Writing Yourself Into History

Will anyone remember you when you are gone? Should they?

Have you ever contributed to something larger than yourself? Have you ever helped build something that will exceed your lifespan?

One organization that is selling bricks to support their cause says they will "Put your name in the History Bricks."

You may have noticed if you walked across the pavers at some special memorial or landmark, many of the bricks had names and dates on them. One way in which some organizations raise money to support themselves is sell space on bricks.

Some might consider this a middle class bit of vanity. Unlike the ultra wealthy we cannot afford to build huge monuments to ourselves and plaster our names all over them. And so we participate on the cheap by buying bricks with our names on them.

It might be cool to go to a place you helped pave to show your friends and family your very own bricks, but let's be serious. The hundreds or thousands who trod upon your namesake still won't know you from Adam.

Still, I think it would be a bit of coolness to put my name down on the footnotes of history in obscure corners of the word. And remember the way the world works. If the history of man is long enough and if the bricks and their inscriptions last long enough, some wag will write a caustic tale of ridicule about the silliness of 21st century bourgeoisie trying to capture a place in history on the cheap. And if I am lucky, while some know-it-all twerp is busy making fun of me he will show a close up of my brick and give me the notoriety I desired!

If you want to participate in whatever it is we are doing with the bricks, start in your local community. Ask the schools, libraries and churches if they are selling bricks and if you are moved to do so, buy one.