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History:
I remember when I got this present from Trudy. Her comment was that once she saw it, she knew that it was a perfect gift for Frank. I suppose that it does. I've always had a fondness for black and white furnishings… And maybe a bit of an obsession with time. I remember in high school setting my wristwatch to precisely the second in which the bell rang.First, this is a present from my friend Trudy, and thus it will always serve to remind me of her and our friendship. She and I have known each other for nearly nine years now. I remember she worked across the hall back about six buildings ago. We were working in the same group back then both as test engineers. I was the latest rookie full-time employees. She was one of the number of interns who worked there for the summer. I've kept in touch with many of my friends from back then and see or talk to many of them regularly.
She introduced me to a number of folks who have become very dear to me. Among them, my little brother Lucas and his mom, Dalia. Spending time with Lucas has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I started spending time with him when he was twelve; it's hard to believe that he's graduating high school in just a few weeks. I don't get to talk to him very often anymore, we're both too busy with our lives. I miss him.
Of course, Trudy was right. The clock was a perfect gift. It is black and white. Not only do the colors themselves appeal to me, it exudes a Yin-Yang-ish quality. If I believe in any philosophy it would probably me something like this. The idea that there's good and evil in each of us appeals to me. I don't believe in the struggle to expel evil from the self, I believe in the struggle to find balance between the two entities.
As for its use as a time piece, it serves its purpose. I remember early in my school years when they taught us to read an analog clock. I'm not sure if they still teach this in school since there are so many digital displays for time these days. I learned it rather quickly, as I learned most of my mathematics. Yes, the fact that it is an analog clock appeals to me, but more so is the fact that it runs counterclockwise.
I love that!It satisfies my sense of impropriety. Let's throw convention out the window! It requires anyone looking at it to think about how to read it. We have gotten so accustomed to reading clocks that we have forgotten the thought process behind it all… much like the way we approach driving. We don't think about it we just do it. However, to think about what we do every once in a while is healthy. To get caught off guard, means that we have to rely on our minds, not just our reflexes.
If you look at it closely, the numbers are not only arranged backwards, they are also printed backwards. The word Quartz even appears across the face of the clock, backwards of course.
More so than anything, it also helps to keep me on my toes. Reading times like 3:00 or 9:00 are trivial of course. However, there's been a number of times when I've gotten the times 5:30 and 6:30 confused. Yet, it stays right where it is. It sits next to my monitor at work and it is the clock at look at most frequently.
Another problem that arises is that I've gotten used to reading this clock. A little too used to reading this clock. To the point where reading regular clockwise clocks sometimes seem weird. I occasionally have to do a double take when I read instructions to turn something clockwise or counterclockwise. It satisfies my sense of twistedness.
I'm sure I'll have this clock for years to come. It will serve to remind me of the twisted person I am and of the dear friend that gave it to me.
Thanks, Trudy!
Back to Material Possessions.
May 15, 2000