My Other Half
Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 5:16PM 
This is a picture of my twin brother and I on the eve of our 50th birthday. It was taken, by yours truly, in the men’s room of the locally legendary Red Parka Pub, in North Conway, New Hampshire. An appropriate place, to those who know both of us well, for such an intimate moment to be captured. Two intensely intellectual individuals, with highly sophisticated minds and senses of humor, whooping it up and bonding in the seedy bathroom of a ski saloon at our half century mark. Perfect.
The two of us celebrated our milestone event together, with some of the people we love the most on this planet. Including each other.
Mike and I share a common, but very different, sort of defiant irreverence. Even though Mike has lead a far more mainstream life, there is a powerful, raging, unconventional river that runs through both of us. Maybe it’s bigger, wider, more pronounced, and more obvious in me. Maybe that radical unconventionality has defined my life more than it has his. But it cascades through his life just as sonically nonetheless, albeit in very different ways.
We are very different, Mike and I. And we are very much the same. Depending on who you ask, we either look a lot alike or hardly resemble each other at all. We can bring out the best, and the worst, in each other. At times, we are like oil and water. And sometimes, we are like two halves of the same beautiful, unique, madcap coin.
Our relationship is at once complex and simple. Our love for each other both understated and obvious. Our interests are as different as night and day, but with a huge common intersection that provides us with endless opportunity for discussion, connection, and the sharing of ideas. Our ideologies are in some ways as far apart as the north and south poles, yet still just the other practically mirrored sides of the same earth.
There was a time in my life when I wouldn’t think of celebrating my birthday without my twin. And there was a time when I couldn’t imagine celebrating my birthday with him.
I will never again allow anything in my life to get in the way of my relationship with my twin. Although I have always cherished him, I have learned the value of our connection the hard way. Through a process that I can’t even describe or recant at present. It doesn’t matter. As it would be if I were missing a limb, or a lung, or a kidney, or a piece of my soul; My life is somehow incomplete without him.
I have always wanted something deeper, something bigger, something more, something along the lines of a cosmic connection, with Mike. Maybe I have that but don’t realize it. Maybe I don’t have quite that, and never will. It doesn’t really matter anymore. Because what I have is beautiful. And special. And unique. And precious. And priceless.
There are about half a dozen people in my life who I would, literally, take a bullet for. Mike is at the top of that very short list.
I love you Mike. With every fiber of my being. With every drop of blood in my body. With every note of music in my heart. With every ghostly specter of my soul. With every thing I have ever been, everything I am now, and everything I will ever be.......
©2013 Clint Piatelli, MuscleHeart, and Red F Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
Love, Relationships 
Reader Comments (4)
This weekend was a great celebration for sure. It was filled with laughter, excitement, love, admiration, alcohol, snow, and much else that are too many to mention. Above all however, it was a continuation of my re-connection with my twin brother. John's right, we are very different and yet we are the same in many ways. Even with our differences I've found new ways to communicate with him.
I clearly don't share John's view of the world in many respects which I think ultimately led to some difficult confrontations. However, I think it's BECAUSE and not in spite of the fact that we have differences that allow the potential for deeper understanding and connections.
I see our relationship as two parallel lines. Indeed, following very different paths, and never to merge and meet, BUT both are going to the same place. I do love you John and always have and I know I always will. That love may not always translate into a cohesive bond, but like parallel lines cohesion aka "coming together" is not a necessity or a substitute for understanding and an appreciation for the path of the other "line". We can love completely without complete understanding.
Anyway, great weekend, great celebration and I hope to continue to learn and grow if not in unison but in "parallel" with you my lovely twin.
XO
Mike
Your words touch my heart, dear twin. Thank you for reading and responding. It means the world to me. As do you.......
oxoxox
"John" - 'cuz that's what you call me.....usually!
John and MIke.....It was a wonderful celebration...one I am glad that I could be part of, one that I could watch the two of you share in the joy of the weekend with family and close friends....the saying that " blood is thicker than water" has never been more truer than in our family.....we have shared a wonderful life with loving parents and have much to be thankful for....let's celebrate each other forever!...luv Pam
Pam, very well said, and very powerfully felt. Much love, sis.
John - cuz that's what you call me.