It hasn’t really helped me in life up to this point. I haven’t been able to get on one of those “Name That Tune” game shows, but if I did… game over for the rest of you.

I was born with a very specific skill. I can distinguish any sound and immediately identify it.

Cricket? No, that’s a cicada. Oh, you think that’s a domesticated dog howling? No, that’s a coyote.

You think that’s “When Doves Cry” by Prince? That’s an actual dove (OK, that might be a bit of a stretch. Even I admit that most people can tell the difference between those two things. But, I am really good at Heardle. The best, I’d venture to say.)

But, it isn’t just comparisons. Stepping out onto my deck at night… that’s a street sweeper half a mile away. Followed by a Toyota Tacoma that’s impatient it’s stuck behind the sweeper. I can even tell the make, model and year of a car by the noise it makes. (I can’t specify the color, though.)

So, last night, when I was walking my dog… I heard a noise I’d never heard before. You should all be as scared as I am.