By SAM KRIEG
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
Some would say that the world today suffers from noise pollution--a continuous aural assault coming from all directions, at a level that makes thought nearly impossible.
As a child of such times, I tend to favor having a constant flow of sound into my ears, whether it is from my fairly extensive musical library, the telephone or, yes, I can admit it, sometimes the television.
However, about two months ago, a problem loomed up in front of me: My car's tape deck (don't think I can't hear you snickering) broke. That meant no adapter, which, in turn, meant no CD player or iPod. When faced with the dreadful prospect of no music while driving, I immediately ran to that age-old companion, the radio.
Unfortunately, my taste in music isn't synonymous with the term "radio friendly." After a frustrating time spent trying to find something suitable, I had to come to terms with the fact that I was going to have to drive with no music--no noise other than the wind blowing in through my open windows.
At first I was terrified: How would I become the musical (but non-instrument-playing) guru that I was destined to be?
Then I was angry: How could my tape deck betray me at the very advent of summer, with summer classes and drives to work looming ahead?
Then, finally, I was resigned: Bring on the quiet.
After a few initial drives during which the hope that my tape deck would magically fix itself brought me to the very edge of my sanity, I began to realize something: It wasn't really so bad without music playing. The time spent in the car minus music allowed me time simply to think without distractions, other than traffic, of course.
Now, after a summer without a tape deck, I feel that the time spent driving without music has been a blessing. It has resulted in more personal reflection, something that too often gets left by the wayside in our light-speed lives.
So, the next time you plop down in the driver's seat, consider leaving the player turned off.
SAM KRIEG is a student at Germanna Community College.