My favorite part of craigslist: writing anonymously about my thought-of-the-moment which i know will expire after a few days. There's something very attractive about the impermanence of the message. We should all embrace the transience of life. (I think I do this to a fault, which probably explains my near-obsession with pop culture and celebrity news.)

When I was trying to think of tangible things that last 50 years today and could come up with very things (coins was the only one that could come to mind). Electronics sure aren't going to last 50 years. Neither are automobiles, and very rarely buildings. (Buildings are usually victim to rezoning and economic downturn, rather than any structural problems).

What tangible things will remain in my life 50 years from now? I've already lost a CD of my older digital images which was taken not more than 5 years ago. Even if I were to create a wonderful online community and reached the plateaus of success that I dare not dream of today ... what guarantee is there that this would succeed for many years? The Fortune 500 of 1956 is very different than today.

That makes me wonder, what, in this life, could I realistically create that would stand the test of time? Songs, movies, and books (not in their tangible formats, obviously) seem to survive the test of time ... but really, how many of the following movies of 1956 have you seen?:

  • Around the World in 80 Days
  • Friendly Persuasion
  • Giant
  • The King and I
  • The Ten Commandments

Look at the popular songs of 1956:

  • Don't Be Cruel -Elvis Presley
  • Hound Dog -Elvis Presley
  • Singing The Blues -Guy Mitchell
  • The Wayward Wind -Gogi Grant
  • Heartbreak Hotel -Elvis Presley
  • Rock and Roll Waltz -Kay Starr
  • The Poor People of Paris -Les Baxter
  • Memories Are Made of this -Dean Martin

How many of these songs have you heard? How many would you have heard if you had never heard the name of Elvis?

I don't want to go as far as to say that I'm concerned about legacy, because that would imply that I am of some import to humanity (which I'm not, and I make pretty clear in my personal life) ... but at some level, I'd like to know I made some sort of positive impact on the world.

In any case, the only other thing that I could of think that lasts 50 years besides coins was a relationship. To all those couples out there that have made it 50 years ... I look up to you with the upmost of jealousy. I can only hope to one day participate in something as worthwhile and lasting.

Posted by roy on May 15, 2007 at 10:17 PM in Ramblings | 3 Comments

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Comment posted on May 17th, 2007 at 09:03 AM
I've seen every one of those movies (several times) and listened to all those songs many times. However, I am probably not part of the demographic you were directing that question to :-)
Comment posted on May 16th, 2007 at 09:09 AM
Move to Singapore and seek out you-know-who.
Comment posted on May 15th, 2007 at 11:47 PM
That was lovely.