Senses forge into memory over years. No matter your age, some experiential impressions last for a lifetime. When it comes to the older set — of which I am a proud member — such reminiscences are just that. Memories. Their sources are rare at best, and more often absent from modern life.
More often than not, sights and smells rule when it comes to memory, giving sounds short shrift. Yet, for me — and many of you — sounds are as important to our childhood and young adult years as the other sense that are imbedded in our brains.
The first of November renewed my love for a particular sound. As I walked into a local paint store accompanied by my Newfoundland dog, I paused for a moment and basked in the plaintive whistle of a passing train.
From the 40s to the 60s, train whistles were a part of daily life in this county. Since the “big four” cut diagonally across the landscape going from Cincinnati to Chicago, my generation witnessed countless trains on the gleaming tracks. Those we didn’t glimpse we heard.
Often, you could recognize an engineer by his whistle. Some engineers whistled once at a crossing, while others seem to have fashioned their own little codes. I recall hearing one short and two long, three long, and two shorts. Undoubtedly, there were many others, but those stick in my mind and I can close my eyes and hear them easily as a mental traveler.
Other unique sounds also come to mind… a screen door as it hit the doorframe… a hand pump at the kitchen sink… the ice block sliding from the truck to be caught up in black iron tongs… the click of the old-fashioned ice box (I seldom use the term refrigerator.)….
What sounds bring back memories for you? Shifting gears in the family car or truck? The slap of wipers racing to reach the metal strip that divided the windshield? The whoosh of coal as it slid down into the basement? The clink of glass bottles as the milkman made his rounds? The whirring of the neighborhood grocery meat grinder as a butcher ground beef?
While those days may have lacked a lot in terms of convenience, they offered volumes in terms of endearment. How many of you know the meat department personnel by first name? Still call in a grocery list for delivery or pick up later in the day? I doubt it.
I, for one, can still hear Fred Heckman’s voice on flagship station WIBC in Indianapolis. A legend in his field, he imparted much more than news. His little feature, “My Town Indy” fueled our imaginations and inspired us to explore our state capital with zest.
As you go about your day, take a moment to notice the sounds of today? The chime of a computer as it comes to life at the touch of a key… the beep of a vehicle as a remote key locks the doors… the music of a cell phone with an incoming call… the beep as your Mac or PC alerts you to a new email….
And so it goes… what was commonplace for us is novel to younger folks. Some day, when a magazine article is unearthed by a future generation, I wonder if they will know that deeming something “cool” has nothing to do with temperature? Time will tell. In the meantime, take heart in memory. Musing about the past is not only be instructive, but also comforting. Think about it.