Time Capsule

I once deliberated over the need to create my own time capsule of some sort. Then,it was around 6 years back when my family was caught in the whirlwind activity of moving to a new home. As expected, there were many relics which was of little obvious use but nevertheless, steeped richly in sentimental value. I had hoped that by creating a time capsule, i would be able to preserve some of these priceless treasures.

In a bewildering array of shapes, sizes and colours, these trinkets came from many spots in the house where they were stowed and forgotten by us gradually. Some of them were obvious subjected to storage in some obscure and dark corners judging from the thick layer of dust seen. Some were surprisingly weathered in appearance, looking jaded and a shadow of their former resplendent selves. Despite their different fates, all of them had something in common. That is, all of them belonged to the past. No longer part of our lives. Or are they?

During the ardous task of packing, we continually encountered and rediscovered these little "artifacts from the past". Sometimes, it was a little plastic toy snuggled forlornly at some decrepit crevice. Yet at other times, we manage to unearth a whole trove of totally forgotten stuff. Once, we actually found such a substantial collection at one shot that my father actually aptly named the discovery as the "Lost World". Unbeknownst to us, we were actually redicovering parts of ourselves through this. Each legacy item amounted to a powerful "portkey" on its own right. Hell, we didn't even had to touch them like what Potter and gang did.

The mere sight of them brought a flooding of memories. Sometimes, it was a welcome serenading of wonderful memories. At other times, it brought on an unwelcomed deluge of dark memories. Snippets of nightmares that we would rather be stuffed in some glass bottle and cast into the open seas. As we set to work in our respective "zones of control" in the house, i sometimes happen to witness for myself how my parents would suddenly pause as if in deep thought, clutching a foreign object. I wonder what was going through their minds then. For myself, the old relics helped refresh my archived memories of my past. A piece of memory that threatened to fall off the precipice of no return was reinforced. Unknown gaps in my life were plugged firmly.

As it turned out, most of these treasures were destined for the landfill. In my vain plea for them to be preserved, i saw a similar longing in my parents' eyes. There was no choice, practical concerns have to override mundane fancies. As i carried these precious trinkets to their final resting place, i took a long hard at each of time. Each of them seemed to knew of their impending fates. Through their forlorn appearances, i sensed that silent stories were being regaled to me through a mysterious connection that had drawn me towards them in the first place.

I never felt so sure about myself before.