Since there are very few gatherings of adult twins, in my presentations, I customarily speak to parents of multiples. So, it was quite a pleasure and an honor to talk to an audience of adult twins who had gathered at the University of Washington to celebrate TwinFest!—the first annual celebration for twins who participate in the university’s Twin Registry.

I spoke about my research, my philosophy, and my own experiences of being a twin. I shared how my twin sister, Jane, and I are alike: we are both obsessed with finding the most delicious chocolate chip cookie, we both love Labradors, and we both enjoy traveling. However, I also talked about the inconsequential and important ways in which we are different.

At this gathering, I took delight in seeing how happy the twins felt in each other’s company. Some of them had not seen one another for quite a while. TwinFest! gave these twins the opportunity to spend time together, much like a class reunion. Perhaps, too, without the presence of their spouses and children, these adult twins were really able to enjoy each other without having to worry that their twinship was exclusionary or proprietary.

During my presentation, I loved the fact that I received an unexpected round of applause after I answered a question about the inequities of twin labeling. I also appreciated the questions from several pairs of twins who planned to attend separate colleges, asking for advice on how to best handle this transition.

I am looking forward to going to Twinsburg for the annual Twins Day festivities in August. There is always more to learn and to enjoy through attending these types of events.

Have you ever gone to an adult twins gathering? Please share your stories below.