The weekend before last we had a bad storm with a doubled high tide, heavy rain, and strong winds. Saturday we stayed home. Johann was frightened by the sound of the wind. When it comes through our courtyard at just the right angle, it can really make a loud howling noise. Sometimes it sounds like a ghost.
I wanted to appease his fear, but saying it was just the wind wasn’t enough. I wracked my brain for a fun way to look at it. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing, which would only deepen his fear. Then the light bulb went on. I told Johann it sounded like his train whistle. If you think about it, the square shape the brick buildings make and the wind passing through it to make a noise, that’s what it is. I exclaimed, “Johann! We live in one big, giant train whistle! What do you think about that?”
But it still sounded scary. Sometimes the wind sounds like his train whistle, but other times it goes, “Hoooooooooo!” like a ghost. I told him it sounded like his owl whistle to me. Then he smiled and said when the strength of the wind changed yet again, it sounded like his elephant whistle. He pulled out all three instruments and started playing them to match the wind, switching where it was appropriate. Before long he was no longer scared. He was playing a duet with Nature.
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I’m kind of envious. As a boy, my favorite Golden Book was “Tootle”, the train engine. However, I never really new what his train whistle sounded like. But you –you can hear tootle “tootlin’” whenever the wind blows. How neat!!! And how smart y’all are–I don’t think I would have thought of all those neat sounds!
Can’t wait to hear the train whistle. Do you think the wind will blow hard enough while I am there? See you tomorrow!!! Love and kisses and hugs (and raspberries?)
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