Sound of Si-No, Fuck It, Too Predictable

Maaaybe it's just been far too long since I've spent any considerable amount of time in a public library, but.  When did they get so loud? Between the three kids and their math tutors (or whatever) in the near vicinity, and the man with the ridiculously high-pitched voice constantly piping up from behind a shelf (which is a shame, since now I really want to get a look at him), I can barely hear myself think up in hurr.

The guy at the table next to me is wearing earplugs, for god's sake.  Since when do you need earplugs in a library?  Where are the terrifying librarians shushing everyone into shameful silence (sorry)?  Why is a young child screeching in the distance? Would it be weird to ask earplug man if he has a spare set?

So many questions.

The whole situation has led me to do some Serious Pondering, complete with intensely thoughtful facial expressions and nods which appear to be making other patrons uncomfortable, about how difficult it is to find some silence.  Like, real, nobody-else-is-breathing-too-heavily-too-close-for-comfort silence.  It's almost impossible.  I live with my parents, who, even when they're not talking to me (how dare they), always have at least one T.V. on at a fairly high volume.  Whenever I'm home alone the neighborhood children are outside, apparently shrieking directly into our downstairs windows from the sound of it.  The campus library is full of the sounds of moist mastication (had to do it) or grunts or coughing or sneezing.  Coffee places are, of course, intended for light background music and conversation.  And now the public library turns out to be noisy, too. 

So really - think about it.  When was the last time you were able to sit undisturbed by the sounds of other people?  Go on, make embarrassingly public thinky-faces with me. Hmmmm.

If I remember, I'll mention it.  But now I have to write comments on other people's workshop stories.