I love old things. I love the way they look. I love their textures, their smells (sometimes), and the stories that have seeped into the cracks and patina finishes. I guess I’m talking specifically about the WWII era and older. If I was born in 1879 rather than 1979 I’d like to imagine myself at the forefront of the development of moving-pictures. Maybe I’d be cranking one of these for Buster Keaton or working as a gag-man for Harold Lloyd. for I can’t say that I hate all modern things though because modernity is allowing me to have something called a ‘web~site’ through which I am communicating to you right now. I enjoy putting a pile of clothes in a metal box and having them come out clean. I will say though that it’s the look of modernity I can do without. If I “let myself go” so to speak , I would doubtlessly live a lifestyle pretty close to this woman’s lifestyle or perhaps Edna’s lifestyle. You have no idea how appealing that sounds to me. I’d still use Colgate and but can’t I have it in a simple, old-timey tube that looks more like oil paint than toothpaste?
Then I had an epiphany and with it, I’m inching more and more towards Edna’s part of town. WWII Reenactors. Yes, those boys love authenticity and I figured there’s got to be great modern reproductions of old ephemera & daily use items that soldiers would’ve had during wartime made specifically for niche market. A little bit of internet sleuthing and bing~O:
Motherload! There’s all sorts of everyday 1940’s era reproductions of toiletries and other household products out there made for WWII Reenactors that I will have to legally commandeer with currency. If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, here’s a link to a WWII Supply website.
I’m coming, Edna. I’ll hand ink you a letter or better yet, send ya a telegram to tell you that it seems that I’ll be seeing you soon on those grassy plains of off-the-deepend-ness!
hairtonicandhorsefeathers.com 
Apr 09, 2011 @ 06:58:06
This era certainly is appealing in it’s simplicity, but I have to think that Edna and her German counterpart have also alienated those around them in the process of taking on a simpler life.
It’s a fine line, really. I definitely understand it artistically and aesthetically, but I also might compare it to Christians who decided they wanted to totally isolate in their “bubble” of Christian products and books and events to avoid “the world”.
I can see the 20s and 30s as an almost monastic type of lifestyle in comparison to this modern age.
Now you’ve got me thinking…
Apr 09, 2011 @ 07:38:28
That’s true – it does alienate those around you to some extent. I can see how it ‘works’ tho…like me not having a Facebook anymore. That’s sort of a step backwards and I become a hard one to find 🙂
And good point about the Christian bubble! It’s unfortunately true. One can live in a house decorated with Christian wall art, drink coffee from Christian mugs, listen to Christian music while sitting on Christian throw pillows watching Christian movies much in the same way as Edna & German Edna would do with their vintage lifestyle. I think it’s a shame when it happens because the vintage lifestyle is, let’s face it, totally self serving. The Christian life is meant to be totally selfLESS but it ends up being, as you pointed out, just the opposite and has more in common with Edna and German Edna than a Christ who didn’t have a home, made friends with the ‘lowlifes’, and who’s lifestyle was to deny one.
And curiously when did things rather than people get labeled as Christian? Since when do objects do or do not have eternal salvation? Maybe that’s what people on the train mean when they ask “is this seat saved?”
Sooo glad to see you here SWG! And, I’d love to have your wise thoughts here as well: http://www.theurimandthummim.wordpress.com
Apr 15, 2011 @ 00:17:17
That site is a great discovery! I couldn’t agree with you more about the appearance of modern things. If logos and packaging weren’t so over-the-top and screaming “look how new I am!” it would be much more enjoyable.
Apr 15, 2011 @ 08:33:52
Yes! Gone are the days of simpler-is-better. Gone are the days of no-nonsense branding. Now graphic design for products is absolutely over-the-top and the culture at large buys into it too – the flashier the package, the better the product, right? When will it be that someone will realize that when they go back to the no-nonsense packaging that they will stand out more so than making a flashier, faster looking box?
And isn’t that site the greatest? Are you going to buy anything from it? I definitely have my eye on that soap tin.
Apr 15, 2011 @ 10:16:25
That’s why I love the “throwback” days in sports. Those old school jerseys and uniforms are AMAZING! The new ones are pretty tacky most of the time. I like those candy bars!
Apr 15, 2011 @ 10:58:18
Ugh…you’re so right. My BIGGEST gripe about baseball since interleague play is the long sloppy pants they wear these days. I swear they look like pajamas.
I guess I didn’t realize how much a part of the uniform it was until they took it away. It’s one of the things that made the uniform distinctive from other sports.