The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

 Review of a novel by Stephen King

Cast of Characters:

Trisha McFarland. Age nine. Main Character

Tom Gordon.  Closer. Pitcher, number 36, for the Boston Red Sox baseball team. 

Time Sequence: June, 1998

Synopsis of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon : A NovelCheck Price

The story begins at ten o’clock on a June Saturday morning in Maine. Trisha is in the family car on her way, with her divorced mother and older brother, for a short hike along the Maine/New Hampshire branch of the Appalachian Trail. At ten thirty, she was lost in the woods!

Trisha had not meant to get lost. During the hike, she was trailing behind her mother & brother who were arguing again over the brother wanting to go back to Boston and live with his dad. Trisha got tired of listening to them, so when they reached a fork in the trail, she stepped off to the lessor trail to go to the bathroom. When done, she thought she could just cut across through the woods to rejoin the main trail. Instead, she got confused and ended up walking in the wrong direction.

The story occurs over the space of a week, with Trisha’s wanderings and poor choices of direction getting her more & more lost, including way beyond the search areas where search & rescue teams were looking for her. 

To keep from being too frightened, especially the first night alone in the dark, she uses her Walkman to listen to a game on the radio of her favorite baseball team (The Boston Red Sox), with her favorite player, Tom Gordon. 

Trisha also began to conserve her small store of food meant originally for lunch on the day hike. This included one tuna sandwich, some chips, celery sticks and Ding-Dongs, plus water and one other drink! 

As the days go by, Trisha keeps walking, first following a stream because she heard that streams usually end somewhere near civilization. When the first stream peters out, she follows another. She mentally replays conversations with her dad on weekend visits, especially those about the Red Sox and Tom Gordon, also her dad’s favorite team. In one conversation, Trisha remembers dad saying: 

“I believe Tom Gordon can save 40 games this year (1998). I believe right now he’s the best Closer in the major leagues — that if he stays healthy and the Sox hitting holds up, he could be pitching in the World Series come October!”  

Eventually, as days pass, the batteries in the Walkman die. So, Trisha begins to keep her mind occupied with imaginary conversations with her hero, Tom Gordon. 

Summary

The entire story (with a few side lines from minor characters) is narrated by and involves mainly Trisha McFarland (and, of course, her baseball hero, Tom Gordon). How she copes when she runs out of food and water and later becomes ill, is a testimony to the endurance of youth and the belief that things will work out. 

Stephen King does a marvelous job keeping you riveted to each section of Trisha’s journey alone in deep woods. Only, Trisha doesn’t believe she’s alone; she’s convinced Tom Gordon is with her, encouraging her to keep going.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a bit of a departure for Stephen King. Rather than a true horror story, (which is a genre I definitely stay away from; thereby seldom reading books by King), it is more a psychological thriller. And, since it involved baseball, and the fact that it is a fiction story involving a real-life baseball player from the 1990s, (whom I had just recently read about), I found myself drawn to it. I am glad I did, as I really enjoyed it.

Summary

Tom Gordon is best remembered in Boston for his dominant 1998 season out of the bullpen, where he set a then-major league record of 43 consecutive saves and a franchise record of 46 saves. Thereby, bringing Trisha’s dad’s earlier statement of 40+ games into focus.

Tom ‘Flash’ Gordon played for the Red Sox from 1996 through 1999. Find his stats and career information and how he acquired the nickname ‘Flash’ here.  He is currently the radio color commentator for the Boston Red Sox.

*Family Note: Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tom "Flash" Gordon has three sons, two of whom followed in his footsteps to play in the major leagues. 

*Book Review of "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" was written by Wednesday Elf

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Handmade Clocks by Clever Crafters

For truly unique, you can't beat 'handmade'. Etsy has some very talented clock-makers. Below are a few from my favorite Shops.

You can also browse throughout Etsy to search for your own unique ideas. Click here to get to Etsy

Owl Wall Clock | Decoylab on Etsy

DECOYLAB is a designer/illustrator in Kansas City, Missouri who makes very unique timepieces using wood and paper.

Small Owl Wall ClockCheck Price

 

Pictured here is an Owl Wall Clock, from her collection for the nursery/kids room that are simple, modern and fun! 

