Too much noise!

I find myself assaulted by a constant barrage of noise! I live in a high rise near downtown Minneapolis, and my apartment is about four blocks from a fire station. As a result, I often hear the screaming of bright red fire engines who careen along my street with horns a-blaring. My street is also a busy throughway for ambulances from Hennepin County Medical Center which speed along with sirens wailing. Added to that are the frequent cop cars who race down my street at top speed in pursuit of some criminal activity. Of course, there's the constant hum of traffic combined with airplanes landing and taking off.

During the first ten years in my building, I lived in an apartment which faced a large parking garage that was always busy with cars driving in and out. I'd often be wakened by the sound of screeching brakes or malfunctioning car horns and car alarms. After moving in, it took me several weeks to get used all the ambient noise. Fortunately, my apartment now faces South, so I'm no longer exposed to the noise of the parking ramp, just normal traffic sounds.

I believe that noise pollution has become an increasing problem not only in our major cities, but in our society at large. Although I've lived in inner city neighborhoods for most of my life, I still haven't gotten used to this constant assault on my ears. I'm sure I've lost some considerable hearing as a result, and often find myself having to plug up my ears to drown out speeding fire trucks, ambulances, and cop cars

When I really become aware of the lack of loud sounds is when I'm visiting friends in a small town or the countryside, or when I'm camping or canoeing on a river or lake. At those times, I feel a profound sense of peace and serenity. But, alas, these quiet respites are far and few between. I really don't know how to solve this noise pollution problem. I realize that we need firetrucks, ambulances, and squad cars. But I often find myself wishing that they could all turn off the noise, and find quieter ways of warning the public of their approach.