SOUND OF SILENCE

November 15, 2016
It's getting dark earlier every day. I'm surprised by my acceptance this year of the dark evenings since resetting the clocks, coupled with shortened days. A 'mini-virus' might have helped set the tone--I opted to give in to the sore throat, temperature, et. al. rather than power walking or running at the end of the day. The total blackout provided a welcome endorsement to stay inside.
At the same time, I'm a significant year older this year and understanding my father better every day. My family actually took more than a few long distance trips in a Volkswagon 'Bug'. Picture it. Two adults in the front and two wired kids in the back. Inches away. Foot wrestling. Prompting a stern, "Knock it off!" from our father. Who knew? I thought being good meant we weren't fighting or drawing blood.
I thought of those trips today while I was driving in a sound proof car. The radio was off for a change and I thought, "Dad would love this!" At times, the 'sound of silence' can be pretty sweet. I was less appreciative during our family vacation in a cabin on Mobile Bay with no T.V. or radio; the peace and quiet my dad craved, was almost torture for his teenage daughters.
During my sore-throat episode this week, I was on the phone with my mother and begged, "I need to go--my throat is killing me," to which she replied,"That's okay, you can just listen." Less than an hour later, I had the identical conversation with my sister. I'm pretty sure I heard my dad chuckle!
My father's love of solitude, peace, and quiet made perfect sense once I learned the difference between introverts and extroverts. If you want to appreciate introverts more, check out the Ted Talk, "The Power of Introverts" https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts
I suspect introverts do not mind dark days as much as extroverts. Shortened days slow down life to a contemplative pace, much to the introvert's liking. By her own admission, my cousin Twila Neeld-Bracken is an introvert. She posted this lovely sentiment about finding peace in winter. It's one of the rare occasions when I feel sorry for Southerners who have never awakened to the silence of first-fallen snow.


[Carolyn Fjeran, LowTide explorer/reflective writer; horticulturist & gardener; former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times Herald]

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