Freckled Identical Twin Sisters: Growing Up

By Lynn Morgan

Twins Gail and Lynn loved being twins growing up. They were protective of each other, counted on each other, and always had a partner in sports. They signed an unwritten oath to never rat on each other. That means they never admitted to doing something wrong or wild and crazy. They either both confessed they were guilty, or both confessed to being innocent. Their bond and loyalty were unbreakable, which the average person does not understand. When in trouble, they became one person with a united front. It was never discussed, just understood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638853428

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Freckled Identical Twin Sisters

Growing Up

Lynn Morgan

ISBN 978-1-63885-340-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-341-1 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63885-342-8 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Lynn Morgan and Gail French

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement

National Twin Day

Different Types of Twins

Interesting Twin Facts

Twin Associations

Famous Twins

Famous Documentaries

Conjoined Twin Facts

Famous Conjoined Twins

Parents of Twins

How to Identify Each Twin

Twin Names

Our Preschool Years

Social Security Gap

Growing Up

Different Personalities

Mistaken Identity

Clothes Shopping

Television Shows

Comedians We Remember

Television Brands

Washers and Dryers

Popular Car Companies

Automobiles

Popular Automobile Models

Great Memory Sports Cars

Station Wagons

Trucks

Ice Cream Trucks

Private Plane Disappearance

New Hampshire Vacations

William Brinton House

Our Mother

Furniture Switcheroo

Golf Cart Events

Hot-Air Balloon Crash

Maternal Grandparents

Our Father

Steak Grilling

Liquor Mix-Up

Birthday Cake

Tiffany Rings

Father versus Boyfriend

Alcoholic Parent

Million Mile Club

Paternal Grandparents

Brother

Warwick Woods Camp

New Trier High School

Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party

Unicycle

Learning Problems

High School Grade Change

Money Grab

Babysitting

Missed Brother's Wedding

Connecticut Return

College

Our Twenty-First Birthday

Gail's Wedding

ADHD Husband

ADHD Father-in-Law

Marine Corps

Marine Corps Effects

Positive ADD/ADHD

Negative ADD/ADHD

Examples of ADD/ADHD

Lynn's Wedding

Florida Move

Wonderful Grandparents

Heart Surgery

Gail's Favorite TV Shows

Gail's Favorite Movies

Gail's Regrets

Lynn's Favorite TV Shows

Lynn's Favorite Movies

Lynn's Regrets

Mental Illness

Jail Time

Twins Restaurant

Twins Day's Festivals

Twins Days Festival Themes

Twins Days Festival Wedding

Conclusion

About the Authors

To Brinton Lenfestey, Bill Lenfestey, Will Lenfestey, Kathy Dyer, Mike French, David French, Tim French, Donna Bernardin, Kelly Richards, Janet Black, Glenda Schattie, Thelma Stadtfeld

Also to furry loved ones: Rabbit, Jenny, Suzi, LuLu, Macho, and Eddie

Acknowledgement

We have done our best to tell a truthful story. We thank the members of our family portrayed in the book. It is possible that their memories of the events we described in the book are different than ours. The book is not intended to hurt anyone. We appreciate each and every person mentioned in the book.

National Twin Day

Since December 18, 2019, Twin appreciation day celebrates fraternal and identical twins.

It is observed annually across the country on December 18th.

Different Types of Twins

Identical Twins/Monozygotic Twins: They look exactly alike. Sometimes, only friends can identify which one is which. It can be two males or two females produced by the same pregnancy. They are two babies who have exactly the same genetic makeup, which usually means identical DNA. One single egg is fertilized by one sperm. The egg splits. They share one placenta.

They share 100 percent of their genes. DNA testing usually shows the same genetic information. They are not the same in everything. Their fingerprints are similar but are not the same. Their teeth appear to be the same, but they are not. Their mannerisms and expressions are similar. The shapes and positioning of their teeth can be different. Their skin tone and eyes are usually the same color. Their belly buttons are different.

Fraternal Twins. They are not identical but share DNA similarities. They are more common than identical twins. This occurs when two eggs are each fertilized by separate sperms. They have their own individual placentas. They may share half the DNA—50 percent of their genes. Fingerprints are not the same. They are from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperms. They can be the same sex or different sexes.

Polar Body Twins/Half-identical Twins. This twinning happens when an unfertilized egg divides into two, with one cell being larger than the other (i.e., the polar body), and then fertilized by two separate sperms. These twins share 75 percent of their genes.

Sororal Twins. They are fraternal twins who look alike but should not. They appear to be identical twins. They are from two separate eggs. An example would be Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who were born two minutes apart.

