I just finished reading “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger. It’s not an easy read, and I might not have finished except that it had been recommended by my son, Joe.

I stayed with it, and it proved to be a satisfying and thought-provoking book. On the day I finished reading the final page, I wondered how everyday life would seem to a time traveler, especially if 2010 was the future to them.

My mom was a news hound. She loved keeping up with politics and current events. Before she was put on a ventilator on a week-long slide toward the end, the last words I heard from her were, “turn on the news before you leave.” That was 24 years ago.

As I put down Niffenegger’s novel, I turned on the television. Anderson Cooper was filling in for Regis on Live with Regis and Kelly. Just for fun I listened to the discussion as if my mom had just appeared from 1986.

Mom: “Who is that white-haired man?”

Me: “Oh, that’s Anderson Cooper. He’s a news anchor.”

Mom: “He’s really handsome. And articulate! I like that. But hold on. That girl Kelly just told him he had great ‘guns’ and he said they weren’t as good as Michelle Obama’s guns. Who is Michelle Obama, and why does she have guns?”

Me: “Hmmm. Where to start? Michelle Obama is the first lady.”

Mom: “Of what?”

Me: “Of the country! She’s married to Barak Obama, the first African-American man to be elected president. He beat a former first lady, Hilary Clinton, for the Democratic nomination.”

Mom: “Never heard of any of them! But tell me why does the first lady have guns?”

Me: “‘Guns’ is a slang term for developed biceps. She has great arms, and often wears sleeveless outfits. She’s young and fit, especially compared to you and me!”

Mom: “I don’t doubt that. No offense, Honey, but you’re getting old!”

Me: “Isn’t that great?”

Mom: “Yes, it’s great. But tell me something about our family.”

Me: “You have three more grandchildren who are teenagers now. You have a great granddaughter named Emma, and she has a little brother named Ryan. John and Joe are really interesting men. You would be so proud of them.”

Mom: “More! Quick! I’m fading away!”

Me: “After Emma went to see her pediatrician, she had a very important question for her mom, ‘can boys become doctors, too, or just girls?’”

Mom: “Oh, that’s great!”

As my daydream faded like the Time Traveler, I thought I heard three more words … querty? OnStar? Bluetooth? Guess I’ll have to save those for another daydream.

Patty Luzzi has lived on the Eastside for 33 years. Readers can contact her at pattyluzzi@yahoo.com.