About Me

My photo
Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Fun Monday - Sounds of Silence

This week's Fun Monday topic is all about sounds around us. Our host for the long month of January is Ari over at Prawn of Fate . She asks: what is the most beautiful sound in the whole world? what sound do you dislike the most?



When I'm going about my day, the sound that I most want to hears is silence. For most of the day I don't want to hear the TV, radio, gadgets that make noise, or people talking. One sound that I do love is that of Willie the Pit Bull snoring like an old man as he lies on the sofa. He likes keeping me company and I like that too. I read. He hangs his head off the sofa and snores peacefully. That's just enough noise.


The sound that I despise is that of the telephone ringing, or even the answering machine. I can't even think of the last call that I received that was enjoyable. If it were not for needing a land line for the computer or for my sister to be able to contact me in emergencies I wouldn't even have anything except a cell phone.



Back to the sounds I love, I forgot about our local public radio, all classical station. It's just pure music with the only talk being to announce the piece that's about to be played. Enjoy having that station on when either working or as a backdrop for reading.

In modern times it's not exactly easy to enjoy the sounds of silence, but I try.

(Image credit: Phone Phobia, artist Jordan Clarke)

12 comments:

Sandy said...

Lovely post. I have a boxer who snores puffingly while I read. It is very companionable and comforting.

Lane Mathias said...

A snoring dog is the most restful thing in the world. Funny how a snoring human has the opposite effect.

Like you, I hate the landline ringing too.I am definitely not a phone person.

Sayre said...

Lovely post... Snoring dogs are wonderful. Revan (my big dog) shakes the house with his snores though... first time heard him do that, I thought a truck was going by outside.

I wouldn't mind being deaf. I find noise to be quite overwhelming.

Jan n Jer said...

Lol..snoring dogs make me laugh! very entertaining. I think everyone should have a certain amount of quiet time during the day. It helps to get your thoughts together and keeps you calm. Thanks for sharing Faye, happy FM to you n Willie!

Molly said...

Faye,
I definitely understand the beauty of silence. When I taught school although I did not mind the noise of the school day, I did deeply appreciate the silence in the school building after the bells stopped ringing, after the students went home for the day, and the seemingly incessant public address system was silent.

Jill said...

We were constantly getting 'spam' phone calls until we complained to the FCC a few times and the companies quit calling us! Woo! Now we just get random calls from random states and I just ignore them. The other places (which wouldn't pick up, it was dead air, or whatever), would call 10-12 times a day.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

My choices are the same as yours. I love to hear Grumps snoring softly as I type, but hate a ringing phone. Even the dog barks when it rings, so I obviously don't hide my dislike of the ringing.

Kim said...

I don't have a dog, but I'm sure that sound is more lovely than a Hub snoring. I agree about the silence, too. Some people like to have the radio on at home--I'm okay with quiet.

Swampwitch said...

AS you say, "Great minds . . . "
~sWaMpY~

joanygee said...

I don't mind the phone ringing daily. It has a bright tuneful melody and it's usually a neighbour. M will ring to ask how I am, or tell me about M next door to her. Another welcome call is an invite to pop round for coffee and a chat.
Thanks for sharing.

Living Life said...

Yep. I like it quiet too. I like to be able to hear myself think, ya know. And I like to be able to hear myself talk to myself! LOL

I always get a kick out of hearing Cooper grunt, or moan or whine when he's trying to get my attention. It just cracks me up!

Susie Vereker said...

Yes, what a lovely dog. (Thanks for your kind comments about mine).
I must be unusual in that I like the phone, email or anything communicative.