This clock is made with laser cut, ¼ thick 3 ply bamboo and clock parts .The clock measures Size: 6" w x 8” h x .75” d. Made with sturdy 3ply bamboo (¼” thickness)

Clock for your Craft Room

Funny Knitting Time ClockCheck Price

 

If your 'hobby' is in the field of fiber arts, like me, time spent in your craft room would be fun with a clock that represents your favorite craft, like this one about Knitting! 

This very amusing clock design fits a crafters' thoughts exactly. When you are engaged in working with your favorite craft, time tends to either 'stand still' or be ignored because of the pleasure it gives you. Thus, this delightful hobby clock will fit in your craft room perfectly! 

Knitting clock is created using solid oak or maple in several sizes, and the wood is laser cut with a laser engraved design.

Sports Clock

MLB Wood Clock Sports DecorCheck Price

 

There are a variety of sports-related handmade clocks on Etsy. Since MY favorite sport is BASEBALL, I chose to display a clock with my favorite MLB team - the New York Yankees. 

Handcrafted out of wood, these sports clocks with your favorite team are Laser-cut out of fine wood and hand painted. They measure an average of 14 x 14 inches.

Created by a Vero Beach, Florida designer for their TimeOutPaintedDesign Etsy Store, here’s what they say about **Why You'll Love It:**

These clocks are not just about telling time; it’s about celebrating our love for sports with style. Whether you're a fan of football, basketball, soccer, or any other sport, this handcrafted piece adds a personalized touch to your decor. It also makes a thoughtful gift for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions for the sports enthusiasts in your life. --- Add this charming sports clock to your collection today and enjoy a perfect blend of elegance and enthusiasm in your home!

Summary

So browse through the handmade clocks on Etsy and find just the clock design that suits your needs.  Perfect for various rooms throughout your home, hand-crafted clocks also make lovely gifts for friends and family. 

Take a lesson from the clock;

it passes the time by keeping its hands busy.

                                                ~Evan Esar

For more reviews of ‘clocks’ on ReviewThisReviews, click here

*This guide to “Handmade Clocks by Clever Crafters, was originally published on November 12, 2014. While the original site is no longer active, Wednesday Elf has brought the best of that content here for you.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Dear 1975 – A Look Back Through the Years We’ll Never Forget

I sat down to write the lyrics and the song Dear 1975 as a tribute to us, to the older generation who lived through those times, and to the memories we carry. 

When we look back, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we didn’t know how good we had it. But the truth be told, I did know. I was fifteen years old, safe and secure in my parents’ home, in the same room in the house my brother now owns. 

I can still go back there if I want, but it’s never the same without my parents. Even so, I’m so grateful that my brother has the home.

1975 represents something bigger for us seniors. The world is moving so fast now, and it’s easy to look back through rose-colored glasses, but I think most of us who lived happy, healthy lives in the ‘70s will agree the decade was simply wonderful.

Life, The Music, and The Freedom in 1975

The culture in 1975 was amazing. 

The music was unbeatable. The sitcoms, the variety shows, the freedom. It’s funny to even use the word freedom to describe it, but that’s exactly what it felt like. 

On social media, so many of my peers who grew up in the ‘70s often reminisce about how free we were, and it’s true. I remember being on my bike from morning until night, riding to friends’ houses, calling my mom to say I wouldn’t be home for dinner because I was eating at Linda’s. Even when she moved across town, we biked there too, then on to the park, then to school, meeting our friends along the way. 

There were no cell phones, and our parents were okay with it. We were just on the move, living and breathing that kind of independence that seems almost impossible to imagine today.

Here's the lyric song video tribute I wrote for us who are of the generation of 1975:

Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?

And then, of course, there was the nightly reminder on TV: Do you know where your kids are? I think back to that now, and I can’t help but laugh. 

Ten o’clock at night, flashing across the screen were the words and commentary, "Do you know where your kids are?" I was always home by then, thinking, who actually loses track of their kids? But it was the ‘70s, and we had that notice, that little nudge from the world, as if to remind parents that yes, the kids were out exploring the world, and yes, that was okay, but time to come home!

