stuck with each other

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I'm inexplicably addicted to cable human interest documentaries. With a particular focus on disasters and medical wonders. It always gets me pondering the bigger questions, as writers so love to do.

This week I re-viewed a special about conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel, whose story I've actually been following since they were very young. I love these girls--despite sharing an entire body between the two of them, they really couldn't be more "normal." After a few minutes of seeing them walk, drive, bike, play sports, play piano, and type on the computer together, you tend to forget that there's anything really unusual about it. This is the only life they've ever known, and they embrace it with grace, enthusiam, and all the typical responses of teenagers.

What I love about the Hensels is the perfect harmony of two brains in concert. Sure, they disagree as much as two sisters would, but mostly they cooperate in a way that mystifies--each girl controlling her own arm exclusively, but fully sharing one lower body. Two distinct minds so coordinated to master the finest of maneuverings, as one body. Questions abound, but I ask myself, what do they do when they get angry at each other? Going to their own rooms is out of the question. I suppose they could choose not to talk to each other for a time, but sooner rather than later, unified decisions are going to be required again.

Might we see Abby and Brittany almost as a microcosm of all of us, being distinct persons but sharing these homes, these cities and countries, this planet? It may take longer to realize (or be easier to deny), but the fact of our connection and common fate as earth-mates is as undeniable as two girls sharing a common space, a medical story, a body. They have little choice but to work out their differences quickly. We have more "freedom," to act as if our destinies are separate, our lives isolated from one another, or at least distinct from all those we don't like or with whom we don't agree. But it's all illusory in the end.

Post election week, once again we claim blue and red identities. But just as all have suffered the misdeeds of one misguided administration, we will all continue on the good ship USA together, in whatever direction it is now heading.

Onward, Captain! :P




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for better, for worse
conjoined in our destiny
what path shall we choose?