One more time, a remarkable story

I purchased my first watch in 1960 when I was 13. It was a Timex.

I lost track of it soon after. High School, College, Graduate School. College Instructor. Move across country to San Francisco. Marry. Move to New York 20 years ago.

Our daughter is now 13. After she was born, my wife and I needed to coordinate our schedules so I bought a street watch and consequently became hooked on horology.

Mind that I had not worn a watch since I was a young teenager. I was 48 years old when the baby was born. I am now 61.

After living in our apartment for 20 years, my family has decided to move. Do you know how much stuff can accumulate in that amount of time? While going through the various collected items of my past, I found a shopping bag full of old letters that went back through the several life-changes I mentioned before. I was going to just throw the whole thing out but decided to go through the individual envelopes as a way to dispose of the lot.

When I removed the last letter, I was surprised to find a watch; the very watch I had purchased and lost in 1960. At first I couldn't believe it. Could it be?

I reached in and picked it up, my mind traveling back in time at warp speed.

It was indeed the Timex I bought myself as an eighth grade graduation present! I wish I could describe the surprise, and indeed, the shock of this discovery. Words fail, time stops.

Of course, I wound it up and, you guessed it.

After 48 years, it started ticking away and several hours later was still keeping accurate time.


Here is a picture of the watch.