Sound of Silence
I made one of the best purchases of my life recently. Ear Plugs. Fancy-ish ear plugs to just wear…all the time. They’re called Loops. There are two different kinds. One just kind of levels out major decibel spikes. I’ve worn them walking around grocery stores, etc. The other kind is more for focusing. They’re not noise cancelling, but just give you a little peace.
When I’m reading, I can’t be doing anything else. I get distracted so easily, it’s embarrassing. Music of any kind is absolutely out of the question. If I’m reading, I cut off at least 45 minutes so that with every word my mind doesn’t flit to work that needs to be done, dishes that need to be cleaned, cats that need to fed.
Writing is the same, although unless I’m journaling, I write on my computer, a place rife with distractions. I can’t listen to music when I write either. It distracts me or maybe I’m superstitious that what I’m listening to will impact my writing.
Before Loops, I would either earmark quiet morning hours for hobbies of stillness or I would listen to the only white noise I can tolerate: The sound of an airplane.
Rainforests are annoying, tv white noise is garish, anything having to do with “water” or “rivers” or “waterfalls” sounds like someone took a field trip to a mall and held their Zoom H4n to the edge of the fountain that children throw pennies into.
I’ve always loved being on an airplane. I didn’t fly anywhere until I was 21 – true story! I made sure to get a window seat and I looked outside for as long as I could until I passed out. A tall baby being rocked to sleep by Delta Airlines.
But I don’t love the sound of an airplane cabin simply because I love flying. And several months ago it hit me:
I love airplanes and the sound of an airplane because everyone has agreed to be quiet. The flight attendant never starts the journey like, “Okay! Everyone be quiet, and if I hear anyone talking, you’re going to get written up!” And if a baby starts screaming, we might be annoyed, but, well, he’s still getting used to the ground and now he’s in the air – it’s a bit much! Have you been on a flight and adults get loud. Maybe one is looking over his shoulder to talk to his friends. Everyone within earshot looks at the offending parties like, “Shut the fuck up.”
It’s not just people, it’s the way buildings are designed, how roads are built - everything is just so loud these days. Seriously, restaurants are now so loud it can damage your ears.
You’re given an ultimatum: either be around people and society and culture and eventually blow your eardrums out, or if you want some peace and quiet go walk into the woods and stay there. I don’t want to go to the rainforest, and I certainly don’t want to listen to its sounds and pretend like I’m there in order to finish my blog.
But a plane is different. Hundreds of people and everyone collectively decides to shut the fuck up.
I’m at my desk. It’s not absolute silence, but it’s less. I can hear a splash if a car drives by. Occasionally my dryer will alert me to its presence with a metallic clunk of something rolling inside. My fingers on the keyboard. I can hear my own breathing, and being aware of it makes me want to breath deeply – something I don’t do often enough.
And I’m thinking about getting on a plane. Where should I go?
Hi! I’m Anna Carter, a GFE escort in Manhattan, NYC. I’m originally from Atlanta, GA.