Pin It
I walked through the living room to the deafening sounds echoing in my ears: Chatter. Giggle. Gabble. Yak.
I moved into the step-down family room and closed the double sets of French doors to block out the clamorous din.
I was in the inner sanctum; the safe refuge.
I was soon joined by my brother and brother-in-law.
Silence.
Occasional conversation.
Silence.
The French doors opened: Gossip. Squeal. Blather. Gibber. Gab.
The doors immediately snapped shut as my dad entered the room; the guffaws of the catamenial hyenas were instantly muffled.
From this hallowed room poured the strains of Joe Cocker, Kenny Loggins, & The Eagles…
Occasional dialogue.
Mostly silence.
A few minutes later my brother stood and moved to the doors to use the bathroom. “If I’m not back in two minutes, come and save me.”
We promised.
The doors opened: Snort. Chortle. Twitter. Guffaw.
The doors were closed as he braved the piercing giggles alone.
Classic Rock.
Basking in silence.
Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke.
Reminiscing of days gone by.
The door opened: Shriek. Snort. Cluck. Titter.
French doors snapped shut.
My brother had returned, breathing hard…as if just escaped from drowning
Sanctuary.
9 comments:
I have the same feeling when I enter the temple. Quite apropos I think.
Think the only verb meaning to talk that you missed was cackle.....
Isn't it strange how for some that sort of cacophony of sound is soothing? Drowns out the sorrow, when for others, you really need the comfort of quietude.
Dear Jason,
The four hyenas interrupted their guffaws to read your post.
We are not amused.
Did we not make you lunch? Have we not cleaned the inner sanctum? Are we not this instant doing your laundry?
I think all this cackling and chattering and giggling has made us thirsty -- very, very thirsty. We may just drink a lot or Dr. Pepper in the next few hours.
And P.S. the junior hyena ate your last cookie.
How nice to have had a sanctuary to escape to. It sometimes seems irreverent for people to be chatting away, having a great time catching up with each other after a funeral, doesn't it?
Just wondering which group I would be part of.... I guess it depends on the day.
Maybe this makes me strange but your post made me smile then I read the comment by Leah Z. and I had to laugh. Grief is quite the chameleon, isn’t it...be it laughter, tears or silence we all cope the best way we know how.
p.s. Leah Z's comment does add some perspective, doesn't it? That was funny.
A - We all need those quiet moments.
M - I knew I missed one.
L - I just knew I couldn't take being in that other room too long.
Z - Hmmmm.....interesting that most of these events came after the fact.
Most interesting. However, appreciated.
G - I have been a part of both groups at various times, I am sure.
J - Diddo.
D - She is quite the character, I must say.
G - True enough.
Post a Comment