On being in NY - 2005

I stand enjoying the peaceful silence for some time before I noticed the tumult of noise. The whir of the subway fan, the crash of the wheels on horribly crooked NY tracks, and I though god I am a New Yorker now. Silence has lost its meaning, silence is the lack of meaningful noise; no music, no talking, but the volume! the volume never ceases. NY silence is not quiet, rather it is devoid of coherent sound.