Sunday Scribbling - If I had to live in a different time in history.
If I HAD to live in a different time in history, I would not go back in time willingly. As chaotic as I think these times are, I still have hope for a continuance of positive change. Why would I want to go back to when women had few choices, worse racism, less medical technology, people with mental and physical disabilities housed in institutions and less police technology to find criminals. My choice would to be a part of the history yet to come. I want to go forward, not back, hopefully learning from our greatest mistakes.
I'd choose the early 50's to live my life, if I must choose. After the depression and WW II Americans were much more relaxed, during those relatively peaceful times. It was known as "The Golden Era." People could afford to buy homes and credit was not a way of life. Entertainment was cheap, like the drive-ins, hula hoops, silly putty and "parking." It was also the start of rock in roll for goodness sake!
Inventions likeTelevision brought us "I Love Lucy" and "Gunsmoke." "The Diary of Anne Frank" was written and the song "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole came on the scene. Let's not forget the appearance of Tupperware, the first ballpoint pen and Snoopy! Some of my favorite things to this day. The fashion was fun and had nothing hanging out, except in Hollywood. The movies were so good back then, without the violence and gore. A very simple time where stress was down and kids played outside, until dark.
Great changes began during this era, like stopping Polio, Rosa Parks refusing to sit at the back of the bus and the new NASA launching of the "Explorer." We were moving forward, feeling safe and having fun. Don't be fooled, there was plenty of greed and corruption going on. The media did not tell all, unlike today (not necessarily a good thing). I don't want to pick apart this era because I saw promise and hope during this time in our history. I was not even a part of history until 1961, but the 50's left a great imprint on my heart. I wanted June Clever as my mother in the 60's, but thankfully I didn't have to be her in the 80's.
Do I want for us to go back in time? No, but we certainly could look back and see what was done right. History repeats itself in different forms, so we must look back. Maybe this economic disaster we are going through, globally, will make us do just that. Could this election and crisis be a catalyst to bring us all together? Here's to hoping.
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29 comments:
Tammy,
This was beautiful and made me smile about the 1950's where things were simpler and kinder for us. I don't know how things got so off track, but it would be wonderful to take what was so special about those days and recreate them.
I LOVE how you write and I am so glad your back to blogging. Your blog always brings me so much peace and so much to think about.
If I had to go back in time, where would I go? Hmmmm, I'm going to have to think about this one. I almost think the 80's because my High School and College years were so much fun, carefree and I had no clue how good I had it. I would also love to have some of the friendships I had back them.
Take care.
Hi, Friend! This one made me smile, too! Seems like only yesterday....
Times might be bad but hope is always there. Keep it up!
if you only recycled coke cans
This is so well written! You rock Tammy!
'I wanted June Clever as my mother in the 60's, but thankfully I didn't have to be her in the 80's.' is so true!
You choose a good time to go back to, but I agree that I wouldn't change the time I'm living in, even forcibly. We have so much freedom and technology, and although times might be a little difficult, going back to another time period would just produce a different set of problems to deal with. So, that's why I didn't do a Sunday Scribblings this week.
Wouldn't it be great to be back where kids could play until dark without their parents worrying? And drive-ins. Those were cool!
you know, even though that was a time of wonder, it was also a time of many secrets and much sadness. it was a time when folks were really forced into conformity. i feel so blessed to be here and in this body now....
We'd all like to live in more comfortable times, but somehow i don't think nostalgia paints a really accurate picture - but then again, it's different for everyone.
An excellent reflection, there. And if only your parting comment could come true.
I love that feeling of hope in the 50s you describe. But you are right, especially for women it would be a huge backwards move for us to be living in any other time.
I wonder if it was truly as golden a time as it seems. I suspect there was a great deal of oppression lurking under the surface. Still, on the face of it, it does appear to be a happier, simpler time.
You either have a great memory for what you've learned about that time...or you did some kick-ass research!
Either way, it was a fun read. I have no idea how I'd answer the question. Only thing is...
If you WERE around in the 50's, then I'd wanna be there with ya...doin' the sock hop, playing with silly putty and watching I love Lucy.
Love and hugs,
Nancy
I would just go back to the prehistoric times because I'd love to taste hickory smoked T-rex with a side order of brontosaurus ribs.
history can be a great teacher..yep you're right
i'm with you, tammy. i would also choose to live the time that i live in today. when i was little, life was still somewhat innocent and we got to play outdoors until dark without the fear of being kidnapped and without a cell - it taught me to be self-reliant, smart, and trusting/not trusting when the occasion called for it; as a teenager in the 70s, i was a wannabe hippie, experimenting with grass, listening to rock music and r&b, doing age-appropriate things that in time lost its appeal; as a young mother, i delved into the role with much maturity and throughout the 80s, 90s and now 2000's, i've seen many changes that i thought i would never witness in my lifetime. no, this life has taught me well and i would never trade it for another. so, i'm definitely with you..
((hugs))
rebecca
I like your choice Tammy. So much changed after that. The thought and memory creates a sort of ache in a way.
Beautiful points eloquently made - wonderful post Tammy! :)
well i know i for one would have been the girl from the wrong side of the tracks had i been born in the fifties...
somehow i can picture you there tho tammy,, and i feel like you may have even been happy there.......
The early 1950's...good choice! BJ
I could enjoy the 1950s...the Cold war and practice air raids, but still...a simpler, easier time I think...
Nice post, Tammy! I, too, think the 50's offered much - it deed seem to be a less stressful time...
Great post - I thought about the future and even the 50's, but still opted for pioneer days. The future has so many possibilities, but the 50's weren't all June Cleaver and Ozzie Harriet for most. All in all this was I think a hard choice for all of us, or at least those of us that are women as we have traditionally gone through the greatest amount of change.
I think there could be a silver lining in this current crisis ... and if it brought us back to the spirit of the 1950s post-depression community ... well then, perhaps we will learn and grow and come out stronger in the end.
Excellent post! xx, JP/deb
Thanks for this little trek down memory lane! I like your conclusion, too! Hopefully, we can learn from the past!
what a fantastic post! so true :) I can't say anything that hasn't already been said by your commenters, loving your point of view here!
Tammy,
Hey girl, great post and pretty nostalgic for me too.!
I've come to believe, perhaps a bit niavely, that no matter the era we make our own fun and good times and we make the most of what we have, or not. To paraphrase the Desiderata; there'll always be bad dudes around.
For me, I'd go back and live in the 30's and 40's...the big band era. I'd be born in the 20's and have a flapper for a mom and a Jim Dandy for a dad.
If nothing else I'd have a better understanding of my parents.
Love ya,
rel
I was going to make a comment, but after reading everyone else's comments I forgot what I wanted to say! ;-) Have a nice day.
I agree with you - as turbulent as these times are, we still have so much going for us, in so many ways - why not look forward? Though I also agree with you, if I HAD to go back - it would be to the 50's -- even though that time period had its own challenges, I wouldn't mind revisiting those golden Happy Days ;-)
What an interesting idea to ponder...hmmm, I don't know when I'd chose to have lived, probably the 40's. I love the old movies and the music of that era. There is no time that would be perfect to have lived, is there? Probably in the next life for all of us though.
I LOVE your new look here especially your header. Perfect.
Hugs, G
www.mypoeticpath.wordpress.com
Wow impressive, Tammy I could have written this verbatim. So much I feel the same about! ....how alike we are! Wonderful ethic back then, we could use a little more of it now!
Hugs Sherrie
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