Yesterday, I got a text from Caliber Works Watch Repair, informing me that my great-grandfather’s pocket watch was ready to go after 18 months. The 18 months was fine — it’s an old family heirloom, it’s not as if I needed it right away, since it was just going to be displayed on a shelf. This watch was made in 1908, my great-grandfather the dairy farmer owned it as his work timepiece, it got passed on and mostly neglected. I did wear it on my wedding day, but then my grandparents took it back and stashed in a drawer. After they died, it bumbled about in various storage containers, neglected and ignored, and was damaged in major ways: the watch crystal was smashed, one of the hands was broken off, it had run down and was allowed to freeze up for decades. I got it a few years ago.

I wound it up and put it to my ear, and it worked! So I took it in to be restored and repaired. I was supposed to be grading papers today, but instead I drove all the way into Minneapolis and back — a 6 hour round trip — and got the watch back. It’s beautiful. I’m wondering now whether I should get rid of the iPhone and carry this robust, elegant piece of machinery instead. It wouldn’t ring and take calls, but that might be a positive advantage.

And here it is without my noise:

Now I better get to work on all those papers.