The Physics and Nostalgia of Time
Trying to Understand It
A friend told me he just finished reading On the Origin of Time by Thomas Hertog.
“The book explores Stephen Hawking’s final theory regarding the evolution of the universe—from zero time (the Big Bang)—and is written by Hertog, his collaborator and former student. Hawking had written an earlier book on the subject, A Brief History of Time, but later found his initial treatment inadequate. He continued his research, ultimately leading to this final theory.”
As he spoke, I realized I was quickly getting lost in the dizzying complexities of the concept.
Coincidentally, I recently read a National Geographic article suggesting that “to be human is to migrate through time.” What do they mean? Does time really flow?
Understanding time isn’t easy.
When I try to think about it through physics or space, my mind freezes. I cannot seem to grip the concepts that Einstein, and now Hawking, grasped so effortlessly. (Then again, they are the geniuses).
As I write, every stroke of the pen suggests that time is passing from one word to the next. Can you feel it as you work, play, read, etc.?
What I do understand is this: Time controls me. I have a self-imposed deadline to submit an article every week, and the weeks fly by.
During my career, I was always early to the hospital and early for every meeting—I never could help being neurotic about it. A banker once said to me, “If you want the winter to pass quickly, take out a ninety-day note.” Yep, that concept I understand.
Einstein’s insights from special relativity provide evidence that time does not flow. There he goes again. I don’t get that. I read as much as I can, I think about it often, but I cannot grasp Einstein’s theories.
So, I hark back to an article I wrote some years ago about what time and “a time” meant to Italian families.
Time was something different, understood though almost indefinable.
Here’s a common conversation:
“In school they told us drinking is bad. Do you drink, Dad?”
“Drink? Me? Noooo. Well, I might have a beer if I’m at a ‘Time’.”
“A ‘Time’?” What’s that?”
“You know. Where lots of people get together… eat, drink, talk about you, hug and kiss you, and give you gifts. Now you can say they gave you a ‘Time.’ And they say, ‘What a Time it was!’ Now do you understand?”
“Nope.”
“Try this. A ‘Time’ is what happens after someone graduates, has an anniversary, or gets married.”
“Oh. Now I think I understand. People come for YOU. They dress up, eat, drink, talk around, and sometimes they’re just there.”
“Yeah, and they leave a gift --- like a Cross Pen and Pencil set. Or rosary beads.”
“Yeah, I like that. So, you can have a ‘Time’ at any time, right?”
“Well almost, but not really. You have to do something, like receive your First Communion . . . or die.”
“OK. And the ‘Time’ is at a special time of day, right?”
“Right.”
And the timing for the ‘Time’ has to be timed for you and what you did, right?”
“Right.”
And you just can’t have a ‘Time’ any old time, right?”
“Right. Now you get it.”
“Yep, now I get it. I’m getting dressed. Let’s go to a ‘Time’.”
“Your timing is perfect.”
“Thanks, Dad. Wait. One other thing. I’ll bet they gave Einstein quite a ‘Time’ when he discovered that stuff about time.”
“Right again.”
“Then let’s go. We’re off to a ‘Time’.”
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