"Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
Thinking of oneself four-dimensionally is challenging. We think the phrases 'past self' and 'future-self' are metaphors, but actually they are literally true. Somewhere 'up-time' is the future you and me, just as real as myself at this moment of writing, or your moments of instantaneous reality as you read these words.
My past self-slice can communicate with a future self-slice through use of media. If I read this blog later, that's exactly what will happen. I try to imagine that future self, but it's hard. It's not a dialogue: my future self can't answer me back.
Note added on December 10th 2025
Hi, it's your future self just re-reading this post. I feel quite real I have to say but it's been a while - nineteen and a half years. You'd be pleased to know it turned out pretty well.
Up-time from here is the now-more-imminent moment of my own death.
I sure hope that guy is having an easy time of it - but he can't tell me...
