The Santa Rosa Historical Society will host a showing of one of my favorite movies at the Imogene Theatre Saturday night, “Back to the Future.” Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person. I went to the see the blockbuster at the theatre during it’s opening weekend in 1985. It was love at first sight.
I’ve always loved the idea of time travel. Since childhood I’ve dreamt of traveling back in time—not moving forward, mind you—to see what my ancestor’s lives were about. How they did things, to study their culture, to see how different their thought patterns were from mine. Because of this love of history and research it guided me into classic literature, a love for genealogy and the library.
After watching Christopher Reeve travel back in time for love in the film “Somewhere in Time” (1980), I was spurred forward in my passion for this mysterious phenomenon. Reeve played Richard Collier, a playwright, who falls in love with a beautiful actress (Jane Seymour playing Elise McKenna) from long ago after seeing her photograph in a hotel museum. He travels back 60 years to meet her. Beautiful screen play and music. Reeve is magnetic driving his 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 up to the Grand Hotel.
How interesting would it be to wake up in another time, place and watch a historical event take place? Even if it were just in a small town during a non-descript year it would be radical.
I can imagine the exhilaration of hopping into a DeLorean and travel back in time and see myself in high school. Would I give myself advice? Probably. I may leave myself a note, fold it in some clever way and pop it inside my locker at Hueytown High School. Of course, I would dress the part to walk the hall ways. Great Scott! I can remember wearing Gasoline jeans, Nike shoes and blue jean jacket with pockets everywhere and the familiar scent of Aquanet in my teased hair. What advice would I give myself? Pay attention during algebra class. Spend more time with my grandparents. Take notes in computer class. Could you change the course of your life? Maybe. If 1.21 gigawatts and the flux capacitor were real we could find out. Some would say these thoughts are worthless because it could never happen.
I’m not certain time travel isn’t possible. There are time travelers in the Bible. The first one who comes to mind is Elijah who was taken away by God and is prophesied to return in the latter days. Who knows? Because where we are going on that fine day of Jesus’ return for His church, we definitely won’t need roads.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Gotta get back in time