Thinking About Mom and Dad in the 1970s

Some of my most vivid memories involve Mom and me watching movies together, or Dad coming home from long work trips. His briefcase would be filled with coins, which my brother and I would happily dump on the floor and divvy up. 

Dad would be sprawled on the floor in the living room with the eight-track playing country songs, the kind that I can still almost hear in my mind. 

Our vehicles had eight-track cassette tapes, and I begged for my first tape recorder for Christmas just so I could hear my own voice, and promptly discovered I didn’t like it. 

Our house was always full of people. Neighbors dropping in, friends hanging out, the laughter and chatter filling every corner. That, to me, was the ‘70s. Family, friends, security, and an unspoken understanding that life, in those moments, was exactly as it should be.

Writing Dear 1975 was my way of capturing that warmth, that freedom, and that sense of rootedness we sometimes forget to appreciate when we’re young. 

It’s a reminder of the simplicity we sometimes take for granted, the moments that feel small at the time but last a lifetime. It’s a diary entry to my younger self, and to anyone who remembers 1975 the way I do: full of music, laughter, love, and the kind of freedom that can only come from feeling safe in the world.

*********

Facebook: Lyrics About Life on Facebook

YouTube:  Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify:    Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Amazon: Drageda Lyrics on Amazon Music

iTunes:   Drageda Lyrics on iTunes

**Subscribe For A Free Short Guide on How to Convert Your Poems Into Lyrics***

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A Clock Gift Guide

 A review of a Gift Guide for clocks!

Everyone needs to know the hour, minute or second sometime or other, making clocks a necessity. So why not find an interesting-looking timepiece to give as a gift or buy for yourself when there are so many choices available? They can be found to suit any theme or motif in any room in your house, and the interests of many family members or friends on your shopping list.

When you need to shop for a gift, think CLOCKS

Shopping for a Unique Clock

This page compiles a group of unusual and unique Clocks - and websites where they can be found - to save you shopping time. The ones featured here will fit into your space and budget easier than London's BIG BEN pictured here! :-)

Clocks~In Every Shape and Form

There are clocks for your wall and mantel, for your desk and more. There are alarms and radios that wake you up at the correct time. There are some to fit your home décor, to suit your personality or reflect your favorite hobby. There are some for Sports Fans and lots for kids. They come in analog and digital versions. They come with big numbers and NO numbers! Whatever color or style or feature you want or need, you'll find one that is uniquely YOU!

Uniquely Yours ... Wake up in the Morning to More than Just the Hour!

Coby Picture ClockCheck Price

 

The Coby digital photo frame displays JPEG photo files and plays MP3 and WMA music files. It has a photo slideshow mode. It is also digital with an alarm, a calendar and displays the current temperature.

This would make a perfect gift for a student away at college, a soldier stationed overseas, or the grandparents. A practical clock, plus a digital photo viewer filled with your favorite photo images for that special someone. .

  

"We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight!"

Being a teenager in the 1950s, Bill Haley & His Comets sang to us about 'clocks' in a way we'll never forget. Dancing to this tune was a time we loved. Listen to this favorite 'clock' song while you browse through the clocks on this page.

"Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley

Songs About Time…

Singers and song writers have given us the time in many ways through song titles. A few are listed below. I'll bet you have some favorites too.

• "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley
• "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper.
• "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce
• "The Last Time" by the Rolling Stones
• "Any Time At All" by the Beatles

Clocks for Kids

Hickory, dickory, dock,

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down,

Hickory, dickory, dock - Clocks for Kids

Paladone R2D2 Alarm Clock - Perfect Decor for Star Wars Fans - USB Cable Included - 13 cm (5Check Price

 

 

Two favorite themes kids relate to these days -- Star Wars and Legos. My grandson is crazy about both.... and his favorite is R2D2!

Decorate your child's room in a fun favorite and help them keep track of time in this delightful way!

Lego Star Wars from Darth Vader to a Storm Trooper to R2D2 and more.... Star Wars Lego figures make fun clocks for kids!

Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day.

