Time in a Bottle

Wooden ships on the water,
very free, and easy
Easy, you know
the way it's supposed to be
--Wooden Ships, CSN&Y

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
--Macbeth (V, v), Shakespeare

Remembrance of things past
is not necessarily the remembrance
of things as they were
--Remembrance of Things Past,
Marcel Proust

Longer boats are coming to win us
Hold on to the shore,
they'll be taking the key from the door
--Longer Boats, Cat Stevens
___________

Sunday Meditation: This too, shall pass.

Almost two weeks ago, excavation "at the site of the underground vehicle security center for the future World Trade Center hit a row of sturdy, upright wood timbers, regularly spaced, sticking out of a briny gray muck flecked with oyster shells" (18th-Century Ship Found at Trade Center Site.) This brought Ranger to some philosophical thoughts, waters he occasionally treads.

First is the transitory nature of life and mankind's persistent survival. Layers of life flourished and survived on this site, and will continue to do so. The events of 9-11-01 will not and could not be the final act of sorrow, life or death played out on this little piece of real estate.

Life, society and civilization are a continuum and flow inexorably through time. The only significance is that which we place on the event.

Wooden ships and fallen buildings are the same when looking at the march of time.