Music To My Ears

So I was on the flightline launching an aircraft the other day. And this post hit me. There were two times that I’ve been next to a turbine engine that this sound hit me. Right after I got off of active duty, I was offered a job with an air medical company. I went down to Mississippi for an interview. The best thing happened for me while I was there. They base got a call and had to start the aircraft. There is nothing like hearing the igniters of a Rolls-Royce 250 series engine. The pilot introduces fuel you hear the engine fully start. I had missed that sound for about 6 months at that point and had not even realized just how much I missed it.

Just recently that sound hit me again. Right here in Saudi Arabia. There are sights, sounds, and smells all associated with the aircraft that just make me feel happy. I already explained the igniters and that lighting of the fuel in the combustion chamber. But even the exhaust smell. It’s not the same as a car, and believe me you can get way too much of it. But every now and then you’ll get a whiff of the exhaust off of an errant breeze. It just reminds me sometimes that I am alive and I love what I do for a living.

But then onto the obvious one. My kids laughing. Each one of the 5 have their own distinctive laugh. And when I think about it, I hear each one of them. The girls’ high pitched laughter brings such joy into the world. When they are playing and just on the cusp of taking it too far with each other. I know the pitch, the sound of their breathing, and of course the stomps of their feet. Back not so long ago, I was miserable with life and took those sounds for granted. This summer I got to spend 3 weeks with them and soaked up every minute of it. From listening to them laugh on the boat with Poppop hitting the waves, to their excitement when we had our family birthday party.

The latest one has been my puppers. He is so funny. Most of the time he is laid back, laying down and not making a move or peep. But when he wants your attention lately, he makes like he is yawning and lets out this little whine. And of course, when my girl walks in the door, and he loses his mind! He runs to her wagging his tail, and does this whining thing. It is fun to watch!

So there it is music to my ears. Of course there are sounds that just grate every part of my being, but to be honest, I’m totally not in the mood to go over those. I choose the write the happy stuff. And right now, I am choosing not to go into the bad stuff.