“People will see not only the message in a hundred years, but the actual handwriting of the people who wrote it, which is such an intimate detail,” she said. “The next census in 2027 will be largely online, but given the responses we’ve had this time, we’ll definitely need to hold something similar in the future. Maybe we can use new technologies to give people that personal touch.”
Amy Dutil-Wall, a Michigan resident who immigrated to Ireland 12 years ago, was one of several respondents who used their time capsule to remember loved ones who were away on the night of the census, or who had passed away and would not become official counted . She also posted her capsule on Twitter†
“Tonight, as we count those in our house and family, we think so much of our beloved little girl, Estonian Luna† She was tragically taken from us in a car accident 5 years ago, just before her 4th birthday. Estlin was our first born child and the love of our lives. She was never counted in any census and that’s why we’re so relieved to be able to name her here. She was beautiful, creative, funny, so smart and clever, and confident beyond her years. We were honored to be her parents and still honored to mourn her for the rest of our lives. Estlin Luna, we carry you in our hearts – always love Mom, Dad, Mannix & Lucie.”
Ms Dutil-Wall later said in an interview: “When filling out the part of the form about naming the people in the house, it seemed so obvious that Estlin should be there too, but she wasn’t. The time capsule let us know how much we loved and missed her, and it was great to have even that little thing that people can look back on in the future.”
Mrs. Dutil-Wall’s post quickly gained over 40,000 likes. A woman in her 60s responded, saying that her own first child was born out of wedlock, and was taken from her for adoptionwho had broken her heart. They later found each other, she wrote, and loved each other dearly.
David Hayden, a Dublin father of two, wrote: “2022 is a worrying time. Hopefully we have put Covid behind us, but it cost my youngest sister Alison in 2020. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is our main concern. The prospect of a world war is very real.”
He hoped his daughters’ grandchildren would read the time capsule in “happier and more peaceful times… We don’t own this planet, we only care for future generations, so take care of it!!! PS Our children are laughing.”