Day 1177 Time

 

Fifty Years… and It’s a Dud!

After waiting fifty years for the opening of our time capsule—buried in 1975 at Wakefield Elementary School to celebrate America’s Bicentennial—it was finally scheduled to be opened in just a few short weeks. Invitations went out, and those of us who had participated in the event were asked to join in the ceremony as the capsule was unearthed.

Not sure who it was that actually dug it up and opened it ahead of time, they say it was done in preparation for the event, but apparently, it was found to be completely waterlogged, with most of the contents ruined. Somehow, I thought the whole purpose of the ceremony was to see it being dug up and opened!

Now the ceremony has been cancelled, and I still have no idea who actually dug it up. But props to ten-year-old Rachel Smith, who was forward-thinking enough not to put anything of real value in that darn box. Somehow, I knew it was a bit of a scam even at the tender age of ten.

So next time you hear someone say, “Things were made to last back in the day,” remember this: 1975 time capsule technology apparently needed a bit more research. I would have loved to watch it being dug up—even if all we saw was a soggy mess—because wasn’t that the whole point?

I’ve lived in my home for almost forty years now, and going forward, if anyone wants to store a time capsule safely for the next fifty, my basement or attic might be your best bet. I probably already have a few relics up there worthy of the title “time capsule.”

During the 1970s time capsule craze, my sister and I buried one of our own in our front yard, tucking random items into a tiny tin box. Many years (and several homeowners) later, someone actually contacted me to say they’d found it. Take that, Wakefield School!

In the end, I learned a few valuable lessons: don’t wait too long for anything, be a little skeptical, and appreciate the wonders of modern technology. Most of all, appreciate a good, dry attic or basement that can keep your treasures safe for generations to come.

Here’s to the next fifty years—and to time capsules that actually stand the test of time. Maybe the real treasures aren’t buried underground after all, but in the stories we carry forward....and a few in the basement or attic.

“Memories are the treasures we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls.” — Unknown