Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "time"

As another year passed last week, I got to thinking about time. I don't know why, but I'm fascinated with time. It's so interesting to see time go by and the changes that come with it. Consider how you feel when you find an old classmate on Facebook who you haven't seen for 30 years. Their photo will instantly remind you of how much time has passed. Or, think of your children when they were small and how much they've changed, even though it seems like it was only yesterday.

It's also interesting that we give our time names and numbers like "January," "Sunday," "the 90s" or "2012," and then these names and numbers seem to take on a personality. For example, think of the word "Sunday" and then notice what comes to mind; church, football, a day off work, maybe a barbecue, etc... When I think of "1967" for example, I think of songs like "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees, or the first Chevrolet Camaro, or the Summer of Love. Thinking of 1967, or one of many other time periods, brings to mind a feeling or a mood. How is it that these semantics develop meaning?



Well, however it happens, it doesn't seem to be happening as much anymore. For example, try to think of the name of the decade between 2001 and 2010. Or, if you're familiar with cars, think of what a 2006 Chevrolet Impala looks like. You'll realize that it looks almost exactly like a 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, or a 2012. I can about guess what the 2013 model will look like. Prior to 1980 most cars looked different each year and that look contributed to the personality of the time. To me it seems that modern times are more "generic" and don't have personality like times past. Or, maybe it's just that one can only feel that personality when looking back.

I think our current decade will be called the "teens" (even though it is not yet 2013). It's hard for me to think of our current time as the "teens" because, when I think of the "teens," I think of the time between 1911 and 1920, even though I wasn't alive then. I wonder what personality our kids and grandkids will see in these new "teens."

Time is an insidious sort of thing, creeping up on you before you realize it. Things that were once way off in the future are now right on the horizon. I don't know why, but young people have a difficult time understanding this. I work on a college campus and, if I talk about these things around the students, they look at me like I'm from another planet. I'm sure I was the same... back when I was going to live forever.

One of the things that creeps up on a person is the task of caring for elderly parents. My parents are both 78 and still live on their own. However, they are about to move to a very nice duplex on an assisted living campus. They'll still be independent, but that first step has to be painful. My mother even expressed how this means she'll never get that big house she's always wanted. Getting old is tough.

Being on the assisted living campus also means they'll be in line when the time comes to move into what Dad calls "the big house." Now, this is not the same big house that Mom always dreamed about. No, he's referring to the nursing home next to the duplexes. So, for them, moving onto the campus may be a step toward "the end." But, for my siblings and me, it's comforting to know their care is assured.

All this makes me think about my wife and me and who'll care of us. We have several wonderful children and they've been most gracious in offering to take care of us. But, what a burden that will be. And, it's not as far away as they may realize.

As for me, I can't imagine living in a nursing home and, if I end up in one, I plan to escape. I told my family not to be surprised if this happens. I don't know that I would really do it as I don't want to cause my family trouble. But, I also can't accept the idea of living in an evil place where doctors, nurses or aides can come into my room at will, try telling me what to eat or wake me in the morning.

I guess this is all to say that I still don't have any idea what's going to happen to us. Hopefully, I'll just stay young forever. Never mind, It's too late for that.