Time Travel
Have you ever held on tightly to a glass of your favourite wine or champagne while standing on your balcony looking at the beautiful sky, the bright light of the sun or moon, and the twinkling of stars wishing you were somewhere else in the world or in a completely different time? Lately, I seem to do it more than I would like to admit, even to myself. It’s a way to imagine escaping the noise of people disagreeing about various topics that may include health issues, politics, conspiracy theories, and systemic racism. It makes me want to scream and disappear from the anger and yelling that upsets my equilibrium, causing me to distance myself from all parties involved.
Anyone who knows me will admit, without a doubt, that my personality is that of an extrovert on speed. I love socialising with people and learning new things. Lately, I have to force myself to interact with others. That’s a red flag for me. Nevertheless, I do venture out and all the folks that are accustomed to seeing or talking to me always pull me out of my funk, making me laugh.
I often think how wonderful it would be to say, “Scotty, beam me anywhere, but here. Or, if we could simply step into a little blue Police ‘Public Call’ Box like Dr. Who did in the series to travel to a different place. I even think about the old 1985 film, Back to the Future with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd where they would hop into a cool DeLorean automobile and simply disappear. By now you would think that the iPhone or an Apple computer, watch, or iPad would have a special button just for emergencies when you need a change of environments to help you relax and get away from the animosity that exists between families, colleagues, managers, staff, work teams and even strangers. No one likes being in negative situations; it affects one’s mental health and happiness.
When feeling stressed or unhappy, the first place I would program the time machine to zap me to would be to see each and every one of my true friends. Without fail, I know they would all make me laugh, share delicious food, drink shots of tequila or lychee martinis, and tease me about the weight I have gained. We would watch great movies together or put on my favourite show, ‘Murder She Wrote’ with Angela Lansbury where she solves murders. My friends know that murder helps me to sleep. Before bedtime, they would always give me a warm bed to crawl into with lots of blankets and quilts. If it was possible, I would push that button many times during a week.
My love of history, art, and architecture would take me on many time travels around the world during different periods of time. Just thinking about all the places gives me chills. I am also fascinated with being able to get out of my blue box appearing just the way the people of that era dressed. I would love to observe and learn the truth about all the history that I was misinformed about throughout my education. There are so many places I would like to visit from the past, but I will try to keep my list to just 5 places. Here goes.
First, I would like to learn from one of my she-roes, Harriet Tubman. I would have lots of questions for her on how to stay focused and committed to helping others to gain freedom. I also want to observe all the hatred and racism that existed during slavery so that I can understand if Black people were treated worse or are they still being treated the exact same way today under a law created to imprison them physically and mentally. There was a time when I wanted to understand the source of the hatred and cruelty towards people of colour, but today, understanding is no longer important to me. When the not guilty verdict was handed down to Kyle Rittenhouse after murdering two people in cold blood and shooting a third victim in front of police officers, only to be protected by a country built on racism, the face of America is obvious. No one of colour expected a not guilty verdict when you take a closer look at corrupt judges and politicians. If it was only possible to return to centuries ago and correct history, but it’s not.
Second, I would like to go back 100 years in the past to secretly visit my relatives in their kitchens preparing celebratory meals and holiday feasts for the family. Often, I think of the scrumptious meals and treats my mother or great uncles or aunts would prepare and slip into our mouths. So many incredible meals were created without following recipes since many of them couldn’t read or write. Growing up, you always believed they would be around to share the ingredients with you, but it wasn’t true. Great recipes were taken to their graves. Fortunately, one of my cousins managed to watch very carefully as a child and has shared a few recipes with me. When I close my eyes, I can smell the aromas and taste the love that went into their cooking. Lately, I dream about some of my mother’s best dishes that include Shrimp & Crayfish Étouffée, Jambalaya, Gumbo, Oyster Stew, Red Beans & Rice, Po-boys, Beignets, and New Orleans Pralines. The memories make me smile and think of the fun I had with my fun relatives.
Third, I would like to zip off for a few weeks or longer to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, a beautiful town. The Peasants’ War of 1525 and the Thirty Years War a century later left the once-prosperous town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, poverty-stricken. Development came to a standstill, and the buildings were left untouched. Detailed reconstruction after the allied bombings of World War II means that this enchanting town still looks almost exactly like it did four hundred years ago. This adventure would be a treat.
Fourth, I would be excited to travel to the year 2060 to see what new addiction exist in the place of our mobile devices that we can’t seem to visit the toilet, walk our dogs, or drive our automobiles without staring at them. I am curious to see what will control us in the future. When I look at old photos, it surprises me how previous generations were glued to their newspapers, much like everyone today with their mobile phones. So, I am curious to see what comes next to occupy our attention. Will chips be included in our bodies so that we can just think something, and it happens?
Lastly, I would like to flee to Paris and enjoy my favourite museums at a time when no people are inside of them so I could slowly enjoy all the beautiful artwork. I have always had a desire to see and study everything. I would visit the Musée de Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin, and of course, the Musée de Montmartre. I definitely couldn’t leave without spending a few nights in the Château de Versailles. Maybe, I would beam a few friends up to join me there for champagne and caviar.
If you could travel to the future or anywhere in the past, where would you go and what would you do? Today, I can see the importance of me staying in the present and making small changes in my life that will make me happier and a better person.
