Two Peas in a Pod

22.11.25

Growing up, my parents’ friends would always pinch my cheek and say, “You look exactly like Marysia!”

I hated hearing it. It annoyed me every time.

Back then, I thought I was young, slim and cool — and Mum was different. Older, rounder, a bit stodgy. I was sure we were nothing alike.

And yet, half a century later, here I am: that older, fuller, more stodgy woman.

And suddenly I can see that we really were two peas in a pod.

Most of mum’s friends are gone now, except one, Inka. Now it’s my friends who tell me I look like her.

This time the words don’t annoy me. I’m glad to hear them. In fact I treasure them.

Because it was never just about the features. It’s everything behind them.

I see it in this photo taken last month, even though Mum is so old in it. It's the laughing mouth and the twinkling, moon-shaped eyes.

It's an aura, and through no effort of my own, I’m proud to have inherited it.