Can You Hear Me Now

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

Dr Seuss

People who know me well know that I can be a very nostalgic, sentimental person. I hold onto remnants of my past far too long and pontificate about days gone by far too much. My brother, Bob, was the same and much to the annoyance of anyone within earshot, we would go on and on about obscure events that occurred 50+ years ago. Apologies to anyone who got caught in the middle of our meandering conversations about some forgotten science fiction book by an even more forgotten author.

That doesn’t mean that I am afraid of change. I was employed as a software developer for 41 years and lived a very cutting-edge work life. My passion has been exploring new technologies and finding ways to harness their power. However, even as I pushed the limits of digital communication protocols, I held a place in my heart for simpler, analog ways of living.

Thankfully, the people important in my life tolerate my dual nature and some even enable it. This is the case with my dear friend, Sheila, who presented me with an actual gold watch for my retirement. While not something I would have ever thought of buying for myself, I have been completely overwhelmed by the beauty and sense of history of my 1896 Waltham Time Piece. Despite its age, it keeps accurate time and the mechanical aspects of the watch are in amazingly good shape. It’s truly a joy to hold and behold.

Now, this doesn’t mean I am going to throw away my Apple watch. I am not about attempt to rewind the clock (pun intended) to the days of steam powered locomotives. However, it’s nice having something that doesn’t regularly tell me to stand up, interrupt me when a text message arrives, or guilt me if I haven’t met my daily calorie burn. My time piece (I learned to not call it a pocket watch) tells me the time in a softer, gentler way. It has become my canoe in a world of jet skis.

The engravings on the watch case are highlighted with an image of a swallow. In many cultures, swallows are considered bringers of good luck and good fortune and I cannot think of a more appropriate wish as I transition to this next phase of life.

It’s my plan to enjoy my time piece for many years, but I would eventually like to pass it along to someone as sentimental as I am. As crazy and chaotic as the world is and will be, I need to believe that there will always be people who lovingly embrace the past while living fully in the present.

Open wide the windows on this brisk spring morning
throw back the blankets and sheets
and let the cold air coax and caress you

To be and to know the essence of your being
to grow into the day
one miracle at a time