Article October 4, 1982 Issue

Don't pocket bad "pennies"

JOYCE C. LEDDY

I have always enjoyed movies dealing with the subject of time travel. They have often been a springboard for some deep thinking on time, space, and reality.

Recently, one such film was the catalyst that caused me to clarify some important metaphysical points. In the film a young present-day playwright finds that he is irresistibly drawn to a beautiful actress of the early 1900's and so projects himself back in time in order to meet her. As a condition for the success of this time travel, however, he is cautioned to disassociate himself from everything in the present. The two young people meet and fall in love.

But just when it seems they will indeed live happily ever after, our hero reaches into his pocket and finds a modern-day penny. This penny proves to be his downfall. It mesmerizes him, and within seconds he fades from her vision and is thrust back into the world of today. Hard as he tries, he is not able to find a way to return.

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