We are on the cusp of Fall here on the Wasatch Front and I am reminded of a couple of sounds that I love to hear. They conjure up for me a feeling and a mood...that of summertime. At the top of my list is the sound of the rotating rainbird sprinkler. The dynamics of the sound are very rhythmic and quieting. The sound itself is created by the gushing water striking against the metal parts which in turn deflect and direct the water as those parts rotate from side to side due to the power of the water itself. It is a mesmerizing sound...calming and soothing and a special treat to the fortunate bystander. I had wanted rainbirds installed in our backyard when we were landscaping our new home, but it was not to be. However there are still a number of these relics rotating to and fro with their lyrical sound for one to enjoy in nearby fields and on the grounds of some of the older homes that we pass by in the area. I relish the sound and although it will soon be silenced as autumn leaves gather on the lawns and winter brings the quieting snow to the countryside, I look forward to the rainbirds return each summer.
Another summertime sound is that of the hum of the lawnmower. Whenever I hear it I feel a certain sense of comfort wash over me as if all is right with the world. The sun is shining, the grass is green and all is safe. Life's cycle of seasons is unbroken and uninterrupted and all is well.
I have been pretty much sheltered in my lifetime thus far, having been exposed to much of beauty and pleasantness and having experienced very little of that which is harsh and scarring. I feel a great sense of gratitude for that gift.
Perhaps that is why it was so easy for me to accept the diagnosis a week ago today that I have permanently lost part of my ability to hear. Thus the sound theme for this entry regarding the joy I feel when certain sounds fall upon the ear. I am not sure why this loss has taken place, but in the higher sound frequencies I have lost approximately 50% of my hearing. When told this, it didn't seem a blow at all. I accepted it readily and immediately moved to the next step, that of trying out the best hearing aid the technician had to offer and I wore them home tucked unobtrusively inside my ears to try out for the weekend. I opened the car windows on the way home to enjoy the sounds of the rainbirds along the way. I don't want to miss a thing...
3 comments:
I always loved Saturdays growing up because that's when everyone would pull out the lawn mower. The sound from a distance was calming and just made me want to snuggle down into my bed and sleep a little longer.
But the smell was even more enjoyable to me. The fresh, clean, earthy smell of cut grass.
But, here in NM nobody has lawns to mow really. Sad.
Does anyone besides me associate the smell of fresh cut grass with the smell of a freshly cut ripe watermelon? I have always thought them to be wonderfully similar...same with the smell of a freshly peeled orange and the fragrance of a Christmas tree.
Mom, I thought it was time you posted again. So, I tagged you! Check out my blog for details.
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