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Glenna Foreman's avatar

Thanks for this. Amid all the whirling news, here's a Very enjoyable read, without one reference to politics. Just what I need in the morning! The items you pictured are just wonderful. My mind thought of the possibilities of each thing in relation to the time it was created, if I used it, what was that like--and it was a nice journey. I still have one of those grocery list things, it was my mother's. I treasure all the things I've kept from the past, be they objects from the very distant past or five or ten years past. They're important to me. They bring a sort of misty feeling, a warm feeling of familiarity somehow.

I am packing to leave my apt, being priced out and on the street in my car soon. Scrambling to get everything into storage, I'm wearing myself out and worried about the future. Your post took only a few minutes of my time yet will be with me all day as I continue to sort and pack my treasures. You've reminded me that the present can't Be without the past, and the future depends on it. My future. Our future.

Again, Thank you!

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you for this touching message. I'm truly moved that the post brought you a moment of peace. May things begin to turn in your favor very soon 🙏🏻

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Victoria Van Horn's avatar

Thanks to both of you- remembering and honoring the best of the past and acknowledging the potential benefits of the future is truly a balm to the current political climate. Peace, love, happiness and maybe some rock and roll.

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Glenna Foreman's avatar

Peace, love, happiness to you as well-- and ALWAYS RnR! I'd be lost wo music.

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Nikola Arandjelovic's avatar

The rotating bookshelf is hilarious! And I love the metal grocery list! I might have to have one made for me! These are so cool!

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Siew's avatar

Need to add some Catsup to the shopping list!

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Dr Sherry: A Better Timeline's avatar

I love that shopping list! I was born in 1958, so I don't remember it , but what a quaint combination of notepad and ipad ;)

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Celia Ludi's avatar

I want to know what "delicates" were!

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Dr Sherry: A Better Timeline's avatar

lol, I didn't even notice that...and it's spelled "delicatess" with 2 s's. I do remember panty hose and even underwear in supermarkets.

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Bryan B's avatar

deli. delicatessen.

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Jabari's avatar

depends... i def would hate to go back to the 1950s as a black dude in america... most of the past seems pretty bleak to me in this country and i imagine there are others in other times and places that feel the same

so it makes me think there's also a dimension of privilege to nostalgia

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Kate's avatar

Wow, wow! They are all so beautiful.

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Fallene Wells's avatar

This was beautifully written, really great insight!

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you!

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Steph Curtis's avatar

Thanks for this, fascinating!

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Lassandro Ivana's avatar

Thank you . It's so interesting.

Beauty in every expression is a precious gift.

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Carol Graham's avatar

Enjoyed this article very much.

It’s got me thinking! Love it.

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you so much Carol!

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RussellCW's avatar

I agree that we often feel better about times past: it’s because the threats and uncertainties of the past are extinct.

But I retain the material culture of the past: I know the provenance of every object in our house. That’s an enriching comfort.

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James Lucas's avatar

I couldn’t agree more.

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Carol's avatar

Thanks for the article. It is fascinating how much we cherish the past perhaps because it mirrors the best of what life could have been.

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James Lucas's avatar

My pleasure.

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Ben L.'s avatar

As the third-worldization of The West continues we'll just get more faster and cheaper, but not better.

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Zember Sparkheart (they/them)'s avatar

Horrible human rights for most, but so much great design. (And unfortunately people in power are rolling back the human rights again.) All art history from fashion to gadgets to furniture tells stories, and that’s so cool. The super rich used to patron the arts and we had gorgeous buildings and drain pipes and knives that were sculptures. Everything could be art! Now it’s mostly mass produced and boring. Thanks for sharing some of these beautiful things from the past that will hopefully continue to inspire future designers

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Hannah Bee's avatar

Why is the past so great? Things were made to last, people took pride in what they made and it wasn't mass produced on an Amazon scale. If you needed something you walked to the store.( Marianne,I would have ignored Mick over that handsome guy too. But Mick, still love you!)

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Politics And Aphrodisiacs's avatar

Your photos of beauty from the past are amazing. Too bad in our much less leisurely world the time and thought involved in creating something that could endure forever is all but lost. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos that remind us of a time that was. Lucky Marianne in the photo that accompanies your article. What woman wouldn’t want to be sandwiched between two men with such immense sex appeal? Today’s women should be so fortunate.

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Lynn "Elikqitie" Smargis's avatar

Because the people, like you and I, who lived it in made it amazing. Well, most people who lived in it made it amazing.

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