Boy What Memories A Sound Can Make

   For those that don't know, I grew up in Miami, Florida. I'm talking about the Miami before the population explosion and not the Miami that we know today. We lived out "in the country" or at least being 10 miles from downtown seemed like country to me. There was plenty of space for a boy to build forts, take hikes, camp out, fish, and catch skunks (yes skunks...but that's another story).

   I remember my house having aluminum awnings on each window. My dad was always proactive when it came to hurricane season and felt a thin layer of aluminum was going to be protection enough against the growl of Mother Nature. I remember as an 8 year old laying in bed and listening to the rain drops hit the awnings. My window was cracked open and that sound waifed through my room and was so soothing that I was fast asleep before I knew it.

   There's another sound that always came the next morning. The sound of a pair of mourning doves cooing to each other in the new morning light.

   Remembering the rain and the mourning doves takes me back to my childhood and all the fond memories of my growing up. It's very comforting when I think about those sounds.

   I'm telling you this because I've been reminded of of my childhood here in the mountains of North Carolina so many years later.

   Our cabin has a wrap around covered porch on three sides but the main structure is shingled. We chose to have that covered porch covered with tin roofing material for aesthetics. I remember the conversation with several friends back in the planning stages and they would say "that tin roof is going to drive you crazy when it rains" or "I couldn't sleep with all that racket when it rains". Well, we thought about it, liked the look of some tin on the roof and decided that a little racket was worth it. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

   Recently, during a spring rain we were entertained once again by the soft sounds of raindrops hitting our tin roof. I wouldn't classify the sounds as 'racket' but I'd define it as 'soothing'. We've commented several times since the cabin was finished and we've moved in full time that the decision to use tin on a portion of our roof system was sure a great idea. What came next made me know that I was living in the right place.

   I awoke the other day from a wonderful sleep, bedroom window cracked open, to the sounds of mourning doves cooing outside our window. I just layed there taking in all the notes and finding myself as a eight year old once again. I just love this place I call home.

   I can't wait 'til it rains again and the cooing takes me back.