Is it only me who feels this way about quiet? My whole life has been NOISE. First, the apartment in New York — six of us in two rooms, then the relatives who ALWAYS seemed to be visiting from the old country. Always talking, always laughing too loud, always someone playing music or cooking something that smells to high heaven. Then the kids and their friends, then grandkids, and then my husband, God rest his soul, who needed the TV on 24/7. So much sound. So much life, they said. Now? I sit on the floor, eating my Thai takeout, and it is SILENT. My daughter asked if I was lonely. No. This quiet is a GIFT. A reprieve. I don't need to entertain anyone, don't need to listen to anyone's problems or pretend to care about a soccer game. I just eat my pad see ew and hear nothing but my own chewing. It's GLORIOUS. Like I'm finally breathing for the first time. Anyone else feel this DEEP, almost sinful pleasure in utter stillness? Like the world can just spin without your participation for a few hours? I spent my entire life around people, doing for people, listening to people. Maybe it's not normal to crave this much aloneness... but I really don't care.