family + fun

Over the years, Hannah and Haley Arseneau, now 16 and 14, tried to get their grandmother, Sue O'Brien, to give in to their repeated requests to open the time capsule that the extended O'Brien family had assembled on Dec. 31, 1999. Grandma held her ground.

"It was in a large decorative popcorn tin, sealed tight with packing tape and up high on a shelf in our house," said O'Brien, who lives with her husband, Tom, in Arden Hills. "They used to beg me to open it. Hannah would say, 'Grandma, 10 years means I have to be 16. I'll never be able to wait!'"

Just before New Year's Day, the entire family, which includes four O'Brien siblings, spouses and nine grandchildren, gathered to open the time capsule, leading to laughter, amazement and even a few tears.

Inside was a "state of the family" essay Sue O'Brien had written to commemorate the new millennium, a copy of the Dec. 31, 1999, newspaper, family photos and questionnaires she had created for her grandchildren (there were only four at the time). Reading the essay had the greatest impact, said Shannon Arseneau, O'Brien's daughter and mother of Hannah, Haley and Abby, 11.

One of the more poignant moments came when Tom O'Brien began reading the first page.

"On New Year's Eve day that year, we had buried my aunt, my father's sister-in-law, who died of brain cancer," Shannon Arseneau said. "Recalling that time was emotional for the whole family."

However, there were plenty of light moments and laughter. "The questionnaire answers were both amusing and embarrassing to the older grandchildren," said Sue O'Brien, noting one's inclusion of a Backstreet Boys song as being particularly funny to the kids.

The idea was such a success that the entire group has already sealed away items for 2019, including essays written by each family member, photos, a newspaper, artwork from the little ones and an updated questionnaire for the older grandchildren.

"I tried to think of questions the teenagers would like to read about in 10 years," Sue O'Brien said. "I remember asking, 'What is your favorite technological device right now?' since it will be interesting to see what technology looks like then."

The goal for the time capsule, she said, is to capture "a moment in time" and share stories she hopes will make lasting impressions on her children and grandchildren. "I come from a large family and am the oldest of 10," said Sue O'Brien, 64. "Times were different when I was growing up. My parents didn't share many stories about themselves with us. I would like to leave a little more with my children and grandchildren."

While the entire family is enthusiastic about the 2019 capsule, Shannon is the one most likely to try to finagle an early opening. "I told my mom I thought 10 years was too long to wait. I asked her if she'd consider five."

No such luck. The sealed popcorn tin will remain on Sue O'Brien's shelf, right where it belongs, she said.

Julie Pfitzinger is a West St. Paul freelance writer. Got an idea for the Your Family page? E-mail us at Tellus@startribune.com with "Your Family" in the subject line.