“We are never alone
We are all wolves
Howling to the same moon.”
Atticus
Image: Pinterest
Time magazine reports in its April 10th 2020 edition: "It starts with a few people letting loose with some tentative yelps. Then neighbors emerge from their homes and join, forming a roiling chorus of howls and screams that pierces the twilight to end another day’s monotonous forced isolation.
From California to Colorado to Georgia and upstate New York, Americans are taking a moment each night at 8 p.m. to howl in a quickly spreading ritual that has become a wrenching response of a society cut off from one another by the coronavirus pandemic.
They howl to thank the nation’s health care workers and first responders for their selfless sacrifices, much like the balcony applause and singing in Italy and Spain. Others do it to reduce their pain, isolation and frustration. Some have other reasons, such as to show support for the homeless."
If it's the moon you're howling to:
"We hate to burst your bubble, but it is a myth that wolves howl at the moon!," writes the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in an online article on its website as to why wolves howl.
"Howling may be heard at night, but it is not a behavior directed at the moon. Instead, it is used as a social rally call, a hail to hunt or as a territorial expression. Did you know that individuals have different howls that can be heard by other wolves 6-7 mile away? A howl can even help a lost wolf find its way home. A wolf separated from its pack uses a “lonesome howl” — a shortened call that rises in pitch. If answered, the wolf then responds with deep, even howls to inform the pack of its location."
Well, the vital connection many are seeking from being holed up in isolation makes for a need to connect somehow, some way and I guess the constant online chatter with our phones glued to our palms isn't cutting it given the longevity and severity of the current crisis.
I've been wondering how many people have joined the pack. Way over half a million Americans, it's estimated are joining in the nightly baying. And according to news sources, it all started in Denver, Colorado at the start of the crisis with Facebook Go Outside and Howl founders, poet storyteller and activist Brice Maiurro and his girlfriend Shelsea Ochoa leading the call.
"We wanted to do this mostly because people are feeling isolated right now," says Shelsea, a street artist and activist who works at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. "I think it hit on something others needed." The howl was inspired by friends and their time abroad.
In California, Shelsea's friends and family have long since howled at sunset; in Brazil, where she lived recently, residents cheer at sunset. Her partner, who also works at National Jewish Health and his fellow poets like to howl at the moon during back-alley poetry readings in Boulder.
Here in southern Sonoma County and neighboring Marin County, howling has certainly taken off through valley and hilltops and coastal bluff. But not everyone is a fan of the mournful call each and every night. I reached out on social media to ask friends and neighbors if they're howling or not and how it makes them feel, either way. The responses flooded in by the dozens and are equally fascinating in those individuals and families who I was surprised to hear are howling to their hearts content and others whom I might have thought more likely to unleash their inhibitions are not into it at all, or prefer to practice their own, individual call to the wild, somewhat less publicly.
"People just want to be a part of the human family," my youngest son explained when I asked him if his neighbors in Davis, CA were howling. He hadn't heard a single howl and wasn't aware of this curious and captivating practice. "Wolves form complex social units," he added: "So it's not surprising that when people feel sad, lonely, frightened and isolated, they would identify with a call of the wild."
"Let all of life be an unfettered howl,"
Vladimir Nabokov
"I've always howled at the full moon, so I am delighted to howl nightly," said Sarah G. And a handful of blocks from Sarah's house, Stephen P concurred: "We are howlers....ahooooooo".
Kathleen M was not so keen: "Not. I get it’s great for others but it’s like nails on a chalk board for me and my dogs freak out. I can see I’m perhaps too contained and uptight to make that type of noise though and it could obviously help to release tension. My son thinks it sounds fun and really wants to join in, he’s 14. I really like the countries that sing together and haven’t seen it successful here locally."
"I'm a howler!" wrote Becky M. "It helps me to feel connected to the collective consciousness, to have some kind of primal release in this mess. Didn't know this introvert would like it, but I'm really liking it!"
Kathy O.D agreed: "We are howling on Keokuk! Such a great opportunity to check in with our neighbors and let off a little steam." And Linda S.A also: "Yes by all means howl! We do every night with my next door neighbor . My doggie 🐶 joins in too."
Herlinda H came to the party later than some: "I howled for the first time last night; as I heard some children howling outside. I thought; they will remember this collectively for the rest of their lives. So I joined in."
"Absolutely no chance. That’s not to say I won’t stand outside and applaud politely 👏 👏 🇬🇧 Plus Holly gets agitated by it all 🐕," stated Lesley M, a sentiment shared by Sue D: "I'm not a howler. My dogs get agitated and start to bark. For some reason, their participation is not welcome. And now the illegal fireworks have started too. It's not a pleasant way for our household to wind down from the day."
