Now, this might come off as a complaint, but it is meant to be a celebration, an appreciate for that sweet silence.
Mary Beth and I really do live a simple life. We are up somewhere between 0430 and 0500; I get the coffee going; and then we may spend the next two hours with a dozen or so words between us. Not that we don't have anything to say to one another - we have a wonderful relationship and cherish every moment we have together - its just that we really enjoy, moreover thrive on, some quiet time to ourselves. And, we mange to do that living in a very tight environment on our sail boat.
We don't watch television and rarely have music playing. We just don't have a need to fill every void with Noise!
So, here's the deal. We have been at my step-mother's for a few days to help her move out of her house and into an assisted living apartment. Now, I love this woman! She raised me and is a big part of making me the man I am today..... But, holy cow; the noise! At 80 years of age, I know there is no turning of that tide. 0530 to well after sundown there is either the TV or the radio going at a bazillion decibels! Not a moment of quiet!
Again, I'm not complaining. I'm just yearning for the quiet at home and thinking about how we got to this place where many (most?) of us are compelled to fill every moment with such noise.
300+ cable channels of non-stop babel; head phone-connected-smart phones streaming music and Podcast; Muzak in the stores we visit.... the list goes on!
Yup, yearning for some quiet!
Give me the racket of waves crashing on the shore. Bring on the cacophony of wind, and birds, and the roar of the wake behind the boat at hull speed...... Let me suffer the dissonance of flowing creeks and chattering frogs.....
And most certainly give me a little space to listen to the perking of the coffee!