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.