My afternoon soundtrack

Because I love fresh air, I've been trying to avoid the air conditioner as much as possible. That means that my windows in the house are open for most of the day. After Emma goes down for her afternoon nap, I move from room to room unpacking boxes and putting things away. There's a sound that follows me from room to room that brings happiness to my heart.

From about noon to 2:45, the sounds of children's laughter can be heard coming from Ryan's school. They alternate their recesses, so there are kids out playing the entire time. I love the image that the laughter brings to my mind. I imagine the quite playground...abandoned as the kids sit in the classroom (hopefully) learning. Then, the sound of the bell. I love that Boise still uses the old noise-as-can-be school bells. (Beaverton's were very quiet...not even sure they could be heard outside). Before the bell has even stopped ringing, the doors open and the playground is flooded with kids moving as fast as they can. I remember trying to fit as much fun as possible in those fast 15 minutes. As I watch from a few blocks away, it looks like monkeys crawling and running all over.

As they play, there's no holding back...kids are so good at just letting out what they are feeling. We adults tend to hold back, just in case someone is watching that might not approve. Kids let the laughter out and think nothing of it. To me, there's no other sound like the sound of children laughing. There's a certain kind of freedom in it that seems to be lost as we get older. Wouldn't it be great to get that freedom back? To feel something...to show it...and not worry about what others might think?