Is going backward as good as going forward?
‘”No wise man ever wished to be younger,” offered Jonathan Swift.
I remember getting out of bed one morning, and as I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, I thought to myself; ‘You know what, my hair is gray; it once was black; my knees are buckled; they once were straight; my middle is rounder; and my pants are tight. I’m falling apart!’
A sad commentary.
The other night I watched the movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons” for the umpteenth time.
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a short story about Benjamin Buttons years ago. His tale is of a boy, born old at the age of 80, but lives his life backward instead of forward. As he travels from old age back, Benjamin’s adventures become bolder as his youth returns.
At the beginning of the movie, an old clockmaker has made this huge exquisite clock for the local railroad station.
When the clockmaker unveiled his giant masterpiece, all the travelers at the station noticed, however, that the hand of the clock traveled backward instead of forward.
The old man had built this beautiful timepiece with the hopes that it might turn back time, and return his only son, killed during the big war to him.
And so, begins the story of Benjamin Buttons.
How many of you wish to be young again as your faculties turn older and those aches and pains arrive?
A pondering question.
Benjamin Buttons was born in a large city. At his birth, his mother died after delivery.
When his father heard the baby cry, he went to the crib to see him, and was troubled by his grotesque appearance; he grabbed the baby and ran the streets looking for a place to get rid of him.
He left infant Benjamin on the steps of an “old age” home, and the child was taken in by a caregiver there.
The story is too unexplainable to explain, but begin to imagine how a baby born, at the age of 80, grows backwards in time and returns to his youth with a destination of suspense, glee, adventure and sorrow as his life travels backwards to the crib.
An uncanny plot for sure.
I could relive my life with my favorite girl all the way back to that day we first met, a love feast, I dreamt, but death would see me lose her a second time.
It was a youth’s hayride under a full moon in Frog Hollow. My first embrace, kiss and hug from a beautiful young girl who would then disappear, and I would continue my trip back to the crib.
And to run and play baseball again on the Little League diamond, go swimming in the river, and traverse the mountains in search of mushrooms and ginseng with my grandmother.
To spend more time with Grandpa before he died in 1959; and to relive life with all of those fine people of Dargan.
So many good memories would be had.
Benjamin Buttons had a similar resurrection; he was born old and traveled back in time; so many plots to consider, so many good times to be embraced in his youth.
But then one has to consider those clock hands moving backwards.
While you would be getting younger, all your friends and loved ones would be gone; they would die as you passed them by; and you would be reminded of your youth.
Much sorrow would follow you.
Tears and smiles would be many.
Tis an interesting story about Benjamin Buttons who lived his life backwards and dies at his birth.
.
It appears that perhaps Jonathan Swift was correct in his prognosis, “no wise man wishes to be younger.”
So, would you really like to be young again?
I still think of that first kiss, hayride and many years of happiness, but death and sadness would be there too.
Going backwards would be nice, but……
The road would end in the same place it began.
Just imagine!