~Polish Proverb

Movies, Books & TV Shows with Clock Titles

Clocks and time itself play a major role in life, so it isn't surprising that book authors and producers of movies and television shows base their stories around the passage of time. Some of the most famous movies and books of the past reflect this. See how many you recognize in the list below:

• 12 O'Clock High
• Clockwork Orange
• Rock Around the Clock
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• High Noon
• 48 Hours

Favorite Hobby

3D DIY Wall Clock, Kitchen Coffee Decor Wall Clocks Frameless Large DIY Wall Clock Wall Sticker Home Decor for Living Room Bedroom Decoration (Black)Check Price

 

If your 'hobby' is in the field of fiber arts, like me, time spent in your craft room would be fun with a clock that represents your favorite craft, like this 'crafty' one! You can also search Amazon for a clock with the design of your favorite hobby!

Time to Vote

What's Your Favorite Way to Track the Passage of Time?

1. I look at the clock on the wall.
2. I use my computer.
3. My cell phone is the handiest way.
4. I wear a watch.
5. I'm retired! Who cares what time it is? :-)

*Leave me your favorite choice  (by number) in the comments. 

A Timely collection for any occasion or room décor

Whether you like modern or old-fashioned, funny or funky, streamlined, ornate or simple, there is a special CLOCK made just for you and your interests. I hope you have enjoyed browsing the choices I've presented here.

Check out more Clock reviews on
ReviewThisReviews: Clocks

*This Clocks Gift Guide was originally written on November 12, 2014. While the original site is no longer active, Wednesday Elf has brought the best of that content here for you.

*Some images in this gift guide are from Pixabay.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Wall Clocks Kids Like

A Gift Guide for Choosing Wall Clocks Your Kids Will Like

Children need clocks as much as grownups! School age children need to check a clock to know when the important segments of their day are happening -- time for breakfast, dinnertime, school time, homework time, bedtime. And what about 'playtime'... a most important part of a child's day!

Toddlers and pre-schoolers will enjoy colorful clocks or clocks that look like a favorite character they know about. Wall clocks for kids can be a fun décor on their bedroom wall even before they are old enough to 'tell time'.

Since kids need clocks, why not pick one that fits the theme of their bedroom or represents their favorite cartoon character, playtime buddy, hobby or animal. They will be more likely to 'keep track of time' if their clock represents something they can relate to.

This page has a selection of clocks that kids will really like. Browse through and find your child's favorite theme.

Superhero Wall Clocks

Superhero Spider Man... - A Clock for Kids Who Like SuperHeros!

This Spiderman Disney Marvel Red Wall Clock features a printed Spiderman face with two hand dial and a red casing. Your youngsters who like Superheros will enjoy having a clock on their bedroom wall that reminds them of their favorite superhero.

 

Cute Clocks for Girly Girls...

For your budding ballerina...

What little girl wouldn't love a cute wall clock featuring ballerina designs. This will look so sweet on a bedroom wall of your future ballerina!

This decorative “Ballerina Girl” wall clock has a wood-like colorful design of a ballerina girl. It measures 10 inches in diameter with easy-to-read large black Arabic numerals and hands. 

Wall Clocks Boys Like

Football Wall Clock for your Sports Fan

This is an America Football Themed Wall Clock with a 12” black dial and a sporty football motif. The clock has bold white printed numbers and a crystal-clear clock cover. In addition to being perfect for a young lad who likes football, this clock would also go well in that ‘man cave’ for the football fanatic dad! 

If your boy loves a different sport....

Football is a favorite, but there's a Wall Clock to be found on Amazon for lots of Sports. Just do a search for sports wall clocks and you'll find lots of choices in a multitude of sports.

Sports clocks are available for fans of football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf and more. Individual favorite NFL and MLB team clocks are listed. There are even clocks with the theme of particular college teams.

Whatever kind of sports fan you are, a clock can be found to show your team spirit.

Trains & Planes, Cars & Trucks

Little boys especially love 'Things that Go' - trains and planes, cars and trucks. Anything with wheels and an engine is of interest in the rough and tumble world of boys. A wall clock in a favorite transportation theme, will keep their attention long enough to see what 'time' it is. :)

This Steam Engine Train Wall Clock is 10" in diameter with a wooden MDF, UV printed design.

