I’m not a big one for the idea of time travel. Don’t get me wrong, I love history and the future intrigues me. But one step wrong in the past and I might not be around for the future. Am I right? And going into the future, I might learn a few things I wish I hadn’t found out. It would be very hard to live in the moment if you knew what the next moment was going to bring. Nope. Not in favor of time travel.
But…
If I could travel, I’d set the Time Machine for 1781, Yorktown, Virginia. Yes, all the glory for the American strike for freedom is given to Philadelphia and the writers/signers of the Declaration of Independence, but the final battle of the war and the surrender, took place in Yorktown.
Mind you, I’d stay in the Time Machine because that area of Virginia, run
through with rivers and near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, was rife with malaria. In fact, malaria did as good a job fighting for the new country of America as the soldiers. Half of the British army had been struck down with the disease, whereas the American army, having mostly grown up in the region, had immunity. I would love to see the surrender of General Cornwallis to General Washington, and to feel the enormity of our accomplishment. A small, upstart country with a generally ragtag army of farmers, had beaten the premier nation in the world. We had beaten the King.
In current time, I’ve walked the battlements of Yorktown. I saw where the cannon were placed, where our forces and the French bombarded the British, and where the Brits fought back gallantly but without success. I could imagine the cannon fire being heard in nearby Williamsburg, and I’ve walked those streets, too. That part of Virginia is filled with history, and you can’t help but feel it as you stroll the cobblestones of Duke of Gloucester Street or stand on the battlements facing the York River.
For better or worse, that’s as close as I will get to the actual battle and surrender. I’m glad it happened, glad we won our freedom, and glad that so much of the history is preserved for current and future generations to experience, if only a little bit.
I’m looking a little sheepish here, because I have to be true to myself. Battles, schmattles, let’s not forget that happiest of places in our tour of history, the gift shop! And that’s all I’m gonna say.
Read the next blog in the blog hop by going here.
Dee
Mystic Desire: A collection of supernatural tales sure to keep you up at night, peering into the shadows! Or just wide awake, reading!
Only a Good Man Will Do
Naval Maneuvers
Dee:
I love the blog. I’m with you on not being keen on time travel. I’ve seen too many Dr. Who shows that make it look like a big mistake. Lol. I can’t wait to read your story.
Callie
I so agree with you Dee! I’d never go back in time before the 2oth century, I value modern drugs and dentistry too much! But I love writing about time travel. My story The Sweetest Magic of All in the Mystic Desire anthology is about a witch and a warlock who travel back in time to the 17th century!
If I could travel back in time I’d probably go to Ancient Rome. I find everything about Ancient Rome fascinating, even if it was a brutal time in history.
I’d actually love to go back in time to experience the medieval times. Walk around the ancient castles. Of course I like the idea of running water and flushing toilets, but that time period almost has a mystic type feel.
I like your idea of staying inside the time machine–because once you step out, you could indeed alter events.
The closest I want to get to that kind of history is an historical reenactment. There’s one going on this weekend, The Fair at New Boston. I used to take my children as a way to make history come alive for them and, one hoped, to appreciate everything they now had. I can’t say I was entirely successful. The kids went for the turkey legs, shrewsbury cakes, and ham and beans cooked in an iron kettle.
Holly, that’s so funny! You never know what adults remember from when they were kid, though hey might have gotten more from the experience than you thought.
I agree about the near future. I’d have to travel far past my own future so I wouldn’t stumble upon any information about it. Time travel wouldn’t be for me.