Astoria is my neighborhood. It's where I was born, it's where I was raised. I've lived here for 22 of my 25 years on earth. Yet I've never taken the time to fully appreciate it, to take in the atmosphere just for the sake of it. So I decided to take a mid-morning walk.
There was a divide: in some parts of the neighborhood, there was little activity, and so I mostly heard birds chirping, cars passing by, and the wind blowing leaves across the sidewalk. In the more populated area, there was a cacophony that made it hard to concentrate: chattering crowds waiting in line for brunch, clanging silverware in the outdoor eateries, idling garbage trucks, honking horns, motorcycles tearing through the streets, children yelling and laughing simultaneously, music blaring from cars and storefronts... trying to pay attention to them all that once was an overwhelming experience. Despite that, some sounds stuck out to me. One of the most distinct was that of St. Joseph's church bells, which rang every hour, on the hour, but at other times, too. There was also the horn of the freight train that passed by shortly after I began my walk, something I only occasionally hear at night. Remember that line anticipating brunch that I mentioned? Nobody could ignore the booming voice of the man standing outside, joking with the patrons and corralling them in when their tables were ready.
While I know I've heard all these sounds before, I always try to tune them out. It was interesting to purposely listen to them for once, although I'm not sure I'd do it again - it was difficult to "slow down psychologically" when so much was happening all at once. Maybe a soundwalk in a different neighborhood would be more relaxing.
