Tale of a Trailing Spouse
A career, friends, family, and place to call home–I gave up life as I knew it for the possibility of life as it could become. Five years later as a seasoned and serial expatriate, I've lived in four countries on three continents and currently reside in Singapore. So far, it's been a wonderful ride!
Double vision
Have you ever been told you look like somebody? When I was a teenager, I was told I looked like Dana Plato. In my glorious 30s, when I was at my peak, I was called Sharon Stone. Today, most people tell me I resemble Ellen DeGeneres. This makes me wonder who my celebrity doppelgänger will be in my 70s.
Anyway, here is something I wrote a while ago about the phenomenon of seeing someone who was the spitting image of someone else.
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It happened again the other day. I caught sight of someone who looked so familiar, it caused me ask, “Is it live or is it Memorex?”
No, it wasn’t anyone I really knew. The stranger only looked like a person I had been acquainted with back home in the United States. Still, the resemblance was so uncanny, it caused me question whether Dolly the Sheep was actually the first cloned mammal or a maybe just a clever cover up of something more sinister.
Conspiracy theories and watching one too many bad science fiction movies aside, I can’t tell you how often I’ve almost given myself whiplash from the double takes caused by these sort of sightings. Maybe the Doppelganger theory, the idea that there are only so many combination of physical traits possible and they must get repeated from time to time, is true. After all, humans have only 46 chromosomes, which is less than a deck of playing cards. Maybe some people are getting dealt a similar hands.
Who knows?
But what I do know is that during all my time living abroad I’ve never seen the doppelgänger of someone I have really loved. Oh, I’ve seen copies of a my ex-husband’s friend’s sister, who I never really liked anyway, or the lady who stocked my company’s break room with M & Ms, who, for obvious reasons, I did like. But I’ve never seen someone who looked like my mother, my sister, or even my dearest friend.
Why is that?
Perhaps it’s because the doppelgänger could never be as good as the real thing. This would be impossible. Splenda doesn’t taste like sugar, no matter how we try to convince ourselves it does. And, I can always tell fat-free salad dressing from it’s fatter, more robust original, can’t you?
When it comes to winning hand, my loved ones are better than any royal flush. And the doppelgänger, a pale comparison, couldn’t even walk in the shadow of my one- and-onlys, even if it wore the very same shoe size. So maybe my mind can play tricks on my eyes when I think I see someone who looks like someone else. But it can never fool my heart, which always knows the real thing when it sees it.
Talk about dopplegangers! My husband’s was Carlson from the Fresh Prince and mine was Dana Plato from Different Strokes! Who was/is your celebrity doppleganger?
Diana Mahmoud
WOW! Just….Wow! That’s uncanny!
I get told by people all the time that I look like “someone” they know. I think I have just a generic face that reminds people of others. Once, ages ago, I was told that I looked like Gillian Anderson (Scully on the X-Files.) I didn’t see it then and I don’t see it now.
And by they way, you do not look like Ellen Degeneres. You’re much prettier.
Oh thank you! I was getting worried about the Ellen thing. I’ve gotten it at least three times since being here. I can see why someone would think you look like Scully, but to me you are a complete original! And that’s a wonderful thing!
Diana, I get the Ellen thing all the time. But I’m a little goofier than you so maybe its true in my case. Those photos of you and Nader are unbelievable!
I don’t think you look like Ellen either!!
Chico told me I looked like Marissa Hargitay recently
I’ll take that one any day. Speaking of celebs, Les Mis opens on Dec 25th. Interested in going?
I’d take that one too! Yes to Le Mis. It looks AMAZING!!
PS. Nader extended my trip by a week. Hope you can put up with me longer!
Seriously! That’s fantastic! Plus, you’ll be here for Bek’s last day of high school
Quite the momentous day for her.
Ah, good old Carlton. On meeting William Shatner: “what to wear … WHAT TO WEAR?!?!”
Hilarious! I used to get Nicole Kidman, but then she (horribly) had her hair straightened and there went that. My partner, Ted, however, looks like Paccino.
Hi there! I was just looking at old blog entries and came across a comment of yours. I’m so happy I clicked and found my way to your new blog. Happy you’re lovin’ LIfe and enjoying the moments. Merry Christmas to you and yours! xoxoxo
PS…Wow…The pics are uncanny!!!!
Xavier!!!!! It’s been so long! I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
In my late teens/early 20s I got Jennie Garth. In my mid to late 20s I got Maria Sharapova. I haven’t got anyone consistantly since I chopped my hair off a few years ago. I do get a lot of random comparisons to anyone with straight blonde-ish hair here in Singapore.
Maybe it’s SIngapore. That would make me feel better!
Those pictures are spot on! I personally am a huge fan of Ellen’s, but I don’t see a resemblance. I do see Sharon Stone, though! I’ve been told only a couple of times that I look like Gwyneth Paltrow, but mostily with my smile (bc I have brown hair/eyes). My step-grandma thinks I look like Roz from Frasier. I totally don’t see that one! Also, I thought for the longest time that you never post anything (like me) and then remembered what a goof I am! I had to change my notification in wordpress. Duh! Now I’m sooo behind! Happy holidays to you and your family!