When you live some place for a long time you know the sounds of the area. When you haven’t lived some place for a long time every sound leads you to believe there is thievery under way and murderers lurking about your house.
Last night I woke up out of a fairly sound sleep. To realize I could not find that sound sleep again. So I just laid still and listened. Doors slamming. Cars driving by. Far off noises that could be voices. Sirens.
At the other house if I heard a car door slam I knew who’s car it was or wasn’t. I knew if they were at my house or not. And if not, they were at the only close neighbor’s house or they were trespassing. If I heard voices nearby I would likely hit the floor, crawl in the dark to the window and spy on whoever should not be out there. I knew the house creaking sounds. I knew the outside sounds. When new neighbors arrived I quickly learned what time he left for work in the morning and what time she came home from work. I knew when the kids were leaving for school and I knew the sounds of their dogs barking.
But now I live here. There are many many more houses about. And I have no idea who lives in 99.99998% of them. No idea. Someone was slamming doors at 3 a.m. Why? Going to work? Coming home from work? Fighting? The sirens are off and on all day because we are a stone’s throw and a half from a hospital. Cars coming and going to I have no idea where. I don’t know who has dogs or who doesn’t. I know the neighbor loves her cats. But that doesn’t create sounds. Just paw prints on my vehicles and outside furniture.
It’s a little disturbing to not know your own environment. Kind of exciting to learn about it. But I will be happy when I recognize the 3 a.m. noises. I suppose I have not lived here long enough, yet.