Semi-identical Twins. A single egg fertilized by two sperms—shares 100 percent of mother's DNA and 50 percent of father's. They are very rare.

Mirror Twins/Identical Mirror Image Twins. Same physical features but some are the opposite. When the twins face one another, they are matching reflections. Some examples are (1) one twin may have a birthmark on the right side, yet the other twin has it on the left side; (2) one twin has an abnormally long pinky toe on the left foot while the other twin has the same long pinky toe on his right foot; and (3) one identical twin has an extra finger on her right hand while the other twin has the exact same thing on her left hand.

Conjoined Twins/Siamese Twins. These twins are extremely rare. They are joined in utero. They are usually identical twins who are physically connected or joined at various areas of their body: torso, head, chest pelvis, chest, spine, etc. They can share one or more organs. Like most twins, they are born premature. Some conjoined twins don't thrive well, so their survival rate can be low. Other twins can live a normal life without surgery. Nowadays, there have been some successful surgeries in separating conjoined twins. It depends on what part of the body they are connected and if shared organs are involved. It's a very high-risk surgery with many doctors and consultants involved. The decision of surgery is usually made by the twins' parents.

Heteropaternal Superfecundation Twins. These are fraternal twins with two different fathers. It occurs when two or more egg cells are fertilized by two different sperms, usually from separate sexual encounters. A woman can release multiple eggs. Eggs are viable for about twenty-four hours. Sperm can live in the uterus for approximately six days.

Biracial Twins. They are fraternal twins born to parents with different racial backgrounds. It has a higher incidence, or at least more noticeable, when the parents are White and Black. They share the same womb with two separate eggs. Genes and the amount of DNA determine the outcome. Medical scans prior to birth do not show skin color.

Interesting Twin Facts

When the doctor who is doing your ultrasound says, Do twins run in your family? this is a sign that something big is about to occur.

Gestation is often thirty-eight weeks. For a single baby, it might be forty weeks. Most twins are premature. Multiple births are less likely to carry to full term.

More birth complications can be created by having twins than with a single birth.

The best way to determine if twins are identical or fraternal is by checking their DNA.

An ultrasound does not always tell you if the twins will be identical or fraternal. A genetic test can be done or parents may have to wait until the genders are determined or wait until the actual birth.

Twins can have different birthdays yet are from the same pregnancy. This occurs when the twins are delivered minutes or hours apart. Labor and delivery may occur before twelve midnight but end after the clock changes to the next day or sometimes at a new year.

Twins can both be gay or both be straight. And one twin can be gay, but the other twin is straight.

In the case of one twin being gay and the other twin straight, even though they share the same upbringing and DNA, this may happen if each twin gets a different amount of hormones.

Identical twins are always compared. They may act or be similar, but sometimes, they want to be different and be treated as an individual. When twins are greeted, people often say immediately, Where's Susan? instead of smiling and saying, Hi, Jeanie. It's not very welcoming.

Some identical twins don't have an identity. When they are asked a question while standing next to one another, they shake their heads at the same time and say no simultaneously. They finish each other's sentences and answers at the same time.

Twins always have a playmate.

Identical twins sometimes switch classrooms. It might be because one twin is better at that specific subject and wants to help out or they both chose to make the teacher and kids squirm.

Twins have married another set of twins.

Twins who live in different states send the exact birthday card to the same friend who lives out of state.

Twins can have psychic abilities with each other. One twin would be a sender while the other is a receiver. It's called telepathy or psychic connection. This can occur even if the twins live in different states or cities. One of the twins knows and feels that the other one is in danger, in pain, depressed, upset, etc. This psychic connection can occur with many twins, especially identical twins. Example, a receiving twin will come to the other twin's rescue by either calling or traveling to whatever location the traumatized twin is at.

Over the years, there has been an increase of twins. It may be due to fertility drugs or hormones in food.

Doctors and scientists often seek out twins who were raised in separate environments or households. The study can show how outside influences affect twins.

Identical twins often have identical voices. Parents sometimes call out the wrong twin's name.

DNA ancestry testing does not always give the same results on twins.

Twins usually resemble each other from the front and back.

Even though identical twins look alike and act alike, they are still separate individuals with different interests. Their personalities can be different. For example, Jeff loves and excels at swimming. Ken doesn't enjoy that but has a passion for horseback riding.

Identical twins look alike, but one female might have the body of the mother, and the other sister has the shaped body of their father.

Vanishing twin syndrome. A twin can disappear during pregnancy due to a miscarriage. The fetal tissue is absorbed by the other twin.

