How much of our life is drowned out in senseless white noise, the whirring of that kitchen appliance, the purr of a motor, the mind-numbing lyrics to our "new" favorite song? When did we lose our appreciation for life's little sounds, waves lapping at the shore, a bird calling out in a desperate search for a mate, the wind as it rustles through millions of of dancing leaves, the sound of human voices raised in elation or deep in sorrow? When did we become so inherently self-centered, so damn impatient?
