Growing up there was no such thing as time.
I think I remember my grandfather giving me one of his old watches once, and Santa dropped one off under the tree for me the year I became a big boy. I can't remember having a timepiece on my wrist through my high school years and even college for that matter. However, I don't think Mom would have sent me off into 'the wilderness' college life without one, but I just can't recall. She packed everything else for me, so I gotta believe a watch was in that trunk somewhere.
When we headed off on our adventures of the day, we mostly went watchless. Somewhere along the line, one of the guys showed the rest of us how to properly draw a sundial in the dirt and this served us well. Especially, if in our intensity of playing army, hitting golf balls across Gullivers or being stuck in the late innings of a tension-packed game of baseball, we didn't hear the 2:14 whistle at the mill sound that always signaled it was time to get ready to deliver papers at 3 PM.
Now that I think of it, time lurked everywhere in this kids growing years. I just didn't know it.
Time was like God; it was and is everywhere.
Tick, Tick, Tick.
Had you seen this beautiful field of flowers and sundial during your youthful years, I think that you would have stopped and contemplated time for a second or two.
ReplyDeletegreat photo and story, shame wristwatches are being replaced by our cell phones for time keeping
ReplyDeleteI am a person who seldom remembers to wear her watch, so perhaps in a store, I ask someone if they know what time it is, and they dig down into their bag, pull out a smart phone, push a button and say yes, its 11:32. I thank them even though I can see I have inconvenienced them, even for the moment. So I have begun wearing my watch more, where all you have to do is glance at your wrist, and know the time at once!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jo
Kate's right, Birdman, about the beauty of the field of flowers adn the sundial, plus that you would have stopped to contemplate. You must have had moments of contemplation early on; I say that based on the contemplation evident in most of your posts.
ReplyDeleteI do not wear a watch, but I am rarely late...
ReplyDeleteWish I could get out of the habit of wearing a watch . . . tick tick tick . . . Love this photo . . .
ReplyDeleteI rarely go out without my watch but use it mainly to check the time on clocks.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I remember wearing watches that were unreliable so I never had one for long. I now wear electronic watches that run for years. Wear one now so I won't be late to the party. Fine sundial and flower photo.
ReplyDeleteI have certainly noticed how it seems to tick a little faster as I get older. Love this field of daisies.
ReplyDeleteI do wear a watch, yet I'm hardly ever on time :) I love your image today Birdman, nice work!
ReplyDeletei used to feel naked without a watch. but i've given it up the last few years. if i need the time, my cell is in my pocket. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wear a watch. I prefer to check the time on my iPhone.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time you figured out what time it is! You really drew a sundial in the dirt? Really?
ReplyDeleteRe your comment on Ocala today. I don't get it. What am I missing? Help!
I think Ray Bradbury in Dandelion Wine has a nice passage about the experience of time during childhood school vacation summers. Such a childhood you had...Many urban kids today have their time a lot more scheduled. Play becomes "Play Date" , baseball becomes teams run by parents, etc...
ReplyDeleteVery nice shot, and interesting reflections. I don't remember wearing a watch, either, though I must have. It's not so much remembering watches as remembering anything from years ago. The time went somewhere and my memory went with it.
ReplyDeleteGreetings again! Yes, we've seen lots of osprey nests, but I'm not I've seen one in a cell tower. We also seen lots of eagle nests on top of telephone poles going down U.S. 1 south of Miami heading toward the Keys. I don't think I usually look closely at the tops of cell phone towers. Keep my eye on the prize, if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteLove the pic! I always have a watch on!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I don't recall time being an issue when I was young. Now, however, it seems like it rules so many things.
ReplyDeleteJust a gorgeous picture. Beautiful light and deft lens work.
ReplyDeleteAmericans have an image of much of the South as hopelessly relaxed and unconcerned about time. I'm surprised to hear a different story about Mainers. My adolescence was ruled by train schedules and class period bells. I was so busy this morning that I almost flipped out when I found I'd left the house without my watch. Thank God I had my iPhone.
Loved your timely post :)
ReplyDeleteSo cool story and I'm enchanted by this picture!Gorgeous flowers!
ReplyDeleteLéia
I remember when school let out way back when for summer vacation. Time was an endless sea of possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic background for this sundial!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!!!
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