TIME

My wife had a delightful surprise waiting for me when I got home from a recent trip. Last year she took a special watch to the jewelry store to be repaired for me. It was a watch that my father bought in Switzerland after the end of World War II. When Cissy and I were in Lucerne, Switzerland a few years ago it was interesting to try to trace his steps where he bought this watch and a beautiful music box which I also have now.

The photo above looks just like the watch, except the second hand of mine is black. The receipt shows he bought the watch on April 23, 1946. Click on it to see a larger size.

My father returned home from the war and I was conceived a few months later. During my childhood and into my adult years my father wore this watch every day. Finally it stopped working and he laid it aside. When he passed away five years ago I got the watch as a keepsake.

Finally the antique repair parts were found, and the watch looks great and runs with perfect time. When I wear the watch I feel so honored that I am carrying around a precious memory of my father.

Speaking of time and memories, I am reminded of several songs. One is “Time in a Bottle” recorded in 1972 by Jim Croce. He died at the age of 40 the next year in a plane crash. He recorded the song for his newborn son. Below are the lyrics with a video of him with his son and his song playing in the background.

If I could save time in a bottle
the first thing that I'd like to do
is to save everyday till eternity passes away
just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
if words could make wishes come true
I'd save everyday like a treasure and then
again I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
to do the things you wanna do
once you find them
I looked around enough to know
That you're the one I wanna go through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
and dreams that had never come true
the box would be empty except for the memory of how
they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
to do the things you wanna do
once you find them
I looked around enough to know
that your the one I wanna go thru time with


I am reminded also of a song recorded by Chicago in 1969, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” I like the brassy sound of the group, but the lyrics seem pointless and the final verse somewhat despairing with …

Does anybody really know what time it is
(Care) Does anybody really care (about time)
If so I can't imagine why (Oh no, no)
We've all got time enough to die
Everybody's worrying (I don't) I don't care (about time)
Life is much too short
About time (Oh no, no) I don't care