Time: call it a blessing
Since time immemorial, mankind has been fascinated by the never-ending passing of time. Without putting my life-savings on the line, I would suggest that time and love rate among the most written about topics throughout the ages.
Obviously, passing time is the cruel antagonist in the process of ageing, and it would make sense that time is portrayed as a villain more often than not.
But the one saying that is repeated in the chorus line of life is that, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Our family recently experienced this firsthand. We took a small step back in time. With a small step, I mean really miniscule: just about 20 years. As far as time goes, 20 years really is one teeny-weeny step. But for us, it was a giant leap.
About two decades ago, when the girls were barely out of their toddler-phase, their grandmother became the custodian of a treasure chest containing some of their most loved earthly possessions. It came about as a result of the insightfulness of a dedicated pre-primary school teacher under whose guidance the little ones made time capsules.
Fast-forward nearly two decades and one afternoon, out of the blue, the time capsules were presented to the young women now in their early 20s. Their grandmother had indeed guarded over those treasures all these years.
Now, no matter what anybody says about time, the passing thereof is sometimes a blessing. Thank goodness the girls can’t wear those ridiculous Teletubby-outfits anymore. I’m not asking how they ended up in there, I’m just grateful.
I do suspect that granny also played her role when the contents of the time capsules were chosen, because it does seem that most of the noisiest toys were placed in storage. Other – let’s call them interesting – artefacts, which were rediscovered include a complete little tea set, a few drawings depicting us as stick characters, plastic jewellery, and a note from the tooth fairy.
But to mark the day the time capsule was sealed, a newspaper was also placed inside. Paging through it without looking at the date, one would swear you bought it yesterday. The characters may have changed, but all the themes remain. I now have definite proof that, the more things change …