Splaine: Thinking about after me

"At sunrise, every soul is born again." ?  Muhammad Ali.

I thought that I would pass on to my friends something different with this week's column.  I'm calling it "Thinking About After Me" because someday, like everyone else, I won't see new sunrises, or the sunsets that always follow them.

What brought me to this thought?  Well, a few days ago on one of these warmish evenings, I sat on my deck as the final hour of sunlight began to fade. I had just finished working on my garden.

I got my coffee cup ? we'll say it was filled with coffee ? and while enjoying the breeze I looked upward toward the sky.  White puffy clouds that looked like ink blots ? a turtle being chased by an elephant with a donkey in pursuit ? were moving ever so slowly, pushed by the winds of the upper atmosphere.

There were some bugs flying around, including three or four bees lightly landing on flowers for a treat. Several birds were searching for their final snacks before they retired for the evening to wherever they call home for the night.  It's a marvel watching Mother Nature's gifts.  Amazing.

Then I saw some airplanes. Passenger jets coming from Europe fly over us on their way to East Coast destinations, and the setting sun reflects on them as they glimmer in the darkening sky.  No sound ? they're too high for that.

As I took another sip or two from my cup, I got to thinking some more.

I wondered how things will change in 100 years. How will people here after me see their world?  Those planes ? will they carry 2,000 passengers each?  Will they be powered by electric engines, or fueled by some mysterious anti-gravity technology?

How big will buildings be in my old hometown? Will the 5 and 6 story buildings of nowadays be twice, three times higher? Will the McIntyre building be standing?

As we keep abusing our planet, will the climate change and sea level rise that we cause erase much of our shoreline and Peirce Island, and soak Strawbery Banke and Market Square?

What will our kids be learning in school? What sports will be played? What will fashion be like in those days?  What will our televisions and computers or whatever they're called be like? How will Artificial Intelligence affect us?  Will we still have democracy? What will our power sources be? What will housing cost? Taxes?

What will our cars be like? How will we get around  ? will we have overhead trolleys or high speed maglev trains connecting us with other cities and towns?  What will we build on the Moon? Will we make it to Mars? Will aliens visit us and say hello?

In the decades to come, will we avoid the big war that we all fear? Will another pandemic wipe us out because we don't believe in science, or because science didn't catch it soon enough? Will a giant tidal wave caused by a large asteroid or undersea disturbance in the Atlantic hit our coast and splash Portsmouth all the way to Durham?

As the final minutes before sunset ticked on and the air got slightly cooler and birds chirped softly, I started only thinking good thoughts. Like how peaceful this moment was. How much I was thankful for one more day. How the vegetables and flowers in my garden were growing ever so little each hour. How I enjoyed getting together with a friend earlier that day.

And I thought of the happiness I have for the chance for another sunrise that would come after just a few short hours of darkness.  None of us is promised tomorrow, but an important part of living is to plan on it even if it doesn't come.

There will be amazing things happening after me.  After us. Many good things; some not so good.  All we can do while we're temporarily here is try to save as much of this planet Earth as we can for those who will enjoy their own tomorrows while they watch  their own sunsets.

Today's quote:  "Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn." ? -- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Next time:   Now Until January, 2025:  Get Ready For A Ride.

Variously since 1969, Jim Splaine has been New Hampshire state senator for six years, representative for 24 years, Police Commission and School Board member, Portsmouth assistant mayor for 12 years and city councilor for 18 years.  He can be reached at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Thinking about after me