Different, but the Same

     "Shooting Dad" by Sarah Vowell was all about the major differences and surprising similarities between Vowell and her dad. You would think that a gun-loving Republican and an art-loving Democrat would have no similarities, and that is what Vowell assumed, too. She spent most of her life arguing with her dad, so she was convinced that they would never have anything in common. It wasn't until she made an effort to appreciate her dad's differences and put herself in his shoes that she found how much alike they actually were. They are both "smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment," but they just have different types of projects and equipment. This relationship proves that two completely different people can be essentially the same. The essay assures people that there is the possiblility of finding a similarity in one of their own incompatible relationships.
     When reading this essay, it reminded me of the movie, The Parent Trap, in which a pair of twins who were separated at birth reunite at summer camp. Hallie and Annie have completely different personalities, live across the world from each other, and have different interests. They even dislike each other at first and try to get under each others' skin, just like Vowell and her dad. Eventually, Hallie and Annie get to know each other and decide to switch places when they go back home. It wasn't until they put themselves in each others' shoes and make an effort to learn more about each other that they get along with each other and find how similar they are. Therefore, if one ever finds himself in a relationship where everything clashes, it is important to step in the other's place, because there is assuredly a similarity that can be found.