Time Capsule
What is the time capsule?
On this page are all the little bits of advice and thoughts from people who wanted to contribute to Dear Cyrus. These posts were sometimes requested, and others were received unexpectedly. We thought that they would be important for you, Cyrus, for when you get older.
So. Here they are.
From Mitchell Peterson
Sunday, November 27, 2011
3:00 AM
My dear, my very dear Cyrus;
You don’t know me. We haven’t been properly introduced. To tell you the truth, at the writing of this, I don’t think you have been properly introduced to anyone just yet- but I am guessing that, that is about to change.
So, let me introduce myself: I am Mitchell L. Peterson, and I am you father’s uncle. I’m not quite sure what that makes me to you, or you to me… great uncle, second cousin, I don’t know. I love your Dad. That is enough to qualify me, and besides, by the time you’re old enough to read and/or comprehend this, I’ll either be dead or so senile that I might as well be dead, so I better get this out and on paper while I still have enough functioning brain cells left.
You father put out a request for those of us who know him and your Mom, to write a few words of advice to you before you were born- a kind of time capsule that all of you could look back on in the years to come and be inspired, or tickled, depending on the cleverness of the remarks. And I thought on this for a long time. I thought I might like to try and be clever. I thought maybe I might make a joke, or a sideways mention that would leave everyone giggling in the aisles twenty years hence, but I couldn’t really think of anything that smart to say.
Then, I thought I might make a few serious comments- you know- leave everyone crying in the aisles, but I’m not really smart enough for that either. Then, I thought I might offer you some practical sage wisdom and advice… you know, plant by the moon and a watched pot and ‘i’ before ‘e’ well, you get the idea, but school and your Mom and Dad are going to teach you all of that stuff. What they don’t finally get to, life will busy itself with teaching you, and there is no better teacher than life.
Some of the lessons will be fun and some won’t. That’s life.
So, I was kind of stuck. What did I have to say, to tell you that was worth hearing? What secret, if there are any left, could I tell you, that twenty years from now would still mean something, would still be important?
I know lots of secrets. For instance, I could tell you the secret to a good day’s work, but you need to learn that one for yourself, if only to know how to work well. I could tell you the secret to making the double-play tag and throw to first from second base, but come to think of it, you need to learn that one on your own too, if only to know the thrill of winning. Okay- I know the secret combination to a little safe in Wichita… I maybe ought to keep that one to myself as well, if for no other reason than to eliminate you as an accessory after the fact. I know a lot of secrets, or did I already say that? Okay, so most of the secrets I know are not appropriate, for one reason or another, for this forum. But there is one secret that I can share with you, that you should both learn on your own, and know ahead of time.
Love is the only thing that lasts.
Simple isn’t it? Well, not really…
Love is simple, but it isn’t. Love is complicated, but not. Love lasts and lasts and lasts, but fades very quickly if not attended. Love never dies- even if you want it to. Love is gentle and kind, and hurts like hell. Love is harsh and cruel, and will comfort you when nothing else will. Love will make you wish you were dead, and it will rescue you from harm.
Love is the only thing that lasts.
Learn that and live well.
With all my love,
M.
From Danielle Marshall
Dear Cyrus,
Please believe me when I say as an outside observer, your parents love each other as deeply as any two people could. Your future looks very bright! With words of wisdom like these that your dad writes, I know you too will have a life filled with love and an example of what a loving marriage looks like.
You are one very lucky little man =)
~DanielleDear Cyrus,
I’ve known your dad since high school (yes that was so long ago!) and I have to say what a pleasure it is as a parent of two kiddos to watch someone fall in love with their child through out the pregnancy process. While you are in your mommy’s tummy there are so many people waiting to meet you and already just head over heels in love with you. What you and your mommy went through in the car accident was a scary moment (and one we can relate to since my little Noah and I also were in a car accident while he was still nestled in the womb) but it also brought forth so many kind words and caring voices of concern and love for you, your mommy and daddy. You have a lovely family waiting for you when you come out into the world. I so look forward to seeing you and watching you grow =)
Lots of love!
Danielle