Summary

Learning Resources Big Time Teaching Clock

Kid time is fun time... as far as children are concerned. So when it comes time to teach them to "Tell Time", making it a fun game works best. The website page "Learn to Tell Time" helps children to learn to tell time in a fun, interactive learning experience.

This Learning Resources Teaching Clock is a great way to help kids grasp time-telling skills. The clock has hidden gears to maintain the correct hour and minute relationships. It has easy-to-read hour and minute markings.

Wall Clocks Safety Notes:

These featured wall clocks for kids are all 'cordless'.  One AA battery required (not included, unless otherwise stated).

*This guide to the best wall clocks for kids was originally published on November 9, 2014. While the original site is no longer active, Wednesday Elf has brought the best of that content here for you.

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Arbonne's 7-Day Fresh Start

Arbonne's 7-Day Fresh Start was developed as a way to support people who wanted to try intermittent fasting. 

I was very intrigued about trying two of the three products in the set - the Morning Matcha and the Golden Renewal Protein, but I really didn't think intermittent fasting would work for me & my lifestyle.

I decided to give it a go whilst I was on a break from both of my jobs. This meant starting my journey on December 31st 2025. 

Read on for my personal experience and my takeaways or go straight to the product and read up about it on the site - 7-Day Fresh Start.

Below is what a sample day on the 7-day fresh start should look like in Australia (in other markets there is a different probiotic supplement, but you take it at the same time as the bioticsticks).

Sample Day (Australia) on 7-Day Fresh Start

I decided that 10am -6pm as my eating window (which was the recommended one) wouldn't work the best for us so I used 11am - 7pm instead. 

I had all of my goodies ready to go, the 7-Day Fresh Start contains 3 products - Morning Matcha sachets, Golden Renewal Protein sachets and a probiotic supplement. The probiotic supplement available is different depending on the market, here in Australia we get the Biotic Sticks which I absolutely love. In the US they have OmniGut Daily Probiotic which isn't available for Australia and New Zealand.

Day One started with my Morning Matcha which I decided to made with boiling water because I have only tried a hot matcha  before. When I made this it smelt very strong and grassy. I was extremely nervous about tasting it as I've only had matcha as a matcha latte with either coconut, almond or oat milk previously. My nerves were totally unjustified as the matcha tasted great! 

I was starting to feel a little 'hangry' about half an hour before I was due to break my fast so I was over the moon when my alarm went off and I could enjoy the Golden Renewal Protein shake. I merely mixed the sachet with water and served it over some ice cubes - not a fan!

The shake gave me Chai vibes with the flavours, I enjoy a warm Chai for a cozy feeling so I'm wondering if it was simply because it was cold that I didn't like it. I do know that my taste buds thought it seemed a little harsh - lucky I was hungry!

The shake also didn't fill me up very much so I was very happy to get stuck into my lunch an hour and a half later. Lunch was a delicious leftover Christmas ham with a couple of different salads.

Another healthy meal for dinner which was supposed to be followed by my probiotic, but I forgot so took it just before bed instead.

Luckily, you can enjoy tea (no milk) while in your fasting window so I was able to enjoy my chamomile tea before bed.

Day 2 - I decided to enjoy an iced Matcha instead of a warm one - I didn't really enjoy it cold, I'm not sure if it's the taste or I have just been programmed over the years to have a hot drink in the mornings.

Mid-morning I had a Clean Tox tea which I enjoyed. I should note that you can have 1-2 Matcha's in the morning, I just enjoy my Clean Tox and it was allowed during fasting so that was my personal choice.

When it was time to enjoy my golden protein renewal shake I decided to add a few things to it as recommended by a friend.

I added the powder to water, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 tsp almond butter and some ice cubes. I blitzed it all up and I enjoyed it which was good. It was also more filling, which was a bonus.

On Day 3, my husband brought me in a cup of Arbonne's Clean Tox tea in the morning as he forgot I was having matcha in the morning. I enjoyed it and then had my matcha about 10am, by 10.30 I had a pit so I was very happy when 11 o'clock came around.

This time I made my shake with:

• almond milk
• Golden Renewal Protein powder
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 tsp almond butter
• 3 ice cubes

I blitzed this all up and decided that this was the best way to have the shake. It's the way I proceeded to have it for the remaining days.

