Wednesday, May 13, 2009

A Comforting Sound

This week I thought I would once again participate with Mama Kat's weekly assignment. Her prompts this week are:

1.) Define goodness...joy...sorrow...and anger using pictures you've taken.
2.) Tomorrow I will do it differently. Here's how...
3.)Describe a 'sound' from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to mind?
4.) I remember when...
5.) Right now is the best time to start. What's your first step?

I thought I would go with #3 this week....

3.) Describe a 'sound' from your childhood. What was it? When did you hear it? What does it bring to mind?

~~~~

The sound of the train coming through town. Growing up at home, my parent's house (they still live there) backed up to a field which has train tracks running through it. During the summertime, I would leave my bedroom window open, as would my brother. Hearing the train passing by throughout the day, it just became so common and almost unnoticeable. But at night, it was always a nice sound, almost comforting. Hearing the horn and the sound of the wheels on the tracks.

That train track has since been discontinued for service for many years now. However, there was recent news in the local paper that the service will soon pick up where it left off.

Now, living in my current home with my own family, we now have a train that passes by our neighborhood. In fact, if I'm standing outside my house and look to the right, I can see it passing right behind some neighborhood homes. I'm sure the homes that backup to the tracks (and I mean, they are very close to the tracks separated by a brick wall) don't like the tracks there but I have to say, it is a comforting and familiar sound I love to hear. In fact, some days when we have our front window open and the wind is blowing just right, the sound of the train and when it honks, is so loud that it sounds like it is passing right in front of our house. But again.....I don't mind it. Neither does the rest of the family!


12 comments:

Sandra said...

I am one that hates the sound our train makes a couple of blocks down... but many in my neighborhood, LOVE the sound of it.

More love it than hate it...

I need to get that feeling about them.

Amy said...

Great post. Trains remind me of my Grandfather - he loved them. I am not sure I would like one close by but I get it.

Unknown said...

That is a great post! Isn't it fun that we can get used to things like that and they almost become a sense of relief or release for us. I'm glad you have train tracks by your house too!

K said...

I remember the comforting sound of trains passing through our family's town in Memphis on hot summer nights. Something about it did bring comfort; like a final sound of the day before I drifted off to sleep. Great choice of sound to write about!

Charlene said...

I used to live near train tracks too. My older brother and I would always ride our bikes along the tracks and throw rocks at the trains as they passed (that wasn't always a good idea b/c sometimes the rocks would richocett and come flying back at us). I had considered writing about it when I saw the prompt but choose not too.

Denise said...

Awwww! I know that sound too! I grew up listening to it too! In fact, I still hear it when I am out there. :)

monica said...

Wonderful post! Trains are always a favorite thing of mine. How funny how you have a train in your childhood and then now that you are grown up have one also so close.

stopping by from Mama Kats

Amarie said...

Isn't it funny how certain sounds just become a part of our everyday environment? When i was a kid, I use to love the sound of my grandmother sitting in the kitchen, chatting with her friends. Even if I was in another room, watching tv or something, the sound of their voices and laughter would always make me feel safe.

Nikki B. said...

great post!

we used to live near some tracks...i did as a kid, then we moved just down the street. there is something about that faint rumbling and whistle that feels good.

maybe because i could only hear it at peaceful times...when all was quiet and calm. i guess it reminds me of being in a quiet house...with sleeping babies...

LeAnna said...

Oh I too grew up with tracks close to my home. It became so immune to the sound that I never really noticed when a train came through. When I had friends over to spend the night, they would alway ask "how in the world do you sleep with trains running all night?" I would reply "What trains?" HA! There is a track close to my current home now as well and I couldnt tell you when the last time I heard a train go by, they dont bother me at all! Oh and how about some irony for you, my husband is a signal maintainer for the RR!

KatBouska said...

As a mom I think a train nearby would cause me to be totally paranoid. But I can see how that noise might be comforting. Weird.

Anonymous said...

I love "comforting" sounds like that that others find annoying!