How old is time?

You know that line “Tale as old as time?”

Have you ever wondered how old that tale really is? Like…how old is time? When did we first start measuring it? Thinking about it? Planning around it?

So really…when did it first start controlling our lives?

It might be around 1500 BC. According to Wikipedia, “An Egyptian device that dates to c. 1500 BC, similar in shape to a bent T-square, measured the passage of time from the shadow cast by its crossbar on a nonlinear rule.”

The most accurate ancient time-keeping tool was a water clock. But in order for it to work “round the clock” (a phrase that they would not understand for many centuries…) it required regular replenishing of the water for a continuous flow.

Imagine if we had to manually adjust the clocks we use to make sure time was being kept…I think without an alarm to remind us to replenish our clocks, a lot of us would never be anywhere on time.

After the water clock came the hourglass of sand.

Here’s the one I use.

Instead of sand, there’s leaves and shrubs and flowers growing up and into the…past? Future? Depends which way is flipped.

Here’s a doodle/photo image combo I made. The image is of Multnomah Falls, Oregon.

It was lush and green, but very hot. Especially for Oregon. And especially for that time of year.

See there it is again.

Time.

Dictating what we think is supposed to happen. Controlling our vacation choices. Defining our memories, our hopes, and dreams.

Sometimes we wish for it to slow down. Other times we wish for it to speed up.

But mostly we just want everything to be alright.

It makes me think of the song Timekeeper by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals.

Enjoy!