Locked down with my Ukulele 22

These are strange times but still something happens that make you stop.

I’ve realised that I’ve been living with white noise around me all the time. My being plugged into music ALL the time might not be such a great idea. Sometimes it’s an excuse for avoiding uncomfortable truths.

White noise is an audio term. It’s all audible frequencies at the same sound level at the same time. Apparently it’s quite good for getting to sleep. Infants hear the sound of the mother’s heart and blood circulating around the body and the whooshing is a bit like white noise. There’s a school of thought that it can be used to help get infants to sleep. Some adults are using it apparently.

I do know that a trip round the block in the car a few times can get an infant to sleep. But taking off the coat afterwards is certain to wake them. I’ve heard of desperate parents running the vacuum cleaner to get the kids to sleep. Kids don’t like total quiet to sleep they aren’t used to it.

I’ve run into myself coming in the other direction lately and it hurt.

Post collision, I was sitting in my garden. I heard the sound track of life around where I live. There was the sound of children playing in a paddling pool, bird song, wind blowing tree branches and in the distance the sound of a car engine. Every now and again the air was crushed by a jet fighter taking off. Even then it was peaceful. I have begun to think that blocking everything out bricks up all your doors and windows. You’re very secure but difficult to access.

Sometimes I reflect on the last few years and wonder where they went and wonder what I’ve been doing. I know where I’ve been and what I’ve done, but I’m surprised I’ve been doing it that long. I’ve accepted my circumstances and not been fretting about what could have been. I got some advice recently that advised just that. But, I was listening to the radio and they discussed the Serenity Prayer.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

I would add “the intelligence to know when its right to do so.” You could waste years or cause a car crash.

Poems Prayers and Promises

A song by John Denver. From the album of the same name released in 1971. I’ve not found out much about the tune itself but it does, as with many of his songs, paint pictures in the mind.

I've been lately thinking About my life's time All the things I've done

I've seen a lot of sunshine Slept out in the rain Spent a night or two all on my own Had myself some friends And spent a time or two in my own home

I’ve enjoyed the sunshine and sleeping in the rain. I’ve spent time on my own. It might be time to let the light in the windows.

It’s taken me two weeks to work that out. I must be pretty thick.

Stay safe

P.S I’ve had a bit of a mind block the last couple of weeks. I’ve a feeling that time and pressures of living will get in the way of publishing from time to time. Apologies.