Tuesday, August 11, 2026

The Sounds are Different

I was up this past weekend visiting family in Connecticut. Small towns and other suburbs are always interesting because everything is so close together that things should be walkable, but the sidewalks disappear so clearly they don't really expect you to walk. 
But I noticed when at my relative's house that the trains sound different. I can't quite come up with how to describe it but it's almost squeakier.
Some people suggested it might be the Acela, but I remember when the Acela started, and it isn't that. I've heard the Acela many times. (Also that particular stretch of Connecticut rail is between two level crossings, so they can't really go that fast, express train or not.) 
The horn sounded the same to me, and someone else not local agreed with me that it sounded different. It didn't sound different to me when I was up there two years ago, so the change would be super recent. 
If you happen to have a theory, I'd be thrilled to hear it. 
But my actual point is that revisiting things, places, and people is a little like this. Some things are just the same. Some things have changed. Some things are familiar but different. And all of this is why we revisit things. To see which category they fall into. And also because we enjoy these people, places, and things. 
In "Maybe Happy Ending" they sing that "a trip should not end like it began" which I have always loved. 
May you revisit something new this week, even if it is a fave taco place.