Elephants In Rooms

These are the things I know about elephants. Elephants are  enormous. Jumbo was hit by a train and killed in St. Thomas, Ontario. Bracelets made of elephant tail hair were worn around wrists in the 1960's to bring good luck. They have long memories. Elephants mourn their dead. They have long trunks. Elephants are often slaughtered for their ivory tusks. I probably know a little bit more, but this will do for now.

Oh yes, elephants often plunk themselves down in the middle of conversations and nobody seems to notice them. With a few exceptions, I have never been very good at not noticing.

I can remember going to a wedding/baby shower for a neighbourhood girl, when I was about ten. This was in the 1950's when such things were rare. As I remember, the women in the room were somewhat uncomfortable. I piped up that I thought the plan was supposed to be making babies was a post marriage activity.  The women became far more uncomfortable. I realized there was an elephant in the room that I was not to acknowledge.

Among my friends in childhood, either there were few elephants around or I don't remember them.

High school was another story. High school life was fraught with sensitivities that made for many secrets meant to be discussed with only closest friends. I bumped into several elephants without trying, but no one seemed aghast as that sort of thing was recognized as one of my weaknesses. There was no ill intent.

Adulthood was another story. I became more and more ticked by the list of things that were not to be discussed in genteel society. To be honest, I couldn't always tell when noticing was inappropriate. The phrases "Tell it like it is. ", "Let it all hang out." and "Be real." were meant to be preached not practised.

So here I am at the beginning of my golden years. The drunks don't drink. There is no problem that can be imagined as they set out in their cars on icy, winter roads.

This is not about privacy. An elephant in a room is an elephant in a room. Refusing to see the elephants takes so much energy and can sometimes be dangerous.

Besides too many elephants in one room doesn't leave much room for anything else and elephants can get mighty smelly.