The Time Capsule - A New Decade

What better time is there to start a new tradition; one that will bring together memories and the importance of family? A time capsule is something that will draw a family together whether it is opened in one year, ten years or twenty years.

In 2000, which was not only the beginning of a new year, a new decade but a new century, I started my time capsule by writing each of my children a letter and those grandchildren who had already made their appearance in our family. My mother also wrote letters to each of the family members. These will be particularly special because she is now 89 years old. At the beginning of another new year and decade, I am writing a second letter to each of my children and grandchildchildren which will now include the newest members of our fast-growing family.

Included also will be the annual Christmas letters that have been sent to friends over most of the past ten years. These letters tell much of what happens each year within the family. I will also include the annual family newsletter and current pictures of each family member. Over the year we also have many family occasions which include birthday celebrations, births, baby showers, graduations, our Christmas Eve celebration and Christmas Day. As well, we will add special personal items that are significant to each family member such as any business cards or announcements, etc. Included also would be the recipe for the Rolladen dish we have every Christmas Eve. Other family members have their own special dishes that are brought to family occasions and those recipes could be included also. Miscellaneous items that could also be included are possibly a sports day ribbon, report cards or whatever else that will tell a story of the family when the capsule is opened. Family members can contribute their own letters or whatever else they want to add to the time capsule as well.

A time capsule can be done not only for a family group, but special friends, a class of school children, grandparents for their grandchildren or to be put away for future generations to be opened twenty, thirty or fifty years in the future.

It is recommended that time capsules not be buried because of their exposure to the elements and the possibility of them being lost or forgotten. The contents of my time capsule have been placed in a large tin box which is kept on a shelf in one of my closets. There is a note attached to the outside explaining what it is and the proposed date for looking at the contents. We have decided on the new year of 2020.

A time capsule is not only something that reinforces the meaning of family or friend groups but is a fun project to do as well. It gives families a chance to work together on a joint project too.