The one class that sticks out in my mind the most was the time I took sign language classes at the library. While I learned and still remember how to say the alphabet, french fries, "my name is", and various other random words, the biggest lesson I learned in the class was that my parents have secrets.
One day in the middle of our lesson, the instructor told us about a couple in which both the husband and wife were deaf. They had their grandson over for a visit and had gone somewhere. After arriving home, they went to bed. All three died overnight because the car was never turned off and fumes filled the house. It was a very tragic story, and it stuck with me.
On the way home, I told my mom about the family. She didn't say anything for a while. It was almost like she was debating something in her head. And then she said, "That was our house. We bought it after the couple died."
My response, "Are you kidding me??? I lived in a house where people died and you didn't tell me??" Yes, a self-centered response. I was 12 or so. All 12 year olds are self-centered to some degree. Cut me some slack.
She went on, "Well, we lived in a house where the lights flashed when the doorbell rang. There were lots of clues that a deaf family lived there."
I had zero recollection of lights flashing.
We lived in that house from the time I was 4 or so until I was in the first grade. I don't remember anything unusual about it. Except that there were horribly mean dogs across the street. Dogs that would tear after us if they got loose. Dogs that my policeman father actually shot at when they came after us. The dogs I remember.
The flashing lights I do not. I'm guessing that with the mean dogs across the street, very few people actually rang the doorbell.
Regardless, flashing lights may be a clue that deaf people lived there. They are not a clue that three people died a tragic death.
She is so lucky that we no longer lived in that house.
This incident made me realize that my parents had secrets and stories that I knew nothing about. Over the years I have learned of many, many more. Usually in crowded, embarrassing situations where I look like an idiot. Remind me to tell you of the shells from Canada. Or our pet duck's demise.
So many secrets...
Linking up with Finish the Sentence Friday.
Now tell me, what did you try when you were younger?
Have a lovely day!
