting Italian subs, being high-fashion models in photo-shoots, performing in homemade music videos, attempting to cut the ice cream line in the summer, or just watching TV together all day, I’d choose them over anyone else.
I know I annoy my sisters all the time. I’m sorry I sing too loud in the car, I’m sorry I am the worst driver ever and got us in a car crash, and I’m sorry I dropped our rabbit Happy when we were younger and he ran away. But it’s because of you two that I’ve learned so much so thank you for showing me confidence, thank you for showing me the value of being yourself and thank you for never forgetting about the third twin.