Twins can fight before birth while in the womb. Sibling rivalry can exist. This can be due to stretching or fighting for leg room. For example, both Gail and Lynn have crooked noses from birth.

It is a myth that twins always skip a generation.

There is now a test melting DNA that can tell identical twins apart.

Identical twins have the same blood type.

Identical twins do not have identical fingerprints.

Identical twins share a birthday and the same DNA.

Identical twins can be so bonded that they finish each other's sentences and can have the same thoughts.

Identical twins often have the same school friends.

The odor or scent of identical twins is different.

Twins communicate in the womb.

If identical twins marry another set of identical twins, their own children would be considered cousins. Their children may not look alike.

Identical twins sometimes wear different items so people will know how to tell them apart: part their hair on opposite sides, wear different-color watches or watch bands, etc.

Before birth, hormone and nutrition levels can vary between twins in the womb.

Belly buttons of identical twins are different.

Medical scans performed prior to birth do not show skin color or complexions.

Twins often have similar interests, so their parents don't have to drive them to two different locations.

Twin births are up over 70 percent.

Twins have each other to play with, so parents don't have to search for other children.

Twins speak their own language.

More than six thousand sets of twins are born in Canada.

Twins should not be compared. Parents should focus on the strengths of each individual and help them develop it.

Lynn and Gail graduated from the well-known New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, in 1967. The school has been televised on The Today Show and Inside Edition for setting two Guinness World Records for the most twins and most multiples in a single academic year of sophomore class of 2020 with forty-four sets of twins and one set of triplets. Many famous people have attended this high school.

Twin Associations

There are annual twin cruise trips and festivals around the world. The following is a list of some of the twin festivals:

International Twins Association

Texas Twin Roundup in Houston, Texas

Coney Island Twins and Multiple Families Day

European Twins Day Festival

UK Twins and Triplets

Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio

Mexican Twins Festival

Festival of Twins in Manila, Philippines

Niagara Twin Event in Ontario, Canada

Twins Festival in Poland

France Twins Day Festival

Puerto Rico Twins Gathering

Twins World Charity Party

Beijing Twins Festival

Just for Laughs Twins Weekend in Montreal, Canada

Australia Canberra Twins Plus Festival

Michigan Twins Association

Twin associations can assist new parents with socialization, friendships, emotional support, workshops, etc. They are well aware of the financial burden twins and multiples can bring to young new parents.

These organizations can suggest local thrift stores who sell matching clothing, double strollers, and other items at low prices; provide names and phone numbers of parents who have older sets of twins and multiples who are ready to donate or loan out items to new parents; etc. We have heard that there are college scholarships offered for twins.

Famous Twins

Vin and Paul Diesel

Ashton and Michael Kutcher

Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland

Rami and Sami Malek

Linda and Leslie Hamilton

Ronnie and Reggie Kray

Rosalyn and Marilyn Borden

Giselle and Patricia Bundchen

Aaron and Angel Carter

Veronica and Vanessa Merrell

Jenna and Barbara Bush

Shane and Sia Barbi

Scarlett and Hunter Johansson

Laverne Cox and M. Lamar

Benji and Joel Madden

Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt

Alanis and Wade Morissette

Tamara and Tia Mowery

Jon and Dan Heder

Shawn and Aaron Ashmore

Hazel and Phinnaeus Moder

Charlie and Max Carver

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Judy and Joselin Reyes

Elvis and Jessee Presley

Tasha and Sidra Smith

Harper and Finley Lockwood

Julien and Joaquin Castro

Trey and Trevor Eason

Robin and Maurice Gibb

Dylan and Cole Sprouse

Olly and Ben Murs

Giovanni and Marissa Ribisi

Rumi and Sir Carter

Marcus and Markieff Morris

Drew and Jonathan Scott

Willow and Autumn Shields

John and Edward Grims

Samantha and Charlotte Ronson

Moses and Aaron Wilcox

Elin and Josefin Nordegren

Alexander and Ella Clooney

Isabella and Sophia Strahan

Olivia and Lucas Sykes

Moroccan Scott and Monroe Cannon

Dolly and Charlie O'Connell

Jeremy and Zach Roloff

Emme and Max Muniz

Tabetha and Marion Broderick

Famous Documentaries

Twinsters. This is about identical twin sisters who did not know about each other and were raised separately: Anais Bordier and Samantha Futerman. They were born in Korea and put up for adoption.

They discovered one another by accident through YouTube when they were about twenty-five years old. One twin was a fashion student and living in London, and the other identical twin was an actress living in Los Angeles, California.