On Day 4 I woke up and although I was up early and hadn't had as long in bed as the previous couple of nights I was feeling really energized. After checking my smart watch I saw that I had a really good deep sleep and REM sleep. I'm not sure if it was related to the 7-Day Fresh Start or not, but I was scoring in the 90s for my sleep quality from night 3 through until the end of the 7 days (I'm usually in the 80s as I don't always clock enough REM sleep).

We were out for the day so I had a matcha in the morning and made a travel mug of Clean Tox tea to take - usually we will go through a drive-thru for coffee on this trip was and as that was a no-no on the plan, I was hoping that this would keep me from missing my coffee. We also blended up the Golden Renewal protein shake and popped it in a cooler box in the car.

The clean tox tea really did the trick and I didn't even miss my coffee stop! I drank my protein shake in the car with the most amazing views as we were up in a mountain range looking out for miles.

When I woke up on Day 5 I noticed that I was feeling really slim - I hadn't realized that I'd been bloated before starting this program, but I was certainly noticing how un-bloated I was from Day 5 onwards.

My Results from the 7-Day Fresh Start

I lost 700g which wasn't a lot compared to what some people have lost, but I had eaten out a couple of times and didn't really worry about eating as well as I could have so I was impressed. I was sleeping better and, as I said previously, it removed some of my bloating. I also had more energy.

My Takeaways from the 7-Day Fresh Start

I don't think that intermittent fasting is for me (I work a couple of jobs and one of them starts quite early so I think I need to eat breakfast beforehand), but I can see why people rave about it.

What I have been doing and will continue to do is stop eating by 7pm every night

Want to try it for yourself? grab your 7-day fresh start set right here!

A note: the Morning Matcha box contains 30 serves of the matcha (which also contains MCT oil), so even if you had two a day instead of the 1 I had you would have servings left. 

I am enjoying them even though I've finished this program. I also think are even nicer with some almond milk as a latte and it's because of this product's popularity that you can now purchase it on it's own. Check out my shopfront and just search matcha.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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The Day I Started Questioning Time: A Journey That Began at Eight Years Old

 

I've Been Obsessed with Time Since I Was 8 Years Old

That sounds like a strange thing for an eight-year-old to say, doesn't it? But I remember it vividly. 

I was eight, my brother was six, and we were trying to let Mom sleep in. 

Our mornings were often filled with old Shirley Temple movies and wild imaginations. We'd turn a blanket into a "boat," grab canned goods from the kitchen, and pretend we were setting sail — sometimes to escape danger, sometimes just to explore.

One morning, standing in the hallway, I asked my brother a question that still echoes in my soul today:

"Why are you you and me me?"

He probably shrugged it off, eager to get back to our blanket boat, but that question never left me. Even at eight, I felt the weight of my own existence — this sense that "I" was something separate and conscious, and that somehow Time and existence were connected in ways I couldn't understand yet.

---

When Time Became a Fascination

As I got older, that awareness of Time grew into an obsession. 

Not the kind that makes you late for appointments or stare at clocks (though I've done both), but the kind that makes you wonder: what exactly is Time?

I became drawn to time travel movies and stories that twisted the rules of reality and blurred the boundaries between "then" and "now." They weren't just entertainment for me — they were portals into possibilities. I didn't separate the spiritual from the scientific; I was open to it all.

Can we move through Time? Are we souls who return again and again? Or are we simply fleeting passengers on a one-way track? I never dismissed any of it — God, aliens, reincarnation, time loops, you name it — because every theory felt like it was reaching for the same truth.

Now, as an adult, I believe our souls are timeless. The "me" I felt at eight still feels like the "me" I am today — wiser maybe, but still that same spark. 

The answer to "why are you you and me me?" has softened over the years into something beautifully simple: love and kindness are the only measures, Time is the vehicle. You are always you, and I am always me.

I've come to understand (for me) that we are always our spirit, always our consciousness, always us. It's never been a crap shoot, which is one of the things I felt at 8 years old, that I no longer feel at 65 years old.

