Searching for the Sound of Silence

I wonder how many ways the Simon & Garfunkel classic has been co-opted from its original poetic metaphor to be offered like I’m doing here. I’m taking liberties.

If a desire for a more silent environment were too strong a personal demand I would have to admit I’m living in the wrong place. You likely don’t need me to paint a picture of life in suburban Los Angeles, but consider that our current population in Los Angeles County, and that’s excluding other SoCal counties, stands at 9.5 million people. My belief is there are easily that many leaf blowers, as well.

One of the most profound experiences in the early days of the pandemic shutdown was the eerie quiet.I can’t find the photo of the day a duck family walked down our street. We are a bit tucked away and the only cars that traveled in front of our house were the few neighbors who might occasionally move one of their vehicles.

We looked out the front windows just in time to see a mama duck and three of her babies waddling down the street. From where they’d come, we don’t know. Where were they going? Don’t know that either. But even the animals sensed the change. Mama duck seemed happy.

I get it. I look for places to refresh and do what I call an “emotional re-set,” and if I make a little effort I can find what I’m needing.

Several  years ago I stumbled on a website inviting me to learn more about the Quiet Garden Movement.

I was quite excited until I realized it was primarily linked to the UK, with some affiliate locations, but definitely not California. So I decided that I was going to identify my own quiet garden locations.

Let me introduce you to a couple of my new friends also enjoying a quiet garden.

Less than five miles from home, but a world away. The Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is “up above” most of the noise. I recently treated myself to a quiet hour or so and marveled that the deer were more than content to munch away while I sat with them.

I enjoyed my company. You might hear the crunch of the leaves if you don’t get distracted by the sound of a jet flying over. Mechanical noise is inevitable, but I tuned in to my surroundings and tuned that out!

I do go out of my way to steal a moment with urban wildlife whenever possible. Of course I have my own wildlife right in the back yard.

I thought you might enjoy watching Darwin enjoy a treat on a very hot day. He is notably a very quiet pet.

You might have heard about our tropical storm warning a couple of weeks ago as Hurricane Hilary sent very untypical weather bands across Southern California. We knew our home would withstand the rain, but we were a little concerned about Darwin.

In the summer he digs very deep holes and works his body into the dirt and mud for cooling purposes. I don’t want to see him try to swim! We corralled him the best we could and he seemed willing to stay in his defined and covered area and we just kept checking on him.

By the way, a 65-pound tortoise doesn’t make relocation very easy. It’s a good thing I’m generally content, with a few field trips to local quiet gardens added in for good measure.

I hope your week has just the right measure of peace, with or without quiet.