June 7, 2013 Dear Billy, As you may or may not remember, I'm writing this to you from the past. As of today, you are 20 years old and your whole future is ahead of you. I'm building this time capsule as a way to remind you of who you were when you turned 20 and to give you a smile in 2043 on your 50th birthday. Do you remember all of the things you were doing at this age or what kind of a place the world was? As I'm writing this, you're a college sophomore with big plans to declare a major someday. I'm thinking about chemistry, but medieval poetry is also looking pretty attractive. Let me know how my decision pans out for me! Classes are going well, and my grades have all been pretty good. Everyone at home is proud. I'm sure that by now you've got a wife and family; maybe even a grandkid or two.That's why I thought it was important to congratulate you on your success and remind you of what a ladies’ man you once were. Last night, you went out with Veronica Drake, the most beautiful girl in your Shakespeare class. You definitely used a few of the Bard’s words to your advantage. Politics right now are interesting. The United States has its first African-American president, which is a pretty big milestone. There's a lot of terrorism in the world, though, and the economy isn't looking so great. Hopefully by the time you read this again, that will all be straightened out. Technology is advancing every day! Smartphones are a big deal right now and tablets are looking like the next big thing. Who knows what will come next? Your cell phone bill is currently about 70 dollars a month, and it's a small plan, but it works for you. Gas is expensive, so you take the bus. It's better for the environment anyway. CDs are rapidly being replaced by mp3s, but an album still costs about $15 on iTunes. I wonder if iTunes is still around in 2043. You mostly live on Hot Pockets and Top Ramen and joke with your best friend Aaron that your favorite thing about being a college student is being a walking stereotype. Aaron's pretty cool. Keep him around, but don't let him do too many stupid stunts. Sometimes he's got more enthusiasm than common sense. Don't forget who you are. You want to travel. A lot. You love football and plan to make it to the Super Bowl in person someday. You love your mom and miss your dad. You still have your Red Ranger action figure standing next to your bed. Happy birthday from me, Billy! Take care of us. Yours truly, Billy Mulligan