A week or so ago we spent some time in our friend’s outdoor hot tub. It was cold and snowing but being in that hot, churning water was surprisingly pleasant. Of course we joked about it being a time machine and that got me thinking — if this hot tub was, indeed, a time machine, where would I want to go? And just like that a Ten on Tuesday topic was born. Presenting: 10 Time Periods I Would Want to Visit If I Had A Hot Tub Time Machine.
- The North during the Civil War. I’m not a reenactor for nothing, you know.
- The South in the years prior to the Civil War. While I think slavery is abhorrent I do think it would be kind of cool to experience life on a plantation and attend a barbecue. I’m thinking Scarlet at 12 Oaks before the war broke out. And then before I left I’d free all the slaves.
- Boston in the days leading up to the Revolutionary War. It was such an exciting time and Boston would be the place to be.
- Scotland in the 1700s. I’d be looking for Jamie Fraser, you can bet on that.
- England during World War II. It was a scary place, it honestly must have been terrifying to be there, but I’d want to experience it so long as my time machine was working well enough to get me out at the first hint of real danger.
- San Francisco in the 1960s. I’d be wearing flowers in my hair.
- Paris in the 1920s. So much art and culture between WWI and WWII.
- England during the 19th century. And I would hang around with Austen and Dickens and the Brontes. And I would love it.
- American in the 1950s. I would like to be, for about 5 minutes probably, a typical housewife of that time. It’s how my mom lived and I’d just like the chance to experience that first hand.
- Finally, on a completely sentimental note, I’d want to go back to September, 1992. Hannah was an infant and this time around I would do my best to slow down time and savor every moment.
So, what about you? Where would you go if you had a hot tub time machine? If you wrote a post for today please click the button below to add your link. If you’d like to subscribe to the weekly Ten on Tuesday email, please click here.
I love your choices! A time machine would have to have a built-in bathroom for me to go any farther back in time than indoor plumbing and flush toilets! I’d love to live in a place like Downton Abbey in its heyday. As one of the upstairs people, natch!
What an excellent list, Carole! I’d be hanging out in a few places with you . . . you know, when my own Hot Tub Time Machine takes me there.
Your #10 is what I’d also be doing – revisiting my sons’ childhoods. I think I’d also like to go back to 1904 and spend some time with my grandmother as a child. Be careful during all your war time time machine visits!
I’d like to go back to when Dan was 2 and 3 – I have so little memory of that time! Great list and subject today Carole!
A hot tub time machine? What a cool way to travel!
Love your list and boy, #10 really hits home, as I bet it would for ANY mom… I didn’t realize our daughters were the same age – Grace, my one-and-only, was born August of ’92.
Your love of history really shines through here.
I completely agree with you on your list. Wonder if we’d make a difference like Claire does if we could take some of our knowledge back with us.
Your list is such a mixture of history and personal times. I would go back to my freshman year of college. Like you WWii continues to fascinate me and I would like to be all over the world just to know the people and how they were living.
Oh, what an interesting topic. #3 – There used to be a children’s book series about twins in various historic times. I loved the one about Revolutionary times when the little girl did heroic things and wore a cape and mob cap. American Girl did a doll from that period with all the great clothes and furniture. #4 – Jamie Fraser!!!!! I could do without the corset and the beating, though. #6 – I was around for the 60’s and early 70’s, and they were great times. The music, the clothes, the freedom, the political involvement. And Boston was a pretty cool place to be. I would add to your list maybe London in the late 60’s – Carnaby St.!
I remember when I was a kid reading the Little House books… how badly I wished I could go back in time and experience life as a pioneer. Even as an adult, that’s where it’s at for me.
As for your #10. I know where you’re at and I think that most mothers do! That’s what grandchildren are for… though mine’s only 13.5 months old and I already wish the same about him.
Love your list. I would do many of the same things!
I loved this prompt. Although I chose more personal times to go back to than I thought I would.
Definitely Havana, Cuba in the1920s & Florida in the 1890s; maybe Egypt in the 1930s? Warm places, all of them!
I would love to visit those past times like the ghosts in A Christmas Carol – just to see and hear, but not to have to lace up in corsets or use the chamber pot
But I’m all about revisiting those early Momma years with a slow motion camera. I can’t believe how much I’ve forgotten!
Definitely Boston in the time leading up to the Revolutionary War … Salem in the 1690’s, terrifying I’m sure, but so fascinating as the witch trials swept the area … California in the 70’s to experience the flower child thing … Dallas in November 1963 … the Wild Wild West in the 1860’s – and I’d be looking around for Will Smith, ahem … Rome in the early 1500’s to see Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel … so many times and places that are fascinating, but those top my list!
What a cute idea…time travel in a hot tub…were you drinking a little wine by any chance? 😉 Clever idea anyway!