I threatened to do it, I agonized over doing it, I was too busy to do it last week, I agonized over doing a special website for it, and now I’m just going to do it and damn the consequences.

Here you are, folks. Welcome to the first incarnation of Past, Present, Future. It’s going to live right here in the middle of my journal for the first stage of its existence. What I have done, however, is create a quaint little link for when you want to share the love with the rest of the Blogosphere.

http://greyduck.net/ppf/ will bring you to the most-recent PPF entry automagically. It’s just that easy. Please note that if I’ve created a new PPF on Thursday night you won’t be able to see it until after midnight. If you see “No items returned,” you know to check back later.

Oh, you actually wanted the questions? All right then. Here’s how it works. I take a seed idea and develop three questions or challenges, one each relating to (you guessed it) the past, the present and the future. My goal is to be relatively non-obvious and at least mildly challenging, to offer something a bit more fun than, “What are your plans for the weekend?” or, “How long have you been a homo sapiens?”

You know the drill: Answer the questions on your own site or in the comments (“wisequacks”) if you’re so inclined. Use the link I just showed you to send interested parties to the current PPF. Please leave a comment, including your web address, so the rest of us can find your answers (and so I can get that lovely ego boost as I count how many folks choose to waste their time on this).

And so, without further ado and to permit those holding their breath to breathe, I present the very first Past, Present, Future.

PAST: I’ll bet you occasionally wonder whatever became of the very first person you kissed in a romantic sort of way. You may not know where they are now, but you could spend a couple of amusing minutes speculating. Go ahead and share that speculation with us.

PRESENT: Our idea of “romance” changes over time. The giddy, heart-pounding energy of youth gives way to the soft, warm glow in a more mature heart. I’m not really going anywhere with this, I just like to play with words. Your chance to show me up comes when I tell you to offer your own definition of “romance.”

FUTURE: You’ve come into a fairly decent sum of money, and the prime object of your affections doesn’t yet know. Wouldn’t it be fun to do something hopelessly, adorably romantic? This is the sort of thing you don’t get to do very often in a lifetime, so the romantic surprise should be appropriately memorable. Tell us how you’re going to bring that sparkle to the eyes of your one true love. We can keep a secret… for a price.

(I offer no kudos for seed ideas this week, due to getting carried away with my own cleverness. It happens. If you want to plant an idea seed in my mind, use the email link just below the duck logo. Thanks!)