Saturday, May 12, 2012

On Dirty Laundry and Boundaries

As a child visiting my grandmother, I received strict instructions on the proper way to hang the laundry. Underpants, slips, bras, and nighties went on the inside of the clothes line, while sheets and towels went on the outside. My Nanny did not believe in displaying her unmentionables publicly, even on the laundry line.

My other grandparents had a daughter no one ever mentioned.

I come from many generations of secret keepers, literal and metaphorical.

I prefer to think about boundaries instead of secrets. I don't really have any secrets, but I sure as hell have stuff I don't like to talk about*


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*and before I get a frantic, anguished email from my mother ... I'm fine; we're fine; everything's fine. I just don't process stuff out loud.

2 comments:

Bridgett said...

I hang my laundry like that.

My grandfather was married before my grandmother. Seven of his 8 kids never knew until after he was dead.

quiltyknitwit said...

I always say there are secrets, and then there's privacy. Different.