Grand Canyon, 1923
The Grand Canyon is one of the most widely sought after tourist destinations in all of 20th and 21st century America. A bit after you all die, a natural disaster of cataclysmic magnitude destroys much of the enchantment of this great wonder of the ancient world. In my time, the canyon is no longer a vast, mesmerizing natural beauty. I won’t go into much detail, but what’s left is merely a sorrowful remnant of what once was.
Because of this, it’s estimated that nearly 25% of all tourists of the Grand Canyon in the 20th and 21st centuries are distant time travelers from the future.
I chose to visit the site in one of the least congested decades, the 1920s.
Sifting through archival records of my family, I was able to find a date that one of my ancestors visited the Canyon.
To see where you come from is an incredible curiosity. When I befriended this distant Davidson relative, I was able to see generations deep into my genetic and mental make up. I always wondered if habits, thought patterns, and even dreams are passed down to offspring the same way that eye color physical form are…
Although I was far removed from this Davidson, it was interesting, nonetheless, to spend a day with this peculiar man from 20th century Pennsylvania.
The way he walked reminded me vaguely of my father. I observed him walking along for a few minutes before I realized I should probably approach him casually before I was discovered.
Despite the striking nature around, this man was engrossed in thought. I don’t think his sense of sight was registering objects as more than shadowy borders funneling his steps. To be so steeped inwardly is something that I know too well.
I simply walked beside him and asked where he was from. We walked for hours and shared many intimate details from our lives. Somehow the landscape induced a conversation that immediately skipped the surface and settled straight away in the deep waters.
As time went by, the knots in my mind were pulled one string at a time and the threads unfurled, revealing a great sense of space. I could see the same was true for my new friend. At the end of our encounter, we sat in silence, gazing out at the vast expanse before us and without formality, we went our separate ways.
I will continue to follow the story of this Davidson’s life with great interest.
Leave a Reply