Lessons from the “Plagues” of the Past Year and a Half: Part 1

When Safety Systems Speak, Listen

For the past year and a half, it has felt like life keeps clearing its throat and saying, “Excuse me… I’m not done yet.”

Some of what we’ve dealt with has been big and life-altering. Some of it has been absurd. Some of it has fallen squarely into the category of “Are you kidding me?!” And some of it could have ended very, very badly if the right systems hadn’t worked exactly when they were supposed to.

This is the first lesson I’ve learned the hard way:

Safety systems exist for a reason. Listen to them. Act quickly. And don’t minimize the warning signs.

Friday the 13th, Indeed

On Friday, December 13, 2024, our carbon monoxide detectors started going off in our home. Not chirping. Not gently suggesting attention. Going crazy.

We called the fire department, and they didn’t hesitate. We were told to get out of the house immediately. Do not flip light switches. Do not create sparks. We have natural gas. The fire trucks parked down the street in case our house exploded while we stood outside in the freezing cold.

That will get your attention.

The power company was called, and they figured out what was happening. The crew re-siding our house had wrapped the exposed wall in plastic. Unfortunately, they had also covered the exhaust pipe for the furnace. The exhaust had nowhere to go, so it came right back into the house, through a wall that didn’t yet have new siding on it.

The fix was quick. The lesson was not.

It turned out the furnace itself was failing, which meant we needed a brand-new HVAC system right before Christmas. Thousands of dollars we hadn’t planned to spend. We were able to use our newly installed fireplace to stay warm while everything was replaced, which felt like a small mercy in the middle of a very long year.

But here’s the truth: the detectors saved our lives. Without them, we might have gone to bed that night and never woken up.

If you have carbon monoxide detectors, make sure they work. If you don’t, get them. Maybe get more than one. And if they go off, don’t debate, don’t rationalize, and don’t wait. Get out and call the professionals.

The Danger You Don’t See

Several months later, we scheduled a dryer vent cleaning. With multiple caregivers helping my husband, laundry happens often, and I wanted to be safe. I assumed this would be a routine, check-the-box appointment.

Instead, it turned into another moment where I found myself thinking, Are you kidding me?!

The technician couldn’t find where the dryer vent exited the house. I went outside, somewhat impatiently, to show him. But while the dryer was running, no air was coming out at all. He disconnected the vent behind the dryer and discovered the problem: the same crew that re-sided our house had sided right over the vent. For about ten months, the dryer had been venting lint directly into the wall.

It was a massive fire hazard.

This wasn’t dramatic. There was no smoke, no alarm, no visible crisis. But it was dangerous all the same. And once again, it was caught only because someone stopped and checked instead of assuming everything was fine.

Safety Isn’t Paranoia

What these moments have taught me is that safety systems are often inconvenient right up until the moment they’re lifesaving. Alarms feel annoying. Inspections feel unnecessary. Maintenance feels like something that can wait.

Until it can’t.

If something smells wrong, sounds wrong, or feels off, trust that instinct. Call professionals. Don’t downplay it. Don’t worry about being embarrassed if it turns out to be “nothing.” Nothing is the best possible outcome.

A Small Moment, a Big Reminder

Just last night, after brushing my teeth, I heard dripping. Water was coming from the pipes under the sink. I emptied the cabinet, grabbed bowls, and texted the plumber this morning. Of course, when he arrived, there was no active leak. But the water stain was there, proof that I hadn’t imagined it. He’s coming back to take another look.

That’s what vigilance looks like now. Not panic, just action.

And yes, once again, I said it out loud: Are you kidding me?!

The Lesson

You don’t get extra credit for staying calm in unsafe situations. You don’t win anything by ignoring early warnings. And you don’t have to understand the problem to respect the alert.

When safety systems speak, listen. They’re trying to protect you, even when life already feels like it’s piling on.