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| Our Engineer - far right. |
Our son, an army engineer, was on his Combat Leadership course.It was gruelling.Months of training.An adrenaline rush of enacting scenarios.Strategizing.Analyzing situations.Digging in and getting dirty.Yep. Gruelling pretty much describes it.And added to the daily duty roster, morning inspections.Not only must they learn how to survive, even thrive in battle situations, they had to look good while they did it.Each evening was spent in cleaning oneself and one's gear in preparation for inspection directly after breakfast the next morning.For the most part, the soldiers enjoyed this relaxing time after dinner.It was a chance to unwind.Kibitz around a bit.Laugh and joke.And keep their adrenalin up with pounding, exhilarating music.
Loud. Fast. Heavy.Followed immediately by bed.Needless to say, it took some time to wind down.Except for our son.Whose choice of music was a little more . . . conservative.He would drift away almost immediately to the soft, soothing strains of Loreena McKennitt.Or Enya.One evening some time after lights out, the men were restless.Knowing that their morning would come fast, not to mention early, they were anxious to get some needed sleep.And it was proving elusive.Again, except for our son, who had his stereo by his ear and had already drifted away.To Enya.One of the soldiers noticed.It gave him an idea.The next evening, the group completed their usual day-end tasks.To their usual music.Then crawled into their bunks.Lights were doused.Then, out of the darkness, a voice.“Hey, Tolley. Play us some of your music.”Our son turned up the song he was currently listening to.Only Time.Enya.Within seconds the sounds of snoring filled the dorm.After that, immediately following lights-out, the strains of choice were something soft.Soothing.And sleepy.
Nighty-night.
It is very hard to fall asleep when in a completely quiet room.
ReplyDeleteIt shows how polluted our minds are
We need noise.
Go Eric, go!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
Love,
Chris
Enya soothes the savage soul, and obviously tired soldiers! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI remember the "cleaning one's gear" part of being in the Army. My hubby spent hours -literally- spit polishing his boots, badges and belt buckles, almost as much time ironing the creases into his pants and shirts, steaming and brushing his hat. All so he could fall asleep in his car and land in his pizza on paydays.
ReplyDeleteEnya always worked on my grandchildren also when after a long day, 8pm rolled around and grandma was exhausted. It was a matter of who fell asleep first.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what music can do to you! Good for your son, sticking to his music - and then sharing it.
ReplyDelete