What does sound mean to you? Sound plays many roles. It is a vehicle for communication, music, and even distraction. But at its root, sound is the simple indicator of life.

In the office, it’s the constant hum of the computer. In the supermarket, it’s the steady buzz of conversation. At home, it’s the little sounds of children at play. These sounds are woven into the very fabric of my life, and they assure me that its operation is smoothly at work. Even as life’s incessant clanging drives me desperate at times, even as I crave a moment’s peace, I know that I find these sounds reassuring. Should the little noises ever stop purring, I know I would crave these most elementary indicators of life.