My neighborhood is packed with trees --large trees like oaks, maples, sycamores, and lindens. This time of year, the trees are filled with several varieties of cicadas. The male cicadas sing to attract a mate, and as the days shorten, the insects seem desperate. The sound reaches jet engine decibels. It can be... well, annoying. That said, I associate the cicada song with summer, and when the cacophonous buzzing fades, I can't help but be a little sad.