As a child growing up around the world, our family was separated from my parents' families most of the time. Every once in awhile, when we would get together, my mother and my aunt (this is my father's sister, not hers) would be rather freaked to discover that they'd bought me and my cousin identical things. We'd find ourselves having the same shoes, dresses, dolls. This was way, way before the world of universal stores (i.e., WalMart, where everyone one in every town looks exactly the same). Often they'd choose the same paterns and same fabrics and make us the same clothes. I wouldn't find it odd if Mom and Auntie were sisters, but not; sisters-in-law. Cousin and I have lived continents away, but have always had a bond. That was just coincidental. When we did live near each other (near meaning a day or two drive in the station wagon), then our mothers did dress us alike. There'd be me, my sisters, and my cousins, all dressed in hand-made clothing. I look at home movies and think we were adorable. But the oddity of my mother buying the same things for me when she was, say, in Germany, as my Aunt bought for my Cousin in California was strange.