Three Identical Strangers. This is about identical male triplets who were adopted as six-month-old infants to three separate families. Psychologist Dr. Peter Neubauer used the triplets for scientific research/experiment. Neither the children nor the parents consented to the study.

The triplets discovered each other accidentally at the age of nineteen years old. Each child had been placed in different homes: blue-collar family, a middle-class family, and a wealthy family.

For years, doctors visited each triplet at their family home and secretly observed and documented their upbringing. None of the foster parents knew that siblings existed.

These identical triplets—Eddy Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran—have appeared on many television shows.

In the Womb: Identical Twins by National Geographic follows the embryonic and fetal journey of the reproductive miracles of identical twins, splitting of a single fertilized egg into identical twins to fetal development.

In the Womb: Multiples by National Geographic explores twins, triplets, and quadruplets in utero.

Red without Blue. This follows a pair of identical twins as one transitions from male to female during a three-year period.

Conjoined Twin Facts

Conjoined twins' survival rate is low. They are known not to thrive well. Any type of surgery is high risk.

Surgical decisions are usually made by the twins' parents with the guidance of medical personnel.

When one conjoined twin dies, it's common for the other twin to pass on within twenty-four hours. A medical issue can affect them both. For example, one twin could catch the flu and give it to the conjoined twin. Blood flow throughout the body could be affected.

If one conjoined twin commits a crime, they both will probably go free because only one of the joined twins did the crime. They are separate individuals. One twin is innocent and probably controls half of the body. There is not a lot of case law established on this. Could the innocent twin be controlling the guilty twin's mind?

Conjoined twins have gotten married to two separate individuals.

Some conjoined twins have been successfully separated by surgery. It depends on where in their body they are joined together. It's a high-risk surgery. Some conjoined twins are afraid of surgery or just don't want to be separated.

Conjoined twins are/were paid to be in freak shows.

If one twin applies to a school, then the tuition and fees would go to that twin. Only the one who was accepted would have to pay for these.

When traveling, conjoined twins are required to have two passports.

When flying on airplanes, conjoined twins may only need one airplane seat. It depends on where they are joined together. For comfort, they could require two seats or a row of seats.

Famous Conjoined Twins

Chang and Eng Bunker were identical twin brothers who were wealthy businessmen. They traveled all over the world. They were born in 1811 in Siam, which is now Thailand. They were known as the original Siamese twins. They were known as the most studied brothers/twins of that era.

In 1829, the twins came to the United States. Their career was performing in freak shows. They were extremely athletic, so they put on exhibits. These twin brothers in that era were known to be the most studied twins ever. Their bodies were connected at the sternum. Back then, surgeries weren't performed to separate conjoined twins. It could have been fatal to do so. Surgeons today may have been able to successfully separate them.

When they retired, they moved to North Carolina. They married sisters who lived in separate houses. Rumor has it that their marital bed was built for four. Between them, they had over twenty children. They died at sixty-two years old. Chang passed away first, and Eng died two hours later in 1874.

Daisy and Violet Hilton were identical twin sisters. They were joined at the hips and buttocks. They were English entertainers, toured the world, and tap-danced in a Bob Hope act. They did vaudeville, sideshows, and burlesque.

They had many different names: Siamese Twins, Brighton Conjoined Twins, the Hilton Sisters, and the United Twins. They were married and divorced, lived from 1908 to 1969.

Their book is called The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton: A True Story of Conjoined Twins. They have two films out that are named Chained for Life and Freaks Were Musicians. Violet played the saxophone and Daisy the violin.

Lori and Dori Schappell were born in 1961. They are identical twin sisters who are joined at the head; portions of their skull, scalp, and blood vessels fused the side. They are known as craniopagus conjoined twins. They chose not to be separated surgically.

They have been on various talk shows such as the Maury PovichShow, the Jerry Spring Show, and the Howard Stern Show. They've also been in television documentaries such as the Separate Lives and Face to Face: The Schappell Sisters, which was on A&E.

Dori became an award-winning international country singer. She identified as a male, so she changed her name to George. They have very different personalities.

Abby and Brittany Hensel are identical conjoined twin sisters. They were born in 1990 with two heads and one torso. They were born with two heads, two brains, three lungs, two hearts, two stomachs, and one reproductive system. Everything from the waist up is double, from the waist down is singular. One twin controls the left side, and the other twin the right side.

These twins were in a documentary called Joined for Life on TLC, made two appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, been on the cover of Life magazine, and had their own TV series called Abby and Brittany.

Because they share a reproductive system, it can be very difficult as well as be very dangerous to separate them surgically. Due to their body systems, they seldom get sick at the same time.

