Summary

The author revisits a time capsule they created in 1993 as a twelve-year-old, reflecting on the contents and the nostalgia they evoke.

Abstract

The article recounts the author's experience opening a time capsule they had sealed 30 years prior, in 1993. The capsule, a makeshift container crafted from soda bottles and adorned with a youthful "rave on" inscription, contained a variety of personal items and mementos from the author's childhood. These included a troll pencil topper, a teacher interview, a bus ticket, a list of personal facts, a BP Options Voucher, an autobiographical essay, a floppy disc with games, a cassette of favorite songs, an autograph book, a map of Scotland, a newspaper, the penultimate issue of Jackie magazine, and a family tree. The author reflects on the changes in their life, the evolution of technology, and the sentimental value of the items, providing a humorous and poignant look at personal growth and the passage of time.

Opinions

The author finds humor in their younger self's interests and the items they deemed important to preserve.
There is a sense of nostalgia and fondness for the past, particularly when reflecting on the autograph book and the possibility of classmates' future fame.
The author expresses surprise at some of the items they had included, such as the BP Options Voucher, which was irrelevant to them as a twelve-year-old.
The discovery of the teacher's less-than-enthusiastic response to the class in the interview is met with amusement.
The author reflects on their childhood aspirations with a mix of humor and slight disappointment, noting their unfulfilled goal to master ten languages and the unexpected name choices for future children.
The inclusion of outdated technology like a floppy disc and cassette tapes prompts a reflection on the rapid pace of technological change.
The author is emotionally moved by the signatures of their grandparents in the autograph book, highlighting the emotional impact of the time capsule's contents.
There is an acknowledgment of life's unpredictability and the personal and familial changes that have occurred over the three decades since the capsule was sealed.
The author teases the excitement of opening another time capsule from 2003, hinting at more stories and reflections to come.

I Opened A Time Capsule From 1993 — Here’s What I Found

Some of it was really funny!

On 27th June 1993 I closed a time capsule for an English class project. I was twelve years old at the time, so I couldn’t possibly imagine some of the things that were going to happen in the 30 years that followed. The capsule consisted of two empty 2 litre soda bottles with the bottoms cut off and stuck together to make a long tube. Then it was covered with papier mache and painted with that messy poster paint that they use in schools that turns to powder when it’s dry. On the side I had written “rave on” and my maiden name signed underneath. Hilarious since I was twelve and I’d never been to a rave in my life.

When I re-opened it, some of the things didn’t surprise me much. I remembered quite a few of the items I put in there, but others were quite random and a total shock. Here’s what I found.

A troll pencil topper

I collected trolls around this time and believed I always would. I remember putting this little guy in, feeling quite sad because I wouldn’t see him again for a really long time.

A teacher interview

The teacher was an exchange teacher from Indiana in the USA. One of our teachers went to Australia. I think they rotated so there weren’t teachers in the program doing direct swaps. She made us interview her and put it in the time capsule. One of the questions was “Do you like Class 2B?” which was our class and she passed on that! How rude. I wonder where she is now…

A bus ticket from Western Buses

They no longer exist. Apparently it cost me £1.20 to go to Melville Street. I’m sure that’s at least four times cheaper than what it costs now.

A list of facts about me

Apparently I was only 140cms tall then and weighed 35kg. My shoe size is the same though.

A BP Options Voucher

Again, I was 12 years old. I couldn’t drive. Not sure why I included this.

My autobiography

It took up three pages of A4 paper (one side only, climate change wasn’t a big deal then) where I wrote my hopes for the future. I wanted to become a translator and speak ten languages. I’m still trying to master a second! I also wanted to be married with two children. The names I wanted for girls were Ariola (somebody should have told me) and Marijne…?! For boys, I had chosen David and Dwayne. David I could understand because it’s my Dad’s name so obviously named after him but I have no recollection of wanting to have a child and name him Dwayne. The one child I actually gave birth to is named Luke.

A floppy disc with some of my favourite games on it

Including Kid GP, Baby Jo and Duck Dash Invaders. A boy in my class told me it was pointless putting that in because nobody would be using Ataris in the future. I dismissed him and said, “Well, somebody somewhere will have one.” I truly believe that somebody somewhere does but I don’t know that person.

A cassette with my favourite songs on it

Including The Shamen’s Ebeneezer Goode, 2 Unlimited’s Tribal Dance, East 17’s Deep and Ravin I’m Ravin by Shut Up and Dance. I don’t remember being such a little techno fan, but clearly I was.

An Autograph Book with my friends’ signatures in it

The idea was that one of them might be famous one day, so this could be worth something. In all honesty, since I’m a writer and I’ve had a number one book (for an hour on the Amazon charts back in 2012), I think I might actually be the most famous person in my class. I’m a little shocked at that. Interestingly my teacher signed it and said, “Good luck.” It’s almost as if she knew life was hard but didn’t want to crush my dreams. Someone just wrote “Monkey” instead of their name. I’ll have to put a question about that out on Facebook to see if it was a nickname for someone I don’t remember. Two of my grandparents signed it too, which hit me hard. I don’t have any grandparents left now.

A map of Scotland

I had marked out the places I had been. There weren’t that many.

A newspaper from 21st June 1993

The headline was “Nuclear Alert Over Sub Leak” and the paper was giving away a free loaf of bread to all readers. The paper cost 27p.

The penultimate issue of Jackie magazine

I used to read that. I wanted to put the last issue in, but the time capsules were being closed a week before it came out. The magazine featured a Take That poster on the back, tips on how to flirt (I obviously never read this) and a girl on the front wearing a ribbon round her neck and a very 90s hairstyle.

A family tree

It’s funny to see all the gaps where cousins and their children have been born since then, not to mention divorces that have happened, people passing away, people who have married into the family and long-lost children of my uncles who have come out of the blue and taken up little spaces in the tree. And of course, my son, nephew and niece. I also include my step-children and their kids in my family tree now. They’re family too, even if not by blood.

Ten years after I closed this, I did another time capsule and put in a bunch of stuff from 2003. I’m just as excited about opening that one because I know that as a woman of 22 years at that point, there’s bound to be some interesting things in the capsule!

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