Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

March 25, 2009

I have a twin. She’s homeless and lives in San Francisco.

People on Flickr are always discovering her and I and then sending me emails to tell me I look just like her.

I have her picture bookmarked and every once in a while I go back to look at the girl…a reminder that our life is sometimes nothing more than the circumstances we are born into. Sure, everyone is capable of rising above, I fully believe that. But, being born to parents who love us, who aren’t poor, who aren’t drug addicts — the list could go on and on — gives anyone of us with this privilege a huge home court advantage.

I go back and look at her because she is me/I am her in a different life. The description by the photographer who took the picture says “she’s smarter than she lets on,” and “from everywhere.” So am I.

Today this was my amazing life. I had a big salad with bacon ranch dressing that an angel from Cincinatti brought me, my bottle of fizzy water that’s always with me, and a glass of chilled, sweet red wine for dinner. I used the internet to work while my dog sat on the couch and kept me company. As I sit here I can smell the flowers that a good friend brought us.

I am blessed. I look at her photo and wonder where she is and what she’s doing now. I hope she’s found her way.

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9 Comments

wow, you really do have a twin! that’s crazy!

Comment by Morgan A. — March 25, 2009 @ 7:40 pm

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Oh, there’s something I forgot to mention to you. . . j/k.

Feature by feature all I see are differences (cause I’m your mom)yet there is something about her at a glance that does bear a resemblance.

I love your heart and your perspective!

Comment by Rita — March 25, 2009 @ 7:42 pm

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The pose of your photo on your blog and her pose in that photo are very similar, I think maybe from a different angle you wouldn’t look so alike.

That’s so weird, though, that you found that twin person from a parallel universe. Spooky!

Comment by Amanda — March 25, 2009 @ 7:52 pm

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somehow i don’t consider those drifters typical homeless ppl. some even come from good families. in fact, i think i saw one of the made for tv movies about it

Comment by kumichan83 — March 25, 2009 @ 8:19 pm

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Wow. I did not expect to see the resemblance! I totally do. Not the same. Not twins. But sisters.

and.. if you want scary statistics about her life… over 1/2 of children who go to the streets are propositioned by a pimp or john within 72 hours of hitting the streets– the stats is higher for girls, it increases with time, and refusal is often violent or impossible.

Comment by Clare — March 25, 2009 @ 8:31 pm

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WOW. if you would’ve told me that WAS you i’d probably have believed it, though maybe thought something was a little off (the hands are a big giveaway. i don’t remember your hands but i those would strike an odd note if i thought they were yours)

thats sweet, seriously, i love it. i’ve only had one person that i thought i legitimately resembled. after a bunch of people told me i friended her on facebook so i could analyze our similarities in her pictures haha.

Comment by lydia — March 25, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

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your comment about being born into a loving family and/or a family with money and/or a family without lots of drug/alcohol abuse is spot on. it’s true, while i believe in the power of each individual to overcome – or at least improve- their situation, it’s true that having stability from the get-go is a HUGE advantage. oh and also i don’t believe that everyone who “tries” to get out of a situation can. unfortunately, i do not believe the world is that “fair”…though effort is always valiant.

Comment by nyGRINGAinCHILE — March 26, 2009 @ 6:38 am

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That’s a serious resemblance. I like that you have such a tangible reminder that your life could have been very different and that you are lucky.

Comment by Emily — March 26, 2009 @ 8:56 am

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When I saw you for the first time I thought you look like Clair Danes. She looks like your sister

I had a twin sister too, more from the day of birth then look. I met her on my first day on University, she sat just next to me, we become the best friend and with time i figured out we were born the same year, the same day, almost the same hour and my second name JADWIGA was her first.

Alex

Comment by alex.kruk photography — March 26, 2009 @ 9:02 pm

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