“What you’re hearing is the raspy mating call of the male Kudu in must.” “What you’re hearing is another set of lies attacking the character of the Governor of Michigan.” “What you’re hearing is a live performance of Turandot from the Met.” “What you’re hearing is the sound of a foghorn calling ships into the harbour.” “What you’re hearing is the same noise your dog is hearing, albeit experienced very differently by the both of you.”

So many sounds to enhance the video tracks of our lives. When I was a kid we’d play a borderline macabre game where we’d ask each other if we were only able to have one sense, what would we choose? This was a hard one for me. I couldn’t decide how despondentI’d be if I had either no sight or no sound. Could I handle blindness easier than deafness? Sight was always edged our by hearing. It is a precious gift to me and is the ultimate defining sense of my life. I couldn’t comprehend giving up all the sounds of my treasured music. Or the angry crash of waves on the beach. Or the torrential rain pounding the roof during a midsummer Texas storm, or a dog’s cry of happiness, or my wife’s measured breathing in sleep, or a river’s gurgle during a snowstorm, or ice cracking or eggs frying, or the soft hum of the engine of a BMW, or a glass breaking. 

Or all the myriad voices I’ve heard or had to listen to over the years, some transmitting comfort or fear, or warning, or pleasure. Or disapproval or disappointment. Or pain or ecstasy. Voices in unison or voices alone. Voices in conversation. Sometimes comprehended, sometimes just sound without meaning. Sounds of Silence. Make a Joyful Noise. Do You Hear What I Hear?

What you’re hearing is just what you need to hear.