Thoughts On Noise Pollution
If we are to consider the environment, and the damage we subject it to, then we must also consider noise pollution. Think about it - when was the last time you spent in a truly quiet place? Do you consider noise pollution to be just an everyday happening and something we live with, or should it be considered when speaking of our planet?
I read an interesting article in AARP today that gave me pause. When I moved to my present location, I knew in advance that it would be horribly noisy. I live downtown in a small mid-western town that is the county seat of Eaton County, Michigan. Next door to me is a popular pizza joint which is also a hanging out place for the local yuppies. A lot of bikers hang out there, and the sound of loud Harley’s firing up under your window at 11 PM is not conducive to good mental health.
My front yard is Main street, my back yard a parking lot for the pizza joint. There is never any quiet here - always something loud going on. We live one block from the fire station, and of course each time there is a fire we have to put up with sirens and noise, which is often.
In contrast, I came here from living in 4 acres of serene woods, where the only noise was the occasional truck passing by or the baying of my neigbor’s coon dogs. I sat on the deck the first fall we lived there, and thought that it was raining. it wasn’t - the sound that was so much like rain was the sound of leaves falling, their crisp edges rustling against branches and ferns. To go from that, wher I lived happily with Molly and Gracie, my two Black Labs, to this apartment in the city is a transition I am still not used to. Nor wish to be. Gone are Gracie and Molly, my two best friends. Now, I listen to drunken fights or puking chicks in the parking lot at night, and have to put up with parking lot spotlights shining in my office window.
If we take no concern for this, I wonder why. Since moving here, I am on prescription drugs for depression, anxiety and a horrid sleep disorder. I feel that if we are to consider pollution of our planet, then we need to look to noise pollution, also. I no longer listen to Bach & Tchiakovsky like I used to, and can’t remember when I cranked up Stevie Ray or Hendrix on the stereo. And wonder why I have to take chemicals to maintain. How sad…
Drive on,
Charlie~
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2 Responses to “Thoughts On Noise Pollution”
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:56 pm
reminds me of growing up in NH and the several years we battled ferocious gypsy moth caterpillars. if you were outside the house which was surrounded by the ‘back 40,’ you could hear the sound of their poop dropping. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
November 5th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Tee Hee! that’s a new one on me, Lauren. Caterpillar poop?
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