Time Capsule

 

It has been all the rage around this burg. While taking down a monument to the Lost Cause all the chatter turned to a time capsule embedded in the podium.

A box was found and there was minute-by-minute coverage of masked gloved conservators slowly lifted the lead to expose a couple of books, a letter and a coin from over a century ago. Everyone was disappointed because they expected more.

Then, the site of deconstruction another time capsule was found. Again the fervor went up like opening a present on Christmas morning.  More books, bullets, coins were found (closer to the newspaper description of items buried at the time).

When the building I worked in was destroyed and a new monstrous block was constructed, a time capsule was dropped in a hole next to the front steps. Being a newspaper I’d think it was full of tasty archives that the generation after the next generation would find fascinating.

What about making your own time capsule?

What items could I gather up and fill a box to drop in a deep hole to be found (or not) years from now? What acceptable items could I select that would become ancient relics ready for historic museums?

Maybe one of my guitars could go in the box? Done of them are that special but in a hundred years they would be vintage in mint condition. Could put in some photos but they are all scanned and in one hundred years technology won’t understand these old formats. The same with music unless vinyl is still being played after fossil fuel elimination (like everyone promised). I could draw some pictures on paper, if the colors don’t fade and the paper breaks down?

A watch, a corded Princess rotary phone, white bucks, a chain with a spoon on it, a switchblade knife, a credit card or a computer mouse would all be remembrance of past times.

Or you can make the usual time capsule in the graveyard. A head marker will at least give the finder a name and age of who will be found.

While a cemetery is suppose to be sanctuary for the dead, someone might need that land to dig for oil, build a box store or lay down a parking lot in which case you’ll just have to move.

The anthropologists will handle you with care with rubber gloves and little brooms. By this time you may just be a bag of bones but your double knit outfit will last as long as the plastic bag.

If your family stuffed the coffin with gifts and memorabilia it will give the finder a hint of your legacy. If not, have a note in your pocket that says, “Do Not Disturb”.