"Grow Old Along with Me..."

If you've ever seen an old sundial, it might have the quote "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be." These are the first two lines of Robert Browning's poem "Rabbi Ben Ezra", which was also put to music by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It's a long poem, so it doesn't really warrant a discussion here. What does warrant a discussion, however, is the quote as an excerpt of the poem, which, like with many other things seemingly unrelated to Pokémon, does remind me of Pokémon.

An example of such a sundial.

For me, the quote can be likened to an invitation by Ash (or perhaps Pokémon personified) to do exactly as it says. The quote contains two premises: to grow old alongside, and to expect that the best will come someday. And to some extent, these premises have been fulfilled in regard to me and Pokémon. I have grown old with Pokémon, and Ash is still yet to be the best (there ever was). These are romantic promises that take on a fanciful air when Pokémon enters the equation.

Most of all, these premises are timeless; they apply to all Pokémon fans - past, present, and future. No matter when you start to enjoy Pokémon, there is always the allure to continue enjoying through all the times ahead, as you and Pokémon both develop. And even if Ash becomes the best there ever was, perhaps the quest will never be complete, and thus the second premise continues to apply. That these premises continue to be relevant as people continue to enjoy Pokémon adds to the romanticism and fancifulness even more.

I'm happy to have grown old with Pokémon, and so may be most Pokémon fans of around my age. I'm sure that Ash is happy, having accomplished so much in so many places, though he may be far from being called the best there ever was. And thus the premises hold. But just maybe, in the future, we can change that quote for the benefit of all Pokémon fans, and Ash himself:

"Keep growing old along with me, the best is here and now."