To the editor:
Time is such an odd thing. My 5-year-old is just telling jokes now, and the latest one was, “Momma do you want me to tell you a joke?” I say “yes”, and he says “Do you want to know why the monkey threw the clock out of the window?”, and I say, “yes tell me” and he says “Because he wanted to see time fly.” I say “Hey, that’s a good one.” He says “Well you’re supposed to laugh” (oops), and he giggles. He then proceeds to take turns telling the cats in our house this same joke. Eventually he wants me to tell him how time flies. Literally. So I then have to try to think of some way to explain it to him in terms I hope are relevant for him. Huh. As I’ve mentioned before, two of our young ladies are beginning their senior year in high school. We have a good time laughing (with, really we’re laughing with you) about various things they think, or problems they’re having. This last week I made them take the parade cake down to the basement, and one of them expressed being disappointed “it’s all over, and by the time Caribou has the 200th, I’m going to be old.” We’ve really laughed about that one.
Yep. You too, and that’s why as we’ve gone along we’ve tried to be very mindful to talk to them (if they’re not just tuning us out) about, the people who’ve been involved in the 150th. We think they’ll be the prime age to be planning a ball, and some other events, which we made them attend with us. Some events were met with mild groaning beforehand. Several though, they told us they had a good time at them, they didn’t even try to leave some of them early, and they’d make a point to tell me they’d “had fun.” I am a bit suspicious, and so I rib them about don’t bother to try to hootch me, we know you think we’re all old and lame … but by and large, they seem sincere.
They do think the 50 years from now will never get here, and they won’t of course ever be as old as we are. And if enough time really does pass to get to the 200th: well they’ll be Just Old.. (isn’t that too funny?)
So this letter is really to them, and our own children, and the children in school now who signed our banners for the parade, and who come visit us at the events. We put a big box into the time capsule for you. Things from our time to yours, and lots of pictures of you all the last year! The young ladies in the office, well we put lots of pictures of you, being young, smooth, and pretty in. We hope you’ll grow up to be civic-minded, contributors to your community. We want you to vote, and read the news. We want you to be in a club or organization which adds value to your lives, and the people around you. We want you to appreciate being young and smooth. All the best years of your life are ahead of you, and you can do anything you want to. We know you can. We want you to make your own decisions, but listen to your parents: they really do know best. Don’t doubt it, we really have all been there and done that.
Be great people! It’s not an accident we have a U.S. Senator who is from our city. Caribou isn’t the end of the earth, and you too can go far! When you get there, remember home, and come back to help make a difference. Have a good time, and give back to people around you. We wish we could have put all the pictures of you during the last week of Caribou’s big celebration week (through Sept. 5th) in the time capsule for you! You were so small, and pretty at Caribou’s 150th!
We hope your celebration brings as much fellowship and community spirit to you as our 150th did for us! Take care of one another, and live well!
Caribou
