Yes, that is probably the strangest blog title in history, but it is totally 100% true. There is really something about being able to hear the freeway on a cold night that I can't quite put into words, but it won't stop me from trying!
It started young of course. One of my earliest memories is laying in bed, watching our Christmas lights blink outside my window, all while hearing the dull roar that is the freeway. We lived one block from it, so it really wasn't something you paid much attention to. It was however, part of the soundtrack of life: the day to day moments. For some reason, the freeway became more pronounced during the winter. I'm sure there's an explanation, but I'm not sure what it is.
So, now that I live 20 miles away and can only hear the freeway when it is cold outside (we live 5-6 blocks away instead of one), hearing it is very comforting. I am warm, snuggled up in my bed, listening the freeway breathe. It definitely has breath- the inhales of the downshifting, and the exhales of braking big rigs. It really does remind me of simpler times: being a child and not having a care in the world, waiting in bed on Christmas eve while listening for reindeer, cold wintery nights: nights warm in my bed, with my parents sleeping only rooms away.
I like to listen to the freeway not only because it reminds me of being a child; but also because it reminds me of where I came from, and where I am going. I have kids of my own! I am the adult now! Ethan is now the one sleeping a few rooms away, without a care in the world- while he silently listens to the sound of the freeway on a cold night.
I'm sure he will find it comforting too, someday.
1 comment:
Wow. I was going to say something about not experiencing freeway noise the way that you do, but I just realized that I do... sort of. A part of the yard I work at borders right alongside a busy freeway, and sometimes I find myself just walking along, feeling the breeze on my face, and enjoying what I interpret as "the quiet", but in actuality it is nothing more than freeway noise. Brakes squealing, engines chugging, exhausts humming - it's a veritable cacophony of sounds that mix and harmonize until it's almost unnoticeable. I actually prefer droning noise like that to actual pure silence. Even in the winter, I'm the jerk that has to have a fan blowing, otherwise I can't sleep.
I will say there is one place I hate hearing the freeway. This drive-in theatre out here in Rubidoux borders a busy one, so if it's summer and it's just too damn hot to keep the windows rolled up, you can't hear the movie, even if you turn your car speakers on full blast. The freeway is that deafening.
Rachael
www.damnitwoman.blogspot
Post a Comment