We go past that airport several times a week. I always think a plane is going to land on my head. It all used to be open land now the deer can’t play there.
We are none of us any different. I used to be so busy judging and fixing everything that I didn’t notice much else. Sometimes gardening gave me respite. The gift of this illness has been to stop me in my tracks, although it has taken a few years for my mind and will to slow down. I’m grateful.
Because my ME was and is triggered by mold toxins I have to keep air filters going in every room. Collectively, they sound like a wind tunnel. You have inspired me to turn them down a notch or two and see how I do. Thanks, Hal. Blessings to you.
My tinnitus doesn't like the high-pitched whine of the leaf blowers and I live in what we call the land of lawn care. I feel guilty that I succumbed to a lawn service a couple years back and joined that cacophany but dang they get it all done in 20 minutes and I enjoy my patio and flowers without the nagging of undone yard chores.
But that leaf blowing whining. I hear it all the time from the house and it bugs me. Then I realize it isn't just that. The lawnmower in the sky on my side of town? The Goodyear Blimp. It's much slower than those prop plsnes too, so it lingers in earshot for a hour. Oh man! My wife doesn't get it. I'm like argh! Do you hear that?! And she says hear what. Ah to have the buffers of a neurotypical person.
First, I have to tell you that I always do a little happy dance whenever you are healthy enough to produce a Substack.
Second, we all notice sounds differently. I have had a slight buzzing in my ears my whole life. So, motor sounds bring me comfort. The peace I get from the quiet of nature or the quiet time with you and Quakers is priceless. But, I do not lament motor sounds.
You probably imagine Alaska as quiet and peaceful but we are the land of the small airplane and tourists love to go “flight seeing.” My city put rules in place to help manage the noise. I gave away the electric mower that came with my house in favor of an old school push mower. I like the soft whirring noise it makes. I’m sorry you had to give up Severance because I know you were enjoying it. If you’re curious about what happened and can handle smaller, faster doses of tension, Vulture does recaps.
Hal, never apologize for your rants. We tune in to hear your thoughts and musings because we love them—your rants, perspectives, and everything in between.
I completely understand your deep dislike of those "lawnmowers in the sky." Certain sounds in the city also set me on edge—like the pothole that clanks every time a car rolls over it, the distant roar of a rally creeping into my neighborhood, or the constant hum of a nearby building’s exhaust. Sometimes, it all becomes too much, and I need to escape.
My usual refuge? Music and closed windows. But when I can, I retreat up north to a cottage we’ve rented for almost a decade. In fact, I’m here alone right now, recalibrating, renewing, and simply soaking in the silence. And here, it truly is quiet. I can walk through the forest and pause to hear the whisper of the wind through bare trees, the gurgle of snowmelt in tiny creeks, the birds singing in celebration of spring, and even my own breath as I pause mid-hike.
I know I’m fortunate to have this option when the noise becomes overwhelming. But please know—you’re not alone in feeling like these sounds are nails on a chalkboard. Whether it’s because of your illness heightening your awareness or, in my case, being “sensitive” (I was just diagnosed with adult ADHD—maybe that explains it), we all have to find our own way of coping with the world’s relentless soundtrack.
I wonder—could you ever hear music in those lawnmowers in the sky? Or in the hum of an air conditioner next door? I’m no musician, but I often find unexpected melodies in the noise around me, whether in the city or out here in nature.
Either way, thank you for sharing your thoughts. And please—never apologize. (Though, being Canadian, I do appreciate a good "sorry" now and then! 😉)
I feel the need to immerse myself in nature more and more as I am older. It is rejuvenating And at the same time so very peaceful. But my pet peeve is when I am sitting on my deck enjoying the beauty around me I am interrupted by the bombastic sound of leaf blowers! It seriously hurts my ears and actually my whole body. If you can't rake there are a bunch of kids that would willingly do it for a few dollars!
Thank you for yet another wonderful podcast. Somehow you seem able to pick out what is almost exactly my experience with ME and talk about it. I’ve been living in apartments since I’ve been sick. Almost all of them with thin walls. Currently, it’s people’s almost nonstop TVs that get me. I have many stories about apartment and next door neighbor noises. I’ll spare you.
Thanks also for talking about the importance of nature, especially since the onset of this. Yes, the world is getting fuller and noisier. Too many of us humans in it. Just my feelings.
