Nourishing Noise 6/10/09

Of those who say nothing, few are silent.

Thomas Neill

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Hail.
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I used to carry a card in my wallet which read "Keep Your Big Mouth Shut." Unfortunately, for myself and others, I didn't look at that card as often as I should have. In my younger years I was always sounding off about something with comment, criticism, opinion, judgment, etc. even if what I had to say had nothing to do with the subject under discussion.

In my home, growing up, I wasn't permitted to say anything without getting some form of scorn or critcism back: "Oh, you. What do YOU know?" "Where did you hear THAT?" and "Children should be seen and not heard." Is it any wonder that when I finally left home I couldn't shut up?

I had what was known as "the gift of gab" so one day, when I was out of work as an actor, I took a job as a radio announcer. It was perfect. I could talk all I wanted to and no one could interrupt me.

Then I met Herb. Herb was a scientist, a zoologist. He was a next door neighbor and a friend. He would come over, we'd sit, drink beer, watch TV or talk. No, I talked, he listened. But when he did say something, usually three words or less, it flew like a dart or lit up like a flash bulb. He had the gift of silence. I talked whether I had anything to say or not, he only spoke when he needed to. That was the difference.

A year later I moved on knowing more about him than he knew about me.

DB ' The Vagabond
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What is that tune you're humming?
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