The best book ever written by Maine’s most famous and prolific author is 11/22/63, and I’d say that even if it weren’t the only Stephen King novel I’ve ever read, which in fact it is. The story’s premise: What if it were possible to travel back in time and change history? King’s protagonist attempts to do just that, stepping through a mysterious portal that dumps him off in 1958 and gives him a little over five years to prevent the gunning down of America’s 35th president.

However, given that time travel isn’t currently possible (or at least it isn’t so far as we know), it probably wasn’t coincidence that King’s JFK assassination-themed book came out a little more than a year before the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s untimely death. Our nation’s ubiquitous media has a habit of reminding Americans about significant dates in our history, particularly when the anniversary of the momentous event in question is a nice round one, like the 10th, 20th, 25th, 50th, or 100th. Myriads of writers, moviemakers, t-shirt designers, crystal knickknack producers, and similar would-be entrepreneurs are already formulating marketing strategies hoping to capitalize on upcoming anniversaries of happenings, both inspiring and sobering, that will have occurred a century (or half-century) ago in years to come.

Brace yourself for a solemn 2018. It’s less than three years until the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. In the months and weeks approaching April 3, 2018, Americans can expect print and electronic media to flood newspapers, airwaves, and the Internet with memories of our nation’s foremost champion of civil rights. Any and all of Dr. King’s still-living descendents or associates will briefly resurface, and rest assured there’ll no shortage of officiallylicensed MLK merchandise for sale; think “I have a Dream” tshirts and related memorabilia. A similar scenario can be expected two months later, albeit on a smaller scale, on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Robert Kennedy. And later in the summer of 1968 deadly race riots engulfed a significant number of America’s cities, a tragedy that will no doubt be revisited and examined by those in the media who decide where America’s collective attention will be directed during any given period of time.

By contrast, 2019 will be a year full of nostalgic celebration. Neil Armstrong took “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” on July 20, 1969. A month later a three-day “Festival of Peace and Music” took place in Sullivan County, New York, and not long after that a team that had been baseball’s perennial laughingstocks somehow managed to win the World Series. With the possible exception of some elderly, crabby sports fans in and around Baltimore, Maryland, Americans will enjoy reminiscing about the first moon landing, Woodstock and the Miracle Mets.

There are actually some historically significant milestones occurring this month, but sadly most will pass unnoticed, flying under America’s collective radar. Social Security began 80 years ago, World War II’s end was hastened by the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima 70 years ago, 250,000 people marched on Washington to advocate for civil rights 52 years ago, and the voting rights act became law exactly five decades ago this summer, but none of those important events will get the media attention that the 50th anniversary of John Lennon’s passing undoubtedly will on December 8, 2030.

America’s captivation with celebrities who died young has become something of a cottage industry over the past few decades, but even that fascination is muted unless the premature demise of the person in question didn’t happen 10, 20, 25, or 50 years ago. Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Princess Diana all died tragically during a past August, but since their deaths occurred 54, 38, and 18 years ago, don’t expect any mass public recollections or outpourings of grief for them this month. What occupies (and doesn’t occupy) America’s attention gives added credence to Eleanor Roosevelt’s apparently prophetic words, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

It’s statistically unlikely I’ll be around for the 50th anniversary observations of tragedies like the 9/11 attacks or the Boston Marathon bombings, nor for celebrations like the commemoration of the end of the 86-year World Series drought of the Red Sox (scheduled for 2054) and America’s electing an African- American president (four years later). But maybe time travel will be viable by then. Even better, what if it’s not only possible, but accessible to those of us who aren’t rich or famous? If it is I plan on going back to 2013, when Stephen King releases 11/22/63. I can’t wait to read the reviews. I wonder what 87-year-old Marilyn Monroe will think of it?

— Andy Young teaches in Kennebunk and lives in Cumberland.

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