Gorgeous photo Hal and a holy remarkable life and golden wisdom you share. I learn so much from your life story. May my message find you in peace, comfort and quiet. 💚Geraldine
Oh, Hal, it's as if you're writing from inside my head. The longing for only nature's sights and sounds is so intense in me these days. As I write this comment, I'm watching the Big Bear Eagle nest wake up, the dark slowly sliding away as the sun comes up over the lake below. Jackie just called to Shadow and flew off to find breakfast. The chicks are bobbling around in the bowl, their downy heads catching the dawn light. I've been watching them as I work every day for three weeks now, keeping the stream open on my laptop screen as I work on a larger monitor. Every time I feel the pressure of all that's happening in the world, I watch them, breathe deeply, and weep, remembering that the Earth's intelligence is so much greater than anything I can come up with.
I, too, hear the planes from KSU airport overhead, plus the military planes from the arsenal. The very first day I was able to open doors and windows, within minutes my living room filled with the stench of my next-door neighbor's cigarette smoke, and the other side neighbor started up the infernal leaf blower. I closed the house back up and put my noise-canceling headphones on. Surrender, surrender, surrender. Have perspective, Kelly. I'm safe, have a roof over my head, food on the table, work to sustain me, family and friends to love and to love me, books to read, words to write, and I am not sheltering myself and my people, trying to survive from a brutal, genocidal war.
Another bonus of the Eagle Nest livestream is that I typically work with nature sound recordings in the background for white noise to help drown out the insanity inside my head from Covid-induced tinnitus. Now I listen to what's happening in Big Bear and witness life in all its emergent glory on the screen.
Here's to the divine and delicious rare, precious sound of the Earth uninterrupted by human cacophony. ♥️ Love to you, Hal.
Thanks so much for your beautiful comment, Kelly. I just watched one of the babies put its butt way up in the air and squirt poop to the outside of the nest. It’s amazing. The fact that those birds built that sturdy nest with stocks is just incredible to me.
I’m so sorry to hear about the cigarette smoke. 😢 ❤️
We go past that airport several times a week. I always think a plane is going to land on my head. It all used to be open land now the deer can’t play there.
Keen observations!
We are none of us any different. I used to be so busy judging and fixing everything that I didn’t notice much else. Sometimes gardening gave me respite. The gift of this illness has been to stop me in my tracks, although it has taken a few years for my mind and will to slow down. I’m grateful.
Because my ME was and is triggered by mold toxins I have to keep air filters going in every room. Collectively, they sound like a wind tunnel. You have inspired me to turn them down a notch or two and see how I do. Thanks, Hal. Blessings to you.
My tinnitus doesn't like the high-pitched whine of the leaf blowers and I live in what we call the land of lawn care. I feel guilty that I succumbed to a lawn service a couple years back and joined that cacophany but dang they get it all done in 20 minutes and I enjoy my patio and flowers without the nagging of undone yard chores.
But that leaf blowing whining. I hear it all the time from the house and it bugs me. Then I realize it isn't just that. The lawnmower in the sky on my side of town? The Goodyear Blimp. It's much slower than those prop plsnes too, so it lingers in earshot for a hour. Oh man! My wife doesn't get it. I'm like argh! Do you hear that?! And she says hear what. Ah to have the buffers of a neurotypical person.
♥️♥️♥️ Love to you Hal.
First, I have to tell you that I always do a little happy dance whenever you are healthy enough to produce a Substack.
Second, we all notice sounds differently. I have had a slight buzzing in my ears my whole life. So, motor sounds bring me comfort. The peace I get from the quiet of nature or the quiet time with you and Quakers is priceless. But, I do not lament motor sounds.
You probably imagine Alaska as quiet and peaceful but we are the land of the small airplane and tourists love to go “flight seeing.” My city put rules in place to help manage the noise. I gave away the electric mower that came with my house in favor of an old school push mower. I like the soft whirring noise it makes. I’m sorry you had to give up Severance because I know you were enjoying it. If you’re curious about what happened and can handle smaller, faster doses of tension, Vulture does recaps.
Hal, never apologize for your rants. We tune in to hear your thoughts and musings because we love them—your rants, perspectives, and everything in between.
I completely understand your deep dislike of those "lawnmowers in the sky." Certain sounds in the city also set me on edge—like the pothole that clanks every time a car rolls over it, the distant roar of a rally creeping into my neighborhood, or the constant hum of a nearby building’s exhaust. Sometimes, it all becomes too much, and I need to escape.
