Can't even count the number of times they've told me something, mostly travel plans, then immediately saying "don't tell anyone", and by anyone they really mean "anyone/everyone in the family". When I ask why, they say they don't won't anyone "messing up their plans". I guess I can understand, but still, it's kind of shady.

And at family parties, I swear my parents, particularly my dad, leaves without telling anyone or having anyone notice. Like, he'll be there, then someone will ask about him, and I'll say he's here somewhere, but then I'll check and see that his car is gone, like a ninja.

I always wondered why my parents insisted on keeping a backup car. A couple of years ago, when my parents bought the subaru because the jetta was breaking down & requiring maintenance all the time, they still kept the jetta. I was like, "Why keep the jetta? You still have the X5." They kept the jetta to my chagrin and that's what my dad still drives to work today, leaving the X5 as the backup car. They're paying insurance on a car that rarely gets driven. But it turns out that I've been the beneficiary of the backup car numerous times (more like ever time). Like, whenever the mini needs major service, I have the X5 to drive. And when I wrecked the M3, I had the mini. And when my civic finally bit the dust, I had the M3. So yeah. I'm definitely getting a backup car of own, when I can afford it (seriously though, it's not economically at all, not even a little bit, but I just like the idea, however expensive it may be).