I've been thinking about the difference and quality of noise lately. Back a millennium ago, I lived in The City, and was constantly surrounded by noise. 24/7/365. It was quite a shock the first few months - I literally felt as if I was being physically assailed. After about six months, while I wouldn't say I was used to it, I more or less ignored it. Except for the cacophony of car alarms all night long. You'd have to be dead or deaf to ignore that. Then I fled The City and moved north - not to the country, but to a suburb. Still noisy, but different noise: lawnmowers, car horns, leaf blowers, car radios, cars, dogs. Then I moved to my little rural place. Last week, needing some quiet contemplation and the solace of the endless, starry sky (another big plus living in the middle of nowhere), I went out and stood on the deck. And listened. There was the occasional dog bark, a cow mooing, the faint sound of Phoebe's name being called, one of the Guineas got a bee in his/her bonnet briefly, then Kees crowed - getting in the last word, then distance coyotes and the wind rustling the leaves. While the country is noisy in a way all its own, the difference is that it is noisy against a vast, silent canvas. The silence, like the sky, is so wondrous, it can almost bring you to tears.
If I had the track record of the local weather guys (notice - no women), not only would I be tossed out on my derriere after doing such a terrible job, I'd be hard-pressed to find similar employment anywhere. Yet, day after day, week after week, they get it wrong. Geez. In the spirit of full disclosure, this line of thinking was occurring last Thursday night as I inched along the slippery, icy, snaky road over the mountain in a blizzard - while the weather guy told me that the evening would be perfectly fine, clear skies and just a tad cold. Good thing he wasn't sitting next to me.
On the subject of driving, I have been taking the Defensive Driving Course online (a Godsend) and it's made me realize a few things: a) I tend to fall into the Aggressive Driver category; b) I am easily influenced by dire warnings (I will never between midnight Saturday and 3 AM Sunday, I will sleep 8 hours a night, I will give up my LSD habit -- KIDDING); c) I may never drive again. Seriously, besides the benefit of having 10% taken off my insurance every year for three years, it really does catch you up as to how dangerous all this commuting could be. Given that I have to drive, I'm just going to put on my big girl pants and do it - safely and on high alert. However, I will NOT be found frolicking in the ocean. I did watch "Jaws", after all.
I've been watching Apria and the remaining two sheep, Juno and Linden. The loss of their mother/grandmother seemed to throw the sheep off for a couple of days, then they moved on. Apria, however, continues to 'count' her sheep. Since she is quite visually challenged, she keeps tabs on her charges by placing her nose on each sheep as they squeeze by at feeding time. One...two...three. Now it's one...two... and she waits for number three. She has been doing this twice a day, every day since Flora left us. I may throw the goaties in there just to break the mold, so to speak. THAT would give her something to think about.
10 comments:
Since moving to this place, we've noticed a definate "assault" on our senses when we have to go to busy places. The noise is just part of it. What really gets me is the PACE of city life. It's as if they all drank mega-caffeine drinks. They talk fast, they move fast. Cripes!
Sue - Yes, it took me a while to keep pace and then I tore along with the best of them. But...where are they going? I have sloooowed down and like that lifestyle so much better.
I was having dinner in a restaurant the other night and the electricity went off....it was astounding how quiet it became. Aside from cars, and outside noise, the hum of refrigerator, computer, etc. create a good deal of inside noise. But, yes, I have adjusted quickly to city noise....it did take awhile though.
I have the opposite problem now, living under the constant scream of FA-18 SuperHornets (gotta love 'em, that's our paycheck!), now when we go home to my parents' I can't sleep... too quiet!
It is amazing what sounds we can block out. They say we all can hear our heart beating but block it out or it would drive us crazy. And look how well Men can block out the voice of any women they live with.
Oh poor Apria :( Un-animal people think that animals do not have feelings or mourn. In fact they can be even more sensitive that some humans. Maybe I will don my fluffiest fleece coat and line up at that trough myself. I could use a nice Llama nose on me about now.
I agree with you on the noise!!! I lived in town before I got married and moved out to the country. I thought I would go crazy listening to the crickets and the wind blowing through the hay fields. Now I relish it!!
Great post!
Sylvie - You sure went from one extreme to another! Although your nice little neighborhood seems fairly quiet, your neighbors sure got closer. It is amazing how quiet it can get without the appliances running.
Erin - Well, I guess you can get used to anything! When I first moved to the farm, it was too quiet for me, too. I kept waking up to silence!
Jane - You and your fluffiness are more than welcome to come and cheer her (and me) up! They say there is nothing like a llama nose to cure what ails you.
SLF - I wouldn't trade it, either.
When we have "city" visitors, the first thing they comment on is the quiet. :)
It's good to know it isn't just OUR weathermen who always get it wrong! ;)
Just had to share this thought (which doesn't directly relate to your post . . . which I enjoyed very much as always): With your intelligent, interested, fertile mind and joie de vivre you will never grow old!
That's one of the main reason I want to move to a rural area- the quiet, and the dark open skies. I love to watch the stars!
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