Timepieces, Glendale, Caiifornia
“The Clock”, a cleverly assembled film by video artist Christian Marclay, is a treat of movie and television scenes. A timepiece, synchronized to the exact time the viewer is watching, anchors each scene and montages of film clips fold into a seamless sequence over the course of this 24-hour film.
I watched part of the film on a recent visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Seated on a white comfy couch in the darkened theater, the insistent clock tick-tocks and dramatic music kept me hooked.
The formula: a clock followed by a reaction shot. Anxiety, fear, boredom, anticipation. The scene I can’t forget is a husband returning home unexpectedly, interrupting his young wife’s bedroom tryst with her lover. The tension mounts as disbelief turns to anger as the lovers try to cover themselves. And then, the husband slowly and methodically removes and doubles up his thick black belt in his hands. Yikes!
I wanted to stay for more of this compelling film but the time (what else?) was about to expire on my parking meter.
“The Clock” got me thinking about the passage of time. My mantra lately is “where does the time go?” It passes in the tiny moments — the necessary daily activities of living, the minutiae, the to-do lists, the celebrations of new life, the sad moments of decline and death, the things that keep our lives, our bodies, and our spirits going. Tick-tock.
Endless Time, Laguna Nursery
But there’s never enough time. When I was a teen, I often felt bored, like time was moving much too slow for the dreams I had and I wanted so badly to fast forward time. But now, tempus fugit. Time seems to speed up each year and the seasons repeat themselves in quicker and quicker succession. I want a way to “pause” time.
And then I remember “Wondrous Nature.” Nature — a place where time slows down to a joyous retreat for me.
I walked the beach in Laguna early one morning last week, scrunched the sand between my toes, let the ocean foam splash up on my white capris, breathed in the salty breeze, petted all the sandy dogs that passed my way and time faded away as surely as my footprints in the shifting sand.
Wonderful post! I saw Marclay’s mesmerizing film at MOMA several years ago as part of a retrospective of his work. So true what you’ve written about the passage of time. Walking in “wondrous nature” is a most beautiful way of appreciating each and every moment. As I was reading, I was reminded of the beautiful Judy Collins song, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes.” I’ll have to give it another listen.
Susan,
Probably my favorite post to date because you connect so fully with yourself and your experience on the beach. It brings up reverie, longings, your passion for life, your gratitude and your gift of compassion. Life is so fulfilling if we can be consciously aware of the rhythm that constantly surrounds us. We have to be still enough hear it and that can be the challenge. You captured it beautifully with your words.
Thank you for sharing.
This is a beautifully lyrical and thought-provoking post. I share your sense of how much more quickly time passes now than it did in my youth. Your words are a gentle reminder to focus on the present and savor each moment, because that is really all we have. I’m going to go hug my puppy now.
This posting was marvelous – never knew about that movie. It gave me the sense of time that I am now feeling and your walk on the beach illustrated slowing of time, but the tide wouldn’t wait in your time! In any case, we have so much more to contend with when we are older – so time does seem fast.
Sometimes we are in too big of a hurry to stop and look, pet a sweet dog, smell a flower, admire a sunset and just be.
Really enjoyed the time I spent reading this article. Would love to see the time movie, but Lark (puppy) can’t be left alone long enough for us to do that … Maybe later when she’s older & we have more time.
I relate to feeling like I never have enough time. But if I can take a logical view I know I’ve got as much as anyone else does, and I want to use it well.
We had a clock like the one on the left! There’s never enough time! With so many labor-saving devices, why are we busier than ever?
Thoughtful comments on time, precious time. This reflection helps me
think about how I prioritize my day and the “to-do list.”
The word ‘time’ is short. This reflection helps me focus on
valuing the time spent with family and friends.
This was great Susan. It took me “away” and brought some “peace for the moment”. One of my favorites!
Wow a 24 hour film, what a cool concept! I always feel like I could use just one more hour in each day to get everything done. Reminds me of an “I Love Lucy” episode when Ricky put her on a 24 hour time schedule. She explains to Ethel that it works pretty well because she added an extra hour to each day, works fine now, but by the end of the year she will be two weeks short! lol
Hi Susan. Beautifully written as usual. An excellent reminder that we choose how to spend our days and to choose wisely.
Beautiful and spot on. Time flew so fast when we were young and now? Yikes. I love the part about taking time to walk on the beach scrunching the sand between your toes. I have not done that for…years? Thanks for the reminder of how great that feels. I really must make the ‘time’ to do that. Too bad I can’t take my beloved cats. They understand time because they seem to be always in the present. And, I must run because it is ‘time’ to go to a raised-bed gardening class at CSUN. Thank you for your wonderful piece. It is good to have your contributions back!
Great entry Susan! I often note that since the kids were born, I lose track of time. Honestly, you could walk up to me and comment about being behind on your holiday shopping, and I would think — yeah, me too! (Even though it is only August!) The children have slipped me into a no-time-zone where we just enjoy each others company, they grow bigger, and time passes with without me knowing it! Thanks for the reminder to stop and take note!
Great, moving last line especially. And Joni Mitchell’s song comes to mind, a favorite, called “The Circle Game.” Here are the lyrics! love, Susan
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when you’re older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won’t be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There’ll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Songwriters
MITCHELL, JONI
Read more: Joni Mitchell – Circle Game Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Susan, what a lovely post about time and your connection to it through your life. It’s so good to hear from you. I feel time slipping by faster and faster, lately and I seem lose track of time when I am painting at my easel. But sometimes, that is a good thing! 🙂
Once again you have enticed me in to your great writing. This is a wonderful piece that kept me reading and wanting more. Where has the time gone?? Seems it was just yesterday we were kids in Galveston. Thank you for sharing your incredible talents.
Now, why does it seem like the trash pickup comes quicker each week/ Thursday I wonder?
For me your musings Bring to mind some old Twilight Zones. The Ironical “Time at last” with Burgess Merideth. And the even darker allegorical irony of Willoughby. “Last stop. –Where one can live life at its full measure!”