Urban areas always full of sounds

I have been sitting here reading the letters regarding the playing of “Colors” at the Navy base, and it just really makes me shake my head at the writers who are so against hearing the daily ritual.

Seven days ago my family moved to North Everett and have been enjoying the morning tradition … the mornings we are awake to hear it, that is. On Sunday we slept in, and guess what? We did not hear it as it did not wake us up. We hear it loud and clear every morning that we are awake, but when we have not been awake we have not heard it, and I checked, I live less than two miles from the base. Hearing the morning tradition prompted a discussion with the children about Navy traditions and such … we turned it into an educational experience.

Sitting here, I am hearing and thinking of a lot more things that are heard daily that make a vast amount of noise for a longer period compared to bugle calls: Garbage and recycling trucks going up and down the alleys. How about the groups of laughing and talking and swearing teenagers as they walk to school? How about the neighbor out warming up his truck that really needs an exhaust job? The barking dog across the street. I could go on and on about the noises heard early in the morning and throughout the day. We all hear them and know what they are and at different times they all will disturb someone. It is called a society … a city, an urban environment.

I for one welcome the time-honored tradition and look forward to being awake to hear it during the week. As for the weekends, I am sleeping in and do not hear it at all.

Kevin Ostenson