OSSINING, N.Y. When Ossining brothers David and Bradley Morrison look at a picture of themselves, they can spot several differences in how they look. But for almost everyone else, its hard to find a difference between the twins.
The Morrisons won a bronze medal at the largest annual gathering of twins and multiples in the world at last weekends 37th annual Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. Continuing the theme of twos, the medal for Most Alike Males, ages 27 to 43 was the second for the 33-year-old twins in their second appearance at the festival. The pair beat out dozens of sets of multiples at the event that hosted more than 2,000 sets of twins and multiples. David and Bradley were judged based on their appearance, mannerisms and personality.
David said its not difficult for him to find more than a few differences.
Im married with five kids and a stay-at-home dad while Bradley is single and works at Ossining High School, David said. I also really like avocados and he hates them.
Bradley said there are more similiarities than he can count, but the differences are on the surface, too.
Most twins seem to have pretty similar personalities when you talk to them and that was obvious at the festival, Bradley said. They would come up to us and say you look so much like your brother and I would think no way everyone looks more alike than we do. I dont think any twins think they look alike.
Bradley said the duo gets questions and comments constantly from people they meet about how much they look alike or if they can read each others thoughts.
I think all twins get these questions a lot by almost everyone they meet, Bradley said. It can be hard to establish your own identity. So it was great to go to a place where that kind of thing was celebrated and make connections with people who are going through that same thing.
The pair each dressed as Superman for the superhero-themed weekend. They say they dont have extra sensory perception or super abilities, but they can both recall a time where they shared an unexplainable bond.
People ask about that thinking if they punch him that I can feel it but thats never been the case, Bradley said, before adding, except maybe for this one time.
The two were still young and David fell ill and had to go to the hospital. Even though he hadnt seen his brother for most of the day, Bradley recalls having a very strong feeling that something was wrong. He asked the boys mom several times and they later found out that at that moment David had a seizure.
That was pretty weird, David said, laughing. We have a really good connection I guess. I mean I know you dont want to put us on a team together because were really good at reading each other.
Along with other activities, the Twins Days Festival features 64 different contests with categories for Most Alike and Least Alike twins, Oldest and Youngest, as well as farthest distance traveled, according to a news release. The town of Twinsburg was named after Aaron and Moses Wilcox, early twin settlers who married sisters, were stricken with the same ailment and died the same day, according to the release.
The Morrison twins said they highly recommend other sets of multiples and their family members attend the festival.
We didnt realize before we went, but its more like a second family, David Morrison said. Theres a connection we all have I guess. While we were there, one set of guy twins married a set of girl twins. Its pretty great.
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