Posterity

A mini-blog/reflective journal, from a self-confessed air-head.

Posterity

I've always wondered what I'd be able to leave behind me for posterity.

As a child, I'd fantasies that I'd somehow save the whole world.  At about age 7 or so I found a little clay 'talisman' at a flea market which I believed was magic and it was going to power my world-saving endeavour in some mystical way.  I still have it, to this day.

As a teen I fantasised that I was going to become a world famous author and live a life of luxury off the proceeds of my series of best-selling fantasy novels.  Actually, I was convinced of it.

I loved to lose myself in the fantasy fiction of the likes of CS Lewis and Tolkien, then later also Stephen Donaldson, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E Feist and Guy Gavreil Kay.

When I tried my hand at writing fiction back then, I did seem to have a knack for it; at least I believe I did.  I even wrote probably as much as 3 or so chapters on more than one occasion in my later teens/early twenties.  Sadly, they were all written using the old computers of various ex-boyfriends and have therefore long since been lost in the break ups.

Even sadder still, I don't think I have the knack any longer.  The last fiction I wrote was 3 chapters of a fan fiction, which I was admittedly very pleased with, in style. But I've not been able to come up with more ideas to carry on with it even if I could find the time, energy and impulse.  And, no offense to other fanfic writers, I'm not of the opinion that this genre (if that's the correct word) is a serious one, personally.  I'm aware the Fifty Shades series probably made the author a good amount of money, but I feel that was very much a fluke.

I've also entertained visions of publishing a best-selling coffee table book of photography.  But realistically I'd need to win the lotto first in order to fund the equipment and retraining, and to have enough time to be a photographer!

❔ So, with those 'prospects' behind me, what route is left for me to leave behind any sort of legacy to posterity?

Well, this blog is a little bit of posterity I hope, as I keep hearing that when you put something out on the interwebs it's out there forever.  In fact I'm feeling rather like my last post, on Nature and my role in reversing climate change, along with the associated list of suggested actions, is likely bit of a magnum opus.  I'm rather pleased with it -- please go check it out, if you haven't already!

I was feeling flush at the end of last month (having received some rare overtime pay from hours worked during the rollout of phase 1 of Covid-19 vaccination programs, locally).  So, I thought of naming a star, in case all else fails (and one for my husband).

However, just a little research revealed (as I should've known) that naming a star companies are just gimmicky novelty gifts services, with no real meaning (as the International Astronomical Union doesn't recognise those star names).

🌹 I heard you can name a rose, but I surmise that this might well be the same as naming a star.

I heard about this scheme where you can volunteer to 'adopt' a grave (in London) and see to it's upkeep.  But how to ensure someone 'adopts' yours after you and your relatives are gone, if you're not wealthy enough to leave a financial legacy to see that it happens?  Their website also features a build a legacy section, but the site seems very infrequently updated so I fear it could be one which is set to peter out, ultimately.

❔ So, what can I do?  Divorce my husband, marry a very rich older man and use his money to finance my new career as a fiction writer/famous photographer?!  (I've promised I'll keep my hubby on as a bit on the side!)

As someone with a belief in reincarnation, perhaps I shouldn't worry about this -- but my belief in reincarnation is rather specific, having to do with the fact that everything's made up of energy.  So it doesn't necessarily provide quite the level of comfort I'm looking for, here.  (I may post about it, for R, if I can articulate the concepts sufficiently well (but don't hold your breath).)

As a nature lover (and someone concerned about climate change), I should definitely plant some trees, &/or dedicate some woodland/a grove to someone.  (In fact, since writing this paragraph I paid for one, in Sylvan Wood in Yorkshire -- see below.)  But what else?

Please, if you've any suggestions for me, let me know in the comments.  (But you should know I'm a pacifist, so absolutely no suggestions of assassinations of political figures, or the like -- tempting to fling milkshake at one, however.  I'll refrain, though, as that's still assault and I'm basically law-abiding.  And besides, it's wasteful.)

I don't want to spout an overused acronym which rhymes (sort of) with yoyo.  But, after Covid-19 and locked-down 2020-21, I figure you don't always know how short life could potentially be.

Photo credits (all images from Unsplash other than yoyo, which was www.freepik.com, by brgfx):

Plaque by Michael Jovic; pendant by Monica Saavedra; typewriter by RetroSupply; books by Laura Kapfer; ? trees by Evan Dennis; camera by Tiard Schulz; laptop by Anete Lūsiņa; starry sky by Phil Botha; emoji by Markus Winkler; scenic cemetery by Madeleine Maguire; recycle symbol by Sigmund; sapling by Austin D; milkshake by Sandie Clarke; yoyo by brgfx; scrabble tiles by Brett Jorgan; benches by Yukitaka Iha, Yan L and Seema Bansal respectively.

Tree dedication certificate: from Make It Wild.

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