They were identical twins.  They volunteered at the hospital where I worked (in the 90s) and they were a sight.  They were elderly, wore identical clothing, and went everywhere together. It was disconcerting to see them always be a mirror to each other.  Of course, everyone in the hospital knew of them.  They were an institution in Oshkosh and at Mercy Medical Center.

Of course they lived together.  I found that out later when I moved to the east side of town. The twins would walk around the neighborhood.  Slowly as they were very elderly, but often and always together, walking side by side in the same clothes.  They lived in a little yellow house around the corner.  I wondered if they had ever married.  Did they ever fight?  Were they dedicated to each other?

Foolish question. Of course, they were!

I will end with other questions. But in the end, I just wanted to remember something special that I got to see.

One of the sisters had a stroke and yet they walked together.  More slowly.  The sister with the stroke showed signs of it. I wondered if it was hard to see yourself in your twin. You are incapacitated in some way. Yes when the importance of your walk is to be with your family, that that is love.  But it must have been difficult to see your sister with diminished physical functioning.

The telling of the story leads me to see something beautiful.  I am sure there was troubles and heart ache, but this is something that was unique and beautiful. A special love and a special bond.

During a walk, a semi-truck backed up at the gas station near their home. The sister, who did not have the stroke, was run over. 

Their niece took care of them.  A wonderful lady that was my daughter’s kindergarten teacher.  I need to know how her aunt watched her sister, her mirror image and constant companion die.  How she lived in the same house alone?

Did she go for walks after that?