Monday, March 5, 2007

Time Travel...

Lonnie Cruse

I've always been fascinated by the concept of time travel. Travel to the past, but not to the future, that is. I'd rather NOT know what's ahead for me or the rest of the world. But I'd love to go back and spend a day or two in my own past, (when my kids were little) or spend time with my parents, both of whom died when I was young. Or maybe I'd spend time with a famous character in history, like Abe Lincoln.

Time machines aren't my thing, I feel like they'd be jarring to my nerves and probably muss my hair. My thought is, the key would be old photographs. Entering the past by entering the photo of a past event. And, no, I don't have a clue how I'd do it. I just like the concept. I'd love to be able to interact with people from the past without changing events or harming history. Just spending time there, seeing what it was like.

But supposing I went to the past and found out something negative about my parents or someone else I cared about? Secret adulterer, serial killer, bank embezzler? What then? Interesting thought. Might make an interesting novel to write.

What if I found out a famous, much admired historical figure was a total fake? Didn't do anything history claimed? (Think George Washington's cherry tree, which fable I believe HAS been debunked.) Would I tell anyone what I'd discovered, or keep it to myself? And if I DID tell, would anyone even believe me? Who knows?

Where would you travel to and who would you meet, IF you could travel anywhere in history? Or to the future, if you are braver than me?

Somewhere In Time is one of my favorite time travel movies, though I did think the story got a little twisted at the end. (I mean, who started the whole thing, her or him? Meaning where did the watch come from, since she said it wasn't hers, but she gave it to him? Did I miss something?)

Now, what should I take along with me on my first trip into the past? Wonder what Poe is doing for lunch today? First I'll have to find a picture of him on the net. Excuse me, I've got to go pack.

5 comments:

Pauline said...

I love time travel, too. I even love the crappy time travel movies. I just love the fish-out-water thing about them.

When I was writing OUT OF TIME, my one and so far only time travel novel, it was definitely a challenge figuring out all the problems one person can cause by going back in time--not to mention the chicken or the egg question of which came first?

But for me, there was only one time period to travel back to: WWII. And I used a machine (did you know you can buy one on the internet?) that thoroughly mussed my character's hair. Hey, I figured my character was enough like me to not want to go somewhere where there wasn't plumbing.

Speaking of finding out things you don't want to, have you heard that country song, called "Mama Before She was Mama?" It's a hoot...and about the secrets we keep--or don't keep. LOL
cheers,
Pauline

Elizabeth Zelvin said...

Yes, I've heard that song: I love the way it rhymes "Mama" with "won't admit she smoked marijuana." ;) My favorite time travel book is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. Interesting how crossing time travel with another genre--historical romance, mystery, or whatever--really ratchets up the drama. Would I want to go back--or forward? I don't think so. :)

Lonnie Cruse said...

Wow, I can buy a time travel machine on the Internet? 'Scuse me, I've got some spending to do!

Anonymous said...

Weirdly enough, I was just thinking about this yesterday. Like, if I went back in time, would I still have my cell phone when I got there? Not that it would work... But do you get to keep the things you're traveling with, even if they haven't technically been invented yet? And wouldn't it be strange, if you're a religious person, to go back in time to BEFORE Jesus existed? Or Moses? Or Eve? (Can you go back in time before Eve to give birth so it wouldn't hurt?)

Just some food for thought...

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite movies isn't about time travel, but a loop in time. I've never been a fan of Bill Murray, but I love GROUNDHOG DAY. (Was it in homage to Somewhere In Time that he learned to play part of "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini?")