The World of the Future

Our last weekend was full of surprises. Nothing was as we expected. Peter and I felt so overcome that I had to tell you about it.

We had planned a simple birthday BBQ for 2 of our adult children on Saturday. As the 14 guests arrived, they pleaded to sit outside. After working inside all week, they craved sun and fresh air. We set up the chairs and tables and gathered around. The young kids left for the local pool with their towels and adult supervision. It was a lovely summer day. Everything seemed normal.

As the meat browned, the corn boiled and the salad was ready to toss, the clouds gathered. Then thunder rumbled, and a life guard whistle sent the kids home. The rain pelted down. Everyone grabbed chairs and snacks and hauled it all downstairs to our “banquet hall” aka the basement. During all the rush, not a single person mentioned the climate change we are living through.

After dinner Agnes, age 13, announced that she had something to show us. She quickly walked us through her power point presentation about a new pet she wanted – not a puppy or even a hamster. No, it was a little gecko. It had huge eyes and a friendly personality, according to the research. (Really? There is such detailed research on geckos?) It was also expensive and needed food and a special cage.

Ahaa! this was not a show – it was a family fundraising campaign! And Agnes had incentives! For $5 a donor got 2 homemade cookies in their own special baggie. For $10 donors got a hand-made bracelet. And, for the donor of the night, the relative who made the biggest contribution, there were naming rights. The gecko was already named August, but it (they?) did not have a middle name. The bidding started. Even though she may have to deal with tariffs and other world financial instability, Agnes has a bright financial future ahead.

There was a flurry of activity as people found wallets and signed pledges. This led to the party moving upstairs into the living room where dessert and birthday gifts were the next part of the event. As Daniel was opening some unexpected gifts of hair products, the focus shifted from geckos to Daniel’s hair. What or who had created his new Afro-style look? The question sent people to their phones and an AI app that combined Daniel’s head with that of his brother, his sister, even his father. The new looks were hilarious. This is apparently the party game of the future.

About 10:00 pm people began gathering up their belongings. Peter and I, having missed our afternoon naps, waved god bye and went straight to bed. We had another full day ahead: dishwashing in the morning followed by a Mirvish show in the afternoon.

When we got to the theatre we realized we knew nothing about the show – Beetlejuice. We texted one son who told us that it was 2 hours of comedy and horror in the land of the dead. Why hadn’t we asked before? Did we really need to spend 2 hours thinking about our certain demise? But then the lights went down, the music blared, the special effects took over the stage and there stood Daniel’s doppelganger, Beeetlejuice, in person, hairstyle and all.

Justin Collette playing Daniel, I mean Beatlejuice

Our weekend peek into the future revealed ongoing climate change ( no surprise there), a different slant on employment opportunities for ambitious young people, the invasion of AI into our world, and life in the land of the dead. According to the play, that last part is going to be fun, with lots of singing and dancing. We sure hope so!

Sue