A Sunday ramble about time and space and Archaeologists and Computer Boffins
I have this book where I write on the first blank page I turn to. It`s where I write in pen and actually WRITE, not TYPE. I haven`t written anything in there in ages, haven`t felt like writing anything in ages full stop. So today I found myself drawn to those blank pages, with my leaking 'Papermate Grip Roller 0.7mm' pen and still have the ink stained fingers to prove it - I felt like Shakespeare or something... except I don`t sprout amazing words of wisdom, poetically captured for all of time.
I write in a cheap students diary on the day dated 29 December 2008.
I have an electric bulb burning above and sit in a brick house with a flushing toilet and dripping tap.
Bob Marley is playing on the DVD player because I don`t own a CD player so there are these swirling, lumo images playing up on the screen.
So basically, all we really have in common is.. the in stained fingers! erm... yeah... so anyyyyywayyyy....
I found myself writing about time and how insignificant my time on earth really is in comparison to the grand scheme of time itself. Do you ever think about how what you do today will affect someone in the future? Like I mean really, really far into the future? And how what you are doing today has been affected by what someone else did way, way back in the past?
I heard a story today about a man digging in his back yard who found a simple, ordinary gold ring which he took to be valued on the English programme 'Antiques Roadshow'. Apparently it once belonged to a very rich Nobleman, maybe even a king from Roman times when only rich men had jewellry - a sign of their wealth. The valuer played out a scenario - this man would have been riding somewhere one day, perhaps during a hunt or in his carriage on the way to somewhere and his ring has fallen off and been lost for centuries in the dirt until this second man unearthed it. For all of time that ring has been working its way up through the layers of mud and grind for that one moment ... that one man to find it.
What were the circumstances of that loss of the ring? Did it belong to a rich man? A king? had it been stolen by a poor man who would use it to forever change the fate of his family?
How about the man who found it? Did he find this priceless gem at a time in his life when he was in need? Has he struggled for his whole life only find this in his late years to live the very life of a king for his last days?
The movie 'A Country for Old Men' shows the killer walk into a petrol station in the middle of nowhere where he draws a coin from his pocket and flips it, covering its face from view. He asks the man to make a call, heads or tails, but this poor guy doesn`t know what he is calling on and refuses to do so. The killer says something along these lines:
This coin was made in 1958. It has been travellingf or 22 years for this very moment.
That is quite a profound statement, when you think about it. Out of all the coins made, of all the coins in his pocket, of all the coins to circulate the world it landed up in the killers hands to decide the fate of an old man.
Imagine if the internet is becoming like the sand of time - in the future we won`t get Archaeologists digging in the dirt but computer boffins scanning through the webpages of time for the truths and lies of mankind. What will what you have written today mean to someone many, many years down the line?
I write in a cheap students diary on the day dated 29 December 2008.
I have an electric bulb burning above and sit in a brick house with a flushing toilet and dripping tap.
Bob Marley is playing on the DVD player because I don`t own a CD player so there are these swirling, lumo images playing up on the screen.
So basically, all we really have in common is.. the in stained fingers! erm... yeah... so anyyyyywayyyy....
I found myself writing about time and how insignificant my time on earth really is in comparison to the grand scheme of time itself. Do you ever think about how what you do today will affect someone in the future? Like I mean really, really far into the future? And how what you are doing today has been affected by what someone else did way, way back in the past?
I heard a story today about a man digging in his back yard who found a simple, ordinary gold ring which he took to be valued on the English programme 'Antiques Roadshow'. Apparently it once belonged to a very rich Nobleman, maybe even a king from Roman times when only rich men had jewellry - a sign of their wealth. The valuer played out a scenario - this man would have been riding somewhere one day, perhaps during a hunt or in his carriage on the way to somewhere and his ring has fallen off and been lost for centuries in the dirt until this second man unearthed it. For all of time that ring has been working its way up through the layers of mud and grind for that one moment ... that one man to find it.
What were the circumstances of that loss of the ring? Did it belong to a rich man? A king? had it been stolen by a poor man who would use it to forever change the fate of his family?