No matter who we are, where we came from, or where we go, it's love and kindness that anchor us. When we step away from that, Time loses its purpose, the vehicle stalls — it just becomes noise in the background instead of a rhythm in our heart. The rhythm of growth NEEDS love, it NEEDS kindness. The rest IS noise that only slows our learning down.

---

Writing My First Poem About Time When I Was a Teenager in the 1970s

By seventeen, I could already feel Time slipping by. I remember taking the train from my small town to Toronto to visit a friend — about a three-and-a-half-hour ride. Somewhere along the way, watching the world blur past the window, I wrote a poem about Time.

It was the 1970s, and I was a teenager — but even then, I felt the strange ache of hours passing too quickly (crazy, I know! I was so young yet felt the ticking clock). 

Later, in my thirties, I rewrote that same poem, layering it with the wisdom and wear that life had given me. 

In my fifties, I revised it once more, adding even more perspective, as if each decade had given me a new lens through which to see Time.

If I am gifted more Time, will I revise the poem again? I think about that.

Below is that poem, one that has traveled with me for nearly 50 years now — a kind of map of how Time has shaped me.

TIME'S GIFT

Time heals
Promising closure
Shrinking scars like popping bubbles
As it prepares our gift
Time's benefaction is objectivity to our past
Building an awareness of yesteryears
Defogging our vision for truth
Generously donating our package of clarity

Time lies only to those
who misuse its precious moments,
Lines entrenched on our face
can devour redeemable blemishes
By gracefully accepting our package
healing eyes can widen to witness dissipating mist

Time promises blessed tomorrows
Let us put away our spinning wheels
plunge forward with our lesson
accept our bequest from Time, and yes!
We will have morning smiles

By Barbara Tremblay Cipak, Copyrighted

50 Years of Poetry - We Will Have Morning Smiles - Available on Amazon

Time Travel Movies and Timeless Lessons

It's fair to say I've seen nearly every time-travel movie ever made. 

I seek them out, not for the science fiction, but for the spiritual resonance they carry. There's something about them that feels true on multiple levels.

Many philosophers suggest that Time isn't linear — that everything, past and future, is happening all at once. Whether that's scientifically provable or not doesn't matter much to me. What matters is that it feels right.

The only real Time that exists is this moment — the present.

When I first read that idea, I couldn't quite grasp it. 

"What do you mean, only the present exists?" I'd think. We have memories, plans, regrets, and hopes — of course, Time is more than just the present.

But as I've aged, I've come to understand what it really means:
You can reflect on yesterday and plan for tomorrow, but you can only live in the present.

This very moment — writing these words, breathing this breath — is Time. Everything else is memory or imagination. 

It took years, but I FINALLY understand that at my core.

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When Time Stands Still

Living in the present doesn't mean ignoring the future or the past. It just means that you live fully in the moment you're in — even when that moment hurts.

Life has its seasons of chaos and heartbreak, but even in those times, I've learned that joy can still exist. It might be quieter, more fragile, but it's still there — tucked into laughter through tears, or a single kind gesture that reminds you that love never disappears, it just changes form.

That's where Time stands still — in those sacred, love-filled moments.

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Closing Thoughts: What Time Has Taught Me

If Time has taught me anything, it's that every second matters — not because we're racing against a clock, but because each moment is a chance to choose love over fear, kindness over indifference, and presence over distraction.

Maybe that's why I've always been obsessed with Time.

Because somewhere deep down, I knew it wasn't about minutes or hours —
It was about being alive in them.

Blessings, Love Barbara xxoo

P.S. I've written a flash fiction story about the concept of life, lessons learned, and ultimately Time and what matters available here on ReviewThisReviews - you can find it here.

A Video I Created at 60 Years Old, Sitting Quietly With My Mother

My mom passed away in 2021, and she will forever be a part of my every breath, in this life and beyond. This video remains my current reflection on what Time means to me, now that I am 65 years old.

If I were to revise my above poem, "Time’s Gift" again, I’d add the message from this video: that life’s lessons matter, yes, but it’s the love we share and receive that truly sustains us and moves us forward.

Dedication – With heartfelt appreciation to my fellow writers at ReviewThisReviews.com, and especially to Sylvestermouse and Margaret, whose friendship and creativity continue to light the way. Time has been my friend because you are in my life.

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