And he said to me ‘Ok. Your topic is time’
And I said ‘Big’
And he said ‘Good luck
In two days I will be in an aeroplane. I like being in an aeroplane. It is like I have been gifted a block of free time. In return I have to sit in an uncomfortable chair and go to the bathroom everytime I want to vape. But it is mine nonetheless, and no one can take it from me. I often end up watching the film of whoever is sitting in front of me and to the right. Last time I watched about half of what seemed to be a Bridget Jones’ Diary sequel.
Whenever I guess the time and it’s earlier than I expect, I’m elated. YES, free time! And whenever it’s later than I expect I feel robbed and aggrieved. How dare you.
I often fantasize about having more time. I feel giddy at the prospect of a weekend where I have no plans. It’s a land of opportunity. I would like a time chamber.
I think I have neglected the past previously. The future has so much more potential.
José Ortega y Gasset - The most salient characteristic of life is its coerciveness: it is always urgent, ‘here and now’ without any possible postponement. Life is fired at us point blank.
Yes, I feel you José. It’s an outrage. Someone should do something.
And now. And now. And now. And also now. Yep. Right now. Here again. Now.
It’s all so very immediate. Unavoidable.
It’s like sand. It gets everywhere, up your nose, in your sandwiches. You try to grab it and it slips through your fingers.
Apparently, this is not just the adverts, the show has already started. It’s been going on for a while in fact. This is, in fact, it. It’s what we’ve all been talking about and imagining for so long. And we’re right in the middle of it. Phwoar.
Possibility. So much possibility. Fantasy.
‘I wish it had happened differently’’
‘Yes, it’s in the past now’
‘Yes, I just wish it had been different’
‘Yes. And it’s in the past now’
‘Yes, I know, I just wish it had been different’
‘Yes, I know, and it’s in the past now’
You can get trapped in time. Loopy. Looping. Over and over and over. And over. Like a monkey with a miniature cymbal. Allegedly. Snagged, you can get snagged in it.
I often forget about time. But once you see it you see it everywhere. All over the place. Shit! I forgot about time! It’s happening right now! Somebody do something!
Choice. Choosing. Narrowing. You could have chosen anything, and this is what you chose.
Moments, queued back for eternity, step by step, marching, one moment in the limelight, then poof.
‘Can I have another go?’
‘I’m sorry it doesn’t work like that’
‘Why not? I just want to go back and do it a bit differently’
‘I’m sorry, you can’t, that’s not how it works’
‘Right’