8 of 31 - SOLSC 2018
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I'm reading The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See. One of the characters is a midwife, which brings us, the reader, into many of the culture and taboos of this particular people group. At first some of them seem horrific. When I try to emotionally detach myself and objectively look at how such customs might have started I am able to see possibilities. One is about twins. Twins are seen as "human rejects" are not allowed to survive. My understanding is that the twins' likelihood of surviving is small and the risk to the mother is great. When you think about primitive living, this could be something that protects the genepool.
I have found the treatment of twins by this culture to be disturbing, even if I can understand how it might have come to be. This part of the book continues to linger with me. The idea of twins has been on my mind. I have realized I have other thoughts about twins.
I have found the treatment of twins by this culture to be disturbing, even if I can understand how it might have come to be. This part of the book continues to linger with me. The idea of twins has been on my mind. I have realized I have other thoughts about twins.
***
Ding-Dong. As I open the door, my friend materializes in tears. I pull her into a long embrace and usher her inside the apartment. Once she is able to collect herself she shares the heart wrenching news that she has miscarried. I cry with her.
She sees me off as I leave on a many month long journey. About a month in I receive a letter from her. (This is back when letters were the way people communicated across distances.) Yes, she had miscarried, but she had been pregnant with twins and the other baby was growing safely inside her.
***
Two births, four kids, all under the age of three. We have friends with TWO sets of fraternal twins.
And another dear friend who, just as she was willing to think about possibly trying for the third child her husband was hoping for, she found herself pregnant. You guessed it, twins.
***
I grew up knowing three sets of twins. Two were older than me and I didn't really know them personally. The third set were classmates of mine. They were fraternal twins (OK, they still are) and I never understood how people could get them mixed up. Not only did they look different, their personalities were different. One other thing that stood out to me, as I think back on my childhood memories, is how people would be amused when they would fight. Why was this so? They would fight like I suppose all sisters do. (I only have brothers, so I can't speak from first hand experience.)
Yes, random thoughts indeed.
And another dear friend who, just as she was willing to think about possibly trying for the third child her husband was hoping for, she found herself pregnant. You guessed it, twins.
***
I grew up knowing three sets of twins. Two were older than me and I didn't really know them personally. The third set were classmates of mine. They were fraternal twins (OK, they still are) and I never understood how people could get them mixed up. Not only did they look different, their personalities were different. One other thing that stood out to me, as I think back on my childhood memories, is how people would be amused when they would fight. Why was this so? They would fight like I suppose all sisters do. (I only have brothers, so I can't speak from first hand experience.)
Yes, random thoughts indeed.
Wow, this book seems very interesting. Twins are a weird and interesting topic, but I love it. Two of my best friends are twins, both engineers, both in the same company, both went to the same college, but didn't know this until after they committed to all topics! They didn't mean to do any of it, just happened.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out this book - haven't read a Lisa See book in a while. Thoughts on twins - never really knew any growing up, but we now have twin granddaughters who will be 8 this year. They have been amazing to watch to see how they interact with each other and how protective they are. They are fraternal and different in looks and personality. They have always relied on each other and are now becoming more independent and yet they remain the best of friends (most of the time).
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your slice particularly as I have been thinking a lot about twins this week. The teacher next door and I share three sets of twin (and an additional sibling set). This is interesting as we prepared for student led conferences and wondered at the differences the parents would see.
ReplyDeleteI went to school with five sets of twins in my grade (in a class of about 250)! I find books (and television and movies!) where they talk about medical practices in older times so fascinating! I'll have to check that book out!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how seemingly random thoughts can make for rather compelling reading. That's certainly the case here. I think such a collection of thoughts helps us see how our own minds often work through association rather than linear narratives.
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