My usual refuge? Music and closed windows. But when I can, I retreat up north to a cottage we’ve rented for almost a decade. In fact, I’m here alone right now, recalibrating, renewing, and simply soaking in the silence. And here, it truly is quiet. I can walk through the forest and pause to hear the whisper of the wind through bare trees, the gurgle of snowmelt in tiny creeks, the birds singing in celebration of spring, and even my own breath as I pause mid-hike.
I know I’m fortunate to have this option when the noise becomes overwhelming. But please know—you’re not alone in feeling like these sounds are nails on a chalkboard. Whether it’s because of your illness heightening your awareness or, in my case, being “sensitive” (I was just diagnosed with adult ADHD—maybe that explains it), we all have to find our own way of coping with the world’s relentless soundtrack.
I wonder—could you ever hear music in those lawnmowers in the sky? Or in the hum of an air conditioner next door? I’m no musician, but I often find unexpected melodies in the noise around me, whether in the city or out here in nature.
Either way, thank you for sharing your thoughts. And please—never apologize. (Though, being Canadian, I do appreciate a good "sorry" now and then! 😉)
Wow. Your cottage in the woods sounds wonderful! Enjoy. I will listen for the music next time the planes fly. ❤️
Beautiful writing Hal….
Me too.
Have only read first half so far, but i am inspired to keep my ac off this summer. I wish you quiet and the good kinds of sound.
I feel the need to immerse myself in nature more and more as I am older. It is rejuvenating And at the same time so very peaceful. But my pet peeve is when I am sitting on my deck enjoying the beauty around me I am interrupted by the bombastic sound of leaf blowers! It seriously hurts my ears and actually my whole body. If you can't rake there are a bunch of kids that would willingly do it for a few dollars!
Hi 👋 Hal:
Thank you for yet another wonderful podcast. Somehow you seem able to pick out what is almost exactly my experience with ME and talk about it. I’ve been living in apartments since I’ve been sick. Almost all of them with thin walls. Currently, it’s people’s almost nonstop TVs that get me. I have many stories about apartment and next door neighbor noises. I’ll spare you.
Thanks also for talking about the importance of nature, especially since the onset of this. Yes, the world is getting fuller and noisier. Too many of us humans in it. Just my feelings.
I haven’t heard you sing for some time. Your voice is magic.
Gorgeous photo Hal and a holy remarkable life and golden wisdom you share. I learn so much from your life story. May my message find you in peace, comfort and quiet. 💚Geraldine
Oh, Hal, it's as if you're writing from inside my head. The longing for only nature's sights and sounds is so intense in me these days. As I write this comment, I'm watching the Big Bear Eagle nest wake up, the dark slowly sliding away as the sun comes up over the lake below. Jackie just called to Shadow and flew off to find breakfast. The chicks are bobbling around in the bowl, their downy heads catching the dawn light. I've been watching them as I work every day for three weeks now, keeping the stream open on my laptop screen as I work on a larger monitor. Every time I feel the pressure of all that's happening in the world, I watch them, breathe deeply, and weep, remembering that the Earth's intelligence is so much greater than anything I can come up with.
I, too, hear the planes from KSU airport overhead, plus the military planes from the arsenal. The very first day I was able to open doors and windows, within minutes my living room filled with the stench of my next-door neighbor's cigarette smoke, and the other side neighbor started up the infernal leaf blower. I closed the house back up and put my noise-canceling headphones on. Surrender, surrender, surrender. Have perspective, Kelly. I'm safe, have a roof over my head, food on the table, work to sustain me, family and friends to love and to love me, books to read, words to write, and I am not sheltering myself and my people, trying to survive from a brutal, genocidal war.
Another bonus of the Eagle Nest livestream is that I typically work with nature sound recordings in the background for white noise to help drown out the insanity inside my head from Covid-induced tinnitus. Now I listen to what's happening in Big Bear and witness life in all its emergent glory on the screen.
Here's to the divine and delicious rare, precious sound of the Earth uninterrupted by human cacophony. ♥️ Love to you, Hal.
Thanks so much for your beautiful comment, Kelly. I just watched one of the babies put its butt way up in the air and squirt poop to the outside of the nest. It’s amazing. The fact that those birds built that sturdy nest with stocks is just incredible to me.
I’m so sorry to hear about the cigarette smoke. 😢 ❤️
Thank you, Hal. [I 'm breathing in the fresh air with you.........] Ah!