They drive vehicles and motorcycles and were required to take two driving tests and two written tests. Each twin controls everything on the one side of the vehicle. Abby controls everything on the right. Brittany takes care of the controls on the left.

They have separate and different personalities. They don't always like the same foods, sometimes order two separate meals at restaurants, and don't always like to eat or sleep at the same time.

They graduated from Bethel University with a degree in education, so they are both teachers. They are now twenty-two years old and have beaten all the odds.

Ronnie and Donnie Galyon were American twins, known as the world's oldest and longest-surviving conjoined twin brothers. They were joined at the abdomen—from sternum to the groin and shared a set of organs.

The twins appeared in circuses and carnivals. They were born in Dayton, Ohio, on October 28, 1951, and passed away there, at the age of sixty-eight on July 4, 2020.

In 2010, a documentary aired at their sixty-third birthday. Guinness World Records judged them to be the oldest living conjoined twins in the world.

Parents of Twins

New parents of twins always have concerns the moment they find out they are having twins. Questions like these come up:

Can we afford two babies at one time?

Do we want double trouble?

Can we deal with twins emotionally and physically?

Is there such a thing as double strollers? Where can we buy one?

How will we get enough sleep?

Are we going to have to change our work shifts to care for them?

How will we tell them apart?

Will they bond so much that they will have their own language and we won't understand them?

Should we dress the twins in matching clothes?

Should we consult with psychiatrists and teachers?

Should the twins be in separate classrooms and/or separate schools?

Will they get along? Will there be sibling rivalry, thus stunting the growth of either twin?

Can we make money by putting them in TV commercials?

Can we form a singing group or a band with them?

Can we trust the school system to advise us truthfully on raising twins?

How do we encourage them in life as separate individuals?

Can we get two-for-one enrollment with schools and colleges?

Should their birth names start with the same initial or sound alike?

Could their names affect their self-esteem?

Will they be equal academically?

Will they be coordinated the same in sports?

Should they have separate friends?

Will one twin drain the other twin in the womb emotionally, mentally, or physically?

Will one twin be weaker or stronger than the other one?

Will they both get married?

Are they going to be born conjoined?

Will they defend one another against school bullies?

What if one twin dies during childbirth?

How to Identify Each Twin

Hairstyle, braiding, whirls, cowlick, hairpiece, hair color, facial hair, bangs.

Earrings, bracelet, anklet, ring, watch, nose ring, hairpin, eyeglasses, piercings.

Birthmark, dimples, moles, freckles, acne, tattoo, scar, cleft chin.

Scarf, coat, hat, socks, belt, shoes, headband, shoelaces.

Teeth-gold, or platinum, different colors or designs of braces, custom grills/grillz.

Eyebrows, lips, eyes, smile, nose.

Twitch, limp, pigeon toed, arms, hands, legs, fingers, toes, feet, extra digits, webbing of toes, or fingers/syndactyly, twisted or tilted neck/wry neck.

Behavior, mannerism, right or left handed.

Wears favorite color often.

Twirls hair/mustache/beard, constantly rubs hands, unique eye, speaks fast or slowly, bites their nails, constantly fidgeting.

High pitched or very deep voice.

Twin Names

Our Preschool Years

We were born as premature identical twins on July 16, 1948, in New York City. We were premature and small, which can be common for twins. Our mother did not know prior to our birth that she was having twins. There were no sonograms to warn parents that twins were arriving. Because of this, our parents were overwhelmed.

Our mother always said, You were born at cocktail time seven minutes apart. Lynn was a morning person, and Gail was a night person. Gail was first out of the womb, headfirst. Both of our noses are a little crooked, so we always wondered if we were boxing in the womb. Lynn was tinier than Gail. Lynn was a breech baby who had breathing loss, hearing loss, and a speech impediment. Her speech impediment was corrected by many sessions with a speech therapist.

Like most couples in those days having children, our parents were very young. Twins can place a financial, emotional burden on parents. It's not easy having to carry two babies and feed two babies at once. Twins require two of everything—high chairs, cribs, bassinets, etc. And at the time of our birth, we already had one brother who was three years older than us. During the war and the depression, our parents could only afford two children, so having twins meant they had three children unexpectedly.

When we were born, our parents lived in Stuyvesant Town, New York. It's known to its residents as Stuy Town and developed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. It was a housing development during the early 1940s for World War II veterans. Veterans had first priority. The first rental residents were in 1947.

Our recollection is that our apartment in Stuy Town was on the eleventh floor with no air-conditioning. Today, it's a very large residential development on the east side of Manhattan. There are lots of