Peace and Quite

Peace and quiet...
Noise. Everywhere. All the time.
First thing in the morning, I wake to the sound of an alarm clock. In my case, our cat goes off before the actual alarm--like clockwork. He does this at the first hint that we are awake. If I drift awake, he immediately knows it. Even during his recent exile from our bedroom, door tightly closed, and a blanket barricading the base of the door, he knows as soon as our breathing changes--sixth sense. Game over. The concerto begins. Softly at first, he cranks up the volume in effort to be fed. I imagine him loudly thinking, "HEY, is anyone listening? " No one stirs. The volume increases, louder and louder until someone caves.
My poor 'little' guy has a lot of digestive issues. At a recent appointment, I heaved his carrier from the floor to pass him over the counter to the vet's assistant. She responded, "Ohhh, you have a chunker!" Yes, 18 pounds, so we decided to cut back his rations. He is not about to suffer alone. This morning the volume was especially loud--no, "Peace on Earth" in the Fjeran household while Sebastian is dieting. Cat parenting is as much fun as living with a two-year-old: noisy and exhausting.
As our day unfolds, the cat escapades are followed by morning news and all manner of electronics. The coffee pot signals when it's done, the microwave dings, the dryer buzzes, my tablet blings. After 8:00 a.m., the phone starts ringing. Non-stop noise, all day long.
Quiet libraries bring blessed relief. Overall, it is a quiet place, although not as strictly enforced as in past years. Clearly, young Jeffery does not yet have the hang of it. His mom tried a number of times and failed to quiet him. Someone will work it out in the children's section. Eventually.
At the end of a long, noisy week, I often decompress at my local library. Silence and calm go hand in hand.
"Silent night, holy night, all is calm..."
A fictional legend about the Christmas carol portrays a village in Austria where the church organ broke on Christmas Eve. Determined to have music on Christmas Day, legend has it that they put a poem to music, creating a lullaby that was accompanied by guitar. http://www.bbc.co.uk/…/christianity/christmas/carols_1.shtml
How do you remember lullabies? I remember soft, calming voices, lulling one to sleep. No organ or guitar. I'll take my lullaby acapella, please.
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
...the gift of peace. And quiet.
Wishing you, wherever you are, a Merry Christmas.
~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran


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