Fancy travelling through time? We'll send you into your own future

Do you have a voucher for a trip through time? Well, we can certainly arrange that. We'll send you into your own future. Are you around thirty years old? Great! Now, take a leap forward to when you're around seventy or older. It's not as difficult as you might think, so don't laugh! If you're ready, let's get started.

First, we'll restrict your movement by wrapping rubber bandages around your legs and arms joints. Trying to move your joints through their full range of motion will now be painful. Movement is possible, but limited. Of course, you can only take small steps now, but that's just right. As part of the experience, you will wear special gloves made of stiff material to give you an authentic sense of the limitations experienced by older people's fingers during our little adventure.

This collar is not designed to prevent neck pain; rather, it ensures that you can only turn your head to a limited extent. That's fine. Now, regarding your hearing, these earplugs filter out noise. You will find it difficult to hear anything. You will have to concentrate very hard during conversations to keep up.

Almost done, except for your eyes. To help with that, we'll give you these contact lenses, which make everything a little blurry and, more importantly, make it harder to see close-up details. You can compensate for this by wearing these glasses, which you can take off and put on as needed. Sometimes it's enough to wear the frames on the tip of your nose to be able to see over them. Varifocal lenses will probably be a luxury item in thirty or forty years if the economic situation remains as dire as it is now. But after all, you've booked an adventure holiday, not a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. See how you get on with these glasses and don't complain!

You're now wearing your adventure gear and your first challenge lies ahead. Your task is to go to a supermarket and buy the items on this list. This is a good opportunity to practise seeing with your glasses. This practical walking aid with wheels and an integrated shopping basket should serve you well. How? That's right: now that your mobility is limited, the rollator provides you with a certain amount of security.

Oh, sorry, we'll speak a little louder. Are you ready to go? Take care in the car park – drivers don't always pay attention to older people with walking aids. We'll accompany you, but you'll have to help yourself. After all, we want this little adventure to be as authentic as possible!

Yes, the turnstiles at the entrance are not ideal. Just wait for someone to come and help you – it may take a while. Yes, customers are racing their shopping trolleys – that's right. Fight back by countersteering with your walking aid. Be glad that the hissing comments of some customers don't penetrate your earplugs.

Why are you taking so long to buy a packet of sauce mix? Oh, your eyes – right. Just ask an employee. Why are you angry again? It's unfortunate that he didn't want to speak any louder. Can't you reach the coffee cups with your bandages on? Ask someone for help and don't snap at them. Yes, it took a while for someone to help you – we noticed that, too. Young people being rude just because they have to walk around your rollator, or because you're blocking the shelf for so long. Well, that's just another minor problem.

Do you have everything you need? If we'd set a time limit, you wouldn't be doing so well today. We've been here for almost an hour for these eight items and haven't even got to the checkout yet – that's next. Of course, you can't put the items on the conveyor belt as quickly as usual – that's obvious. But you don't hear most people complain about that. We've filled your purse with small change to make it more realistic. Banknotes don't tend to appear in many senior citizens' purses – that's another challenge.

Turn your upper body towards the queue behind you – we've restricted your neck movement – and enjoy the undivided attention you're receiving. It's taking you a long time to rummage through your purse, and you've already asked three times how much it is. By the way, we've recorded your most interesting comments. As a souvenir of your little adventure!

Done! We're leaving, and you'll soon be rid of your 'equipment'. Goodness me, you're drenched in sweat! It was our pleasure, and we really appreciate satisfied customers. Oh, it was your grandfather who gave you the voucher, despite you always trying to get out of going shopping with him! That's interesting.

© 'Fancy travelling through time? We'll send you into your own future': A short story by Pressenet (translated by Izabel Comati), 06/2025. The illustration shows several clocks, CC0 (Public Domain Licence).