Kellee Y confessed: "I howl on occasion, but never inhale." And Jennifer R.P shared: "I've howled once or twice last week. While it feels good in terms of release, I also simultaneously feel really annoyed by it. It feels kind of forced and "poser" as a gesture, but I get that it makes others feel connected."
"We are howlers!" Shannon H.B was proud to admit. "Did you see I was quoted in the PD? The most thrilling thing that is happened to me since being quarantined! I was cut out of the Argus version😢".
Mary F wrote: "Howling is part of my day I look forward to. And my little dog too!"
"I do, I did it a few times, it’s kind of fun to stand outside your door and howl and to hear the other howling, it only lasts for about two minutes," shared Hanna A from neighboring Marin County.
Annee B. K agreed: "We ring our gong. We also howl most nights. It feels neat to hear that we’re not so alone."
Margo G was not so convinced: "No . . . I can see how it would be fun, or feel good, or help people feel connected . . . but not interested. I also don't understand how it's showing support of nurses/health care workers. It's howling! There are plenty of things one can do to actively support..."
Katy F. V howls loud and proud. Karen N said: "I don’t howl, but enjoy my neighbors enthusiasm, me, I personally feel like screaming because as an extrovert this social distancing is really difficult. I thrive on socializing!"
Louise L wrote: "Yes, I howl and love hearing the whole neighborhood appreciating the people who put their lives at risk to save ours." And Cathy P and her little dog love it.
Susan H was clearly not a fan. "No, thank you. IMHO (in my humble opinion), silence is golden," she shared, whereas Laurie F is an unabashed howler.
"I’ve been howling for 3 weeks. Every night," shared Cindy T. "It’s therapeutic. The first 3 weeks, I was the lone howler in my hood. I’m now joined by neighbors, thankfully. Tonight made me teary-eyed. It fills my heart knowing we’re acknowledging those who are holding up us home bound folks, those who are providing the tender loving care to those who are ill."
Suzanne M is howling in Penngrove. And: "Yes! It’s adorable and cathartic in my neighborhood, grown ups howling with kids, wrote Amanda M.
Marie M replied that: "Like Lesley M, I'm not much of a howler, love the intent and sentiment though. I prefer traditional applause like Europe.
Love the Thursday night tribute in Coventry UK."
Out in the countryside, Nariman M reported "Where we are, only the coyotes howl."
Mary M shared: "We howl, we drum, we yip. We have horn, tambourines, dancers. In our neighborhood 8pm is the daily pressure release valve as well as the shout out to the front lines. Why not is the real question?"
Whereas Helen P in Australia asked: "every night?"
Cathe H and her family do howl every night. "It's great fun, she wrote. And from Marta S: "I’m howling . . . it’s great to feel part of the pack!"
Beckie K confessed: "I did one night and no one in my family joined me nor could I hear any neighbors so it was a one time deal. My dog did join me though." And Shannon A feels that: "The howl is comforting. I’m not a howler. I’ve whistled, played a flute."
Over in Cherry Valley, Mary L said, thoughtfully: "We howl occasionally. I also see it as a cathartic release and, as an acknowledgement of those who are out there working so others can regain health, buy groceries, receive packages and so, so many other things. I also think, since we’re practicing “distancing”, it’s a way of saying to one another, “we are here!”.
"We do howl most nights and have a neighborhood full of beloved howlers!" wrote Marjorie H."Remember seeing a post from a nurse on the frontline of this battle who said “I appreciate the howls and claps and what I want you to do next is get us a new president!” We're busy working on that too!"
Across the pond in the south of England, Kerry P replied: "Oh good lord no". Jude M in Petaluma disagrees wholeheartedly: "Yep! I set my alarm for 7:59 pm and go out on my front porch for 30 seconds plus and then into my backyard for 30 seconds plus. Fellow howlers respond back...💕
I love that we are thanking our first responders, nurses, doctors and everyone else who is helping. It feels great. And it feels safe to know that there are others out there with the same attitude... being grateful❤️ ".
Drew W reminded us that: "Communities that Howl together stay together." Robin R on the other hand: "OH HELL NO AND FIREWORKS ARE NOT COOL!!!"
I'd like to make one little suggestion. When school's back in, it might be an idea to teach our future generations to sing like the Italians . . .
~
“Down towards one end of the village, among the small houses, a dog complained about the cold and the loneliness. He raised his nose to his god and gave a long and fulsome account of the state of the world as it applied to him. He was a practiced singer with a full bell throat and great versatility of range and control.”
John Steinbeck, The Moon is Down
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