Create a Family Time Capsule

Certain sights, sounds, and smells often evoke feelings of nostalgia. For me, commonplace things like a cup of tea with milk and sugar and the sound of a whip-poor-will bring memories of long summer days spent at my grandparent's cabin on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. The strains of big band music remind me of fun nights with my mom and dad as they taught me to swing and jitterbug.

Our minds are awash with wonderful memories from our pasts. It amazes me sometimes how much I remember and how much more I have forgotten.

Watching as my children grow reminds me of how fast time passes. As I look back through photographs of my kids, I wonder what they will remember when they are adults.

Jim Croce once wrote a song about saving time in a bottle. Although we can't actually save time, we can save tokens of time by creating a time capsule. We can then give these tidbits of the past to our children when they are grown.

You can purchase time capsule kits at some specialty stores but I prefer to make my own. The first thing you need is the capsule itself. It needs to be a durable container that will survive intact over several years.

A large gourmet popcorn tin works very well. You can eat the popcorn as you forage for time capsule contents.

The first things to put into the tin is a current newspaper. You can also send for back issues if you want a specific date such as a child's birthday. Add recent sports and fashion magazines. A television-listing guide is also good.

Next, you need current pictures of your family. Make sure to include friends and pets. Add to that a picture of your home, inside and out.

Don't forget personal items such as your children's artwork or school papers. Other great things are current comic books or collectible items.

Maybe you will want to toss in a video or audio recording of yourself or your children. Just think of the fun you could have recording a message for the future.

Once you get your capsule filled, you need to finish its contents with a personal letter. In it, you should detail a day in your life, your favorite music, movies, television shows, and other information. Place the letter directly on top. Now it is time to seal the tin.

Tape around the lid of the tin with some clear packaging tape. With a permanent magic marker, write the date you sealed it. Next, you need to write the "Do Not Open Until [fill in the blank]" line. The blank can be filled in with a specific date or an event such as a birthday, graduation, or wedding.

You may also want to add to the time capsule yearly adding an item or two a year to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries or other celebrations. Review the tin's contents each year or wait until a far off date down the road.Be sure to store your time capsule in a cool dry place so the contents won't get damaged. Then, on the chosen date, open it together as a family to make another great memory.