The Sound of Silence



Today I realized what the sound of silence is all about.  Stasia is out of school this week on spring break and the neighbors next door were out last week so she doesn't have anyone to play with, except me.

We have been spending the days doing a few things, like a 4 mile round trip bike ride to a park.  Yipes, I need to get back to that cause I was popped when we got home.  Anyhow, a lot of time we have been just sitting outside (me that is) while Stasia rides her bike around the street.  We live in a very quiet neighborhood where the only cars you see belong to people in the neighborhood.

Be that as it may, today we sat out for an hour or so and it was so quiet.  The only sound you heard was Stasia laughing at something she saw and the wind.  It's kind of a dank day cause the sun isn't out yet and the clouds are still around and the wind is blowing a tad more than lightly... and therein is the sound the silence.

It is so relaxing to hear nothing but the sounds of nature.  The birds are chirping and the wind is blowing and the trees are rustling.... the beauty and sound of nature.

This is a beautiful pine tree in the yard next door - actually two trees.  I recently read that the state tree of Arkansas is the pine tree.  And we have them in profusion all around us.  When the tree sways and sings in the wind, it is a beautiful sound of peace, comfort and, believe it or not, silence.  When there is nothing but nature around that sound is beautiful.

The surrounding trees in the area are pine and whatever... not being the nature person I have no idea what these other trees are.  This one right across the street has gotten buds so quickly in the past few days.  We've had nice temps, low 70's, and plenty of sunshine so everything is beginning to bloom and show it's spring fashions.

Actually this whole area is surrounded by pines and other lovely trees, all of which I have no idea what their names are.  Hmmm, maybe I need to take a class of flora and fauna in this area... could be helpful.

This tree next door is lovely and looks like it will provide a lot of shade to our next door neighbor's house.  I'm sure I could ask Mike what kind of a tree it is because he is very informative on some of the things in the neighborhood and he appears to be a gardener of sorts... unlike me.

So why does all this sound of silence appear to be important to me.  Well, it's so nice to finally live in a place where I don't hear all the sounds of traffic, people, trucks backfiring and just the general hustle and bustle of a busy, city life.  This is much more rural and quiet and just so peaceful.  


One thing truly interesting about this Texarkana area, be it Arkansas or Texas, you can drive about 20 minutes in most directions and you are in rural country area and believe me there the sounds are really silent.



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