The Sound of Music & Mutual

     An entertaining park walk, with valiant gaggling geese that either condone or condemn two angry, cockfighting gander. A high-pitched and shrill car alarm subsides the cackle commotion. And then there's the whip-whirl-twirl chirps of a cardinal. Depending on one's body-clock perspective, he provides either peaceful music or agitation to early morning hours. 

The booming birthday boy

     In our sleepy bedroom we recall Fourth of July sounds. Fireworks, the sneaky kind that shoot from the ground, with high-pitched whistles and scary bangs minus sparkle; hours of evening sonic booms and "Ladybug rockets," with unpredictable and scary trajectories. Fourth of July festivities brightly ignite the skies of the soul. Yet, there is a quiet, tucked-away place in the master bedroom, a strategic buffered cocoon, protected from hours of booming skies and quiet fireflies... for one sleeping birthday boy. 

     Pierced screams of the now fully-awake one-year-old, direly awaiting the grasp of close-range, brightly-colored, helium-filled birthday balloons. Impatient joy changes to synchronized tears of not just one, but two children. The Birthday Song is noisy calamity as helium balloons readily and gently hover, and then comes mutual, clasping glee.

     Scoooore! televised cheers fill the air. Thunk. a bean bag misses the circular hole. Soccer championships, backyard games, grill-time's sizzling meats, and mealtime chatter all convey the sound of music... and mutual.

     Mothers-in-law Mutual. Sharing children, grandchildren, laughter, and rare moments together. It is unnaturally... natural. Round, and round, and round sounds go partnered with distinct, meaningful memories.