Time Capsule

This is not my first sesquicentennial celebration.

Now pholks, let me explain. As all of you should know, a sesquicentennial is a celebration of a 150th anniversary of an event or birth or some such thing. Several years ago I was involved in the sesquicentennial celebration of Knight's Ferry, my home town in the Mother Lode country.

This year Tulare County is marking its 150th birthday and one of the many events will be the burying of a time capsule at the county museum. Plans call for this capsule to be opened 50 years later, in the year 2052, the bicentennial of the county's beginnings.

So I thought it might be fun to suggest several items which, 50 years from now, might invoke some interest, maybe a chuckle or two or even cause some 5052 citizens to scratch their heads in puzzlement.

Here are a few of my suggestions:

•A human ear attached to one of today's state-of-the-art cell phones.

What better way to depict this era. A companion piece of contemporary art might be a depiction of person with his or her head in what used to be considered an anatomically impossible position with a recorded message emitting a non-consequential conversation every three minutes.

•A video recording of the 2002 Grammy presentations featuring the performance of the legendary Bob Dylan. If it was impossible to decipher when it was broadcast, just think what the pholks in 2052 will make of it.

•A sample of the mold found in the Tulare County Courthouse and other buildings. These could be compared to the ones the county residents of 2052 find in their public buildings. Perhaps someone could use both samples to find a way to conquer the problem. Or, maybe by then mold will have been found to be a valuable commodity. Heck, it might turn out to be more valuable than gold and the object of a Twenty-First Century "Mold Rush."

•Photos of all the new cars, trucks and SUVs of 2002 and 2003 along with the price lists for each of them. And printouts of crash test results should give those pholks of 2052 something to think about.

•Photos of Dick Clark in 1965, 1980, 1990 and 2002. These will allow the citizens of 2052 to compare their Dick Clark to the one we have enjoyed year after year, after year, after year, after.

•A VCR or DVD player with a long-term battery pack allowing the blinking 12:00 to stay alive. Let's see how those pholks tackle the problem of getting that damned flashing 12:00 to disappear.

•A copy of the 2002 Playboy Swimsuit edition. Just something to start a little chatter at the "opening ceremonies."

•A typewriter ribbon with no identification and no clues to what it is. Might even throw in a couple pieces of carbon paper--if they can be found.

•A rotary telephone.

•Several postage stamps and maybe an envelope or two.

•A parking meter.

•A Visalia Police Department parking patrol vehicle. If it isn't still being used downtown.

•A pill container with a child-proof top. Something to give those pholks something to work on. Might also throw in a Rubiks Cube with instructions of what is to be done but not how to do it.

Of course the Redwood High School Future Business Leaders of America and the Tulare County Museum already are collecting items and suggestions for items to put in this capsule, they will welcome your suggestions.

Unless, of course, they decide to use all my suggestions and are all filled up.

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