How about the man who found it? Did he find this priceless gem at a time in his life when he was in need? Has he struggled for his whole life only find this in his late years to live the very life of a king for his last days?
The movie 'A Country for Old Men' shows the killer walk into a petrol station in the middle of nowhere where he draws a coin from his pocket and flips it, covering its face from view. He asks the man to make a call, heads or tails, but this poor guy doesn`t know what he is calling on and refuses to do so. The killer says something along these lines:
This coin was made in 1958. It has been travellingf or 22 years for this very moment.
That is quite a profound statement, when you think about it. Out of all the coins made, of all the coins in his pocket, of all the coins to circulate the world it landed up in the killers hands to decide the fate of an old man.
Imagine if the internet is becoming like the sand of time - in the future we won`t get Archaeologists digging in the dirt but computer boffins scanning through the webpages of time for the truths and lies of mankind. What will what you have written today mean to someone many, many years down the line?
Love Speaks
What a great story that was on 'Antiques Roadshow'!
***
I'd like to think that what I've written will mean something to someone at a speck in the future...but that time has yet to come. I've been procrastinating on the writing for a long time...and still nothing, so it might be a long while more before something significant is written up. Please don't wait with bated breath..
Bohemian Hiphop
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
You know what I say when i am asked, "So what do you think?" and don't really want to say, or maybe just pulling blanks in my mind..
"I think very deeply."
With a bit of intonation, I recommend using it, just for the entertainment factor of everyone within earshot.. even the person asking the question.
Yes but so true, no?
Optobubble
Interesting musings.
*hugs*
W
It's interesting, but I never really wanted to ask my grandmothers for advice until I was at an age that they were both gone. If I write daily about the ups and downs of life, will my grandchildren find my postings on the internet when I am gone? And in doing so, will I have passed on wisdom to them when they need it? I certainly hope so.
Kalikapsychosis
I always have a book to write in, and I use a precious mechanical pencil that Ive had for years. It never does me wrong, refuses to take the lead or breaks in the spring like the fancy ones I buy sometimes.
Ive always written in pencil, since I started my first journal like this at about 13. I never used to date it - but now I do. Why? For the sake of the archaelogist who is going to find it. Once a mate of mine saw me scribbling and exclaimed - "Some archaelogist is going to find these books!"
I have to write in pencil because the ink will fade, and he will be able to treat the paper to read the words. Some of the pages will be fragmented - I can feel his frustration trying to decipher this or that page. Be assured, by the time he finds it, our computers will be unrecognisable chunks of plastic. The age of man will have ended, gone millions of years for the earth to recover, and then begun again. WE will be the ancient civilization.
I sometimes think IM the archaelogist!
I feel his frustration too at the lost blogs - what is a blog? Why did she write on a page that does not really exist? Why cant I find it and HOW do you write on something that doesnt exist?
Its something I think about a lot.
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ah you and me both! It`s scary how the world is changing so drsatically - I think if we thought our parents were dinosaurs our kids are going to think we were... well... even more dinosaurish than the dinosaurs we thought our parents were!
Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Great to see you around again! I like that... I like that a lot and shall have to give it a try at some stage... in fact I know the perfect candidate for an early morning cup of confuzzlement!
Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Great to see you again. I have always loved your musings - I reckon you are leaving a treasure chest full for your kids.
I hope you are all well
Ash xx
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Excellent for you to stop by! I guess the great thing about the internet is that it`s there for someone to find, but at the same time the anonymity of it also means that the people who you may want to find your musings never will because they may not know the right place to look .
Great ideas about how similar things have affected us over generations - times do change, but like you say the principle worries are still the same.
Thanks for your comment
Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Ah you have taken this to a whole new level of thought! I love it - I suppose I never really thought of it like this before - a page that doesn`t exist! hhhmmm interesting idea friend
I must admit I also like to write in pencil... pen has a permanence that shouldn`t apply to random thought... not so that it can be erased but just the fact that it feels like there is more freedom
Ash
Bohemian Hiphop
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
confuzzlement: combination of confused and puzzled, meaning utterly hopeless trying to figure out, don`t stand a chance
Mum's Word
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Always good to see you. I hope you are well
ciao bella
Ash x