Stopping Time

There is a story by Robert Bloch called The Hellbound Train. In it a man sells his soul to the devil for a watch that can stop time. The idea being that when he finds himself at a moment of perfect contentment he can stop time and live that moment for eternity. Have you ever had that moment of perfect contentment when you'd stop time if you could?

I don't know if I have...perfect contentment seems a tall order to me...but I definitely have had many times where I just don't want time to progress. Sunday night panics for example. Every Sunday night I get panicky and wiggy because another work week greets me and I hate it so much. I'd probably sell my soul to make it not come. :)

I suppose there are some that come close...my first concert (Paul McCartney) was exquisite to my 13 year old heart. A few first kisses with some people were pretty great moments. (Ok I didn't mean that to sound like an orgy :) ) Some Fruvous/Peter Mulvey/Susan Werner/Melissa Ferrick show moments. And in retrospect...some moments with my dad. Because lately all I can remember is when he was sick. Bleh.

There was an episode of Angel that dealt with this, where a guy who became infatuated with this notion used the device to stop time when he was in bed with his girlfriend one last time (The girlfriend was going to break up with him afterwards).

I've had many moments of contentment where everything just seems right, but probably the most recent one came at FRFF during EFO's set. It's when I realized, "Hey, I'm at Falcon Ridge with all my friends, and Eddie From Ohio is on the main stage. "

In my modern fiction class a few weeks ago, my teacher was talking about a Japanese movie (I don't remember the name) in which people died, and their souls were given a few days to decide on their favorite moment in life. Once this was decided, that moment was filmed, and they lived in it forever. The people who actually filmed the moment were the souls who could not decide (at least not yet) which moment they wanted to live in for eternity.

The thing is (and about half the class, but not the teacher agreed with me), I think I'd rather be doing the filming than living one moment forever. The reason they are so special is because they are so rare. There are moments that I wish I could revisit (I could use a big group sing of the drinking song some days), but I can't say that I'd want to live there for all of time.

On the other hand, seeing the best moment in billions of people's lives sounds far too interesting to pass up.

(I should really find this movie and watch it for myself though)

That's a very good notion, I think it would be great to see all of these best moments in people's lives. Perhaps there's a TV show to be had here.

And there will be a Drinking Song sing-along soon enough, at Frucon VI. :)

hehe, I knew you'd know the title--

Thanks! :D

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmEFO

that is all ;)