Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Love those 1950s!!


I decided to start a blog that reflects the lifestyle I lead here on our little piece 'o heaven... a 2 acre parcel of mostly-wooded land at the end of a cul-de-sac in a small subdivision, out in a rural county in Indiana.

My husband and I are both 50 years old and have been married for 31 years thus far. We've always been considered "old-fashioned" even when we got married at the ripe old age of 19. After we were wed, back in 1976, we immediately moved into an apartment complex that contained mostly retired couples. We felt very comfortable there and fit in quite well. We never played our music loud, stayed out late, or had parties. We were homebodies even back then so all our neighbors loved us, as we loved them.

Back in the 70s and 80s, it was still popular for young couples to get together and play cards on a Saturday night. There were no such things as computers or even cable television, so our main source of entertainment was a deck of cards and some snacks, enjoyed with close friends. We would go out for dinner once in awhile but most of us didn't have two nickels to rub together so each couple took their turn, once a month or so, hosting lively games of pinochle on Saturday night. Once in awhile we'd have the good fortune of being invited to a wedding reception and that was a HUGE treat. Unlike today, when most receptions are vacated before the band even starts to play (or is it rather the DJ?). Most folks today just want to stay home and play on their computers and watch their high definition televisions. What fun they're missing out on... the fun of human interaction IRL (in real life)!

This blog will probably end up being my little "public stand" too. A public stand for the reinstitution of the retro years... the age of front porches, coffee klatches between neighbor women, and being on a first-name basis with the meat market man and the pharmacist. I don't think those days are so bygone. At least they don't have to be if we don't let them. Create a 1950s renaissance right there in your own homes, neighborhoods and towns. Bring back the stay-at-home wives and the warm freshly-made chocolate chip cookies for the school kids when they get off the bus. As with all things, traditions and ways of life start small... right there within the individual family unit.

Long live orange shag carpet!!!

~RetroWife




2 comments:

Unknown said...

I am an educated, beautiful (ex bikini model) and outgoing woman who worships her husband. I quit a $89,000. year job so that I could stay home and take care of him.

Sure the kids are away at college now, but we are more in love than ever. There is nothing wrong with this lifestyle. I'm just sad it went away before I was born!

Mrs. James Lathem

Unknown said...

I was born in 1982 in South Africa, you'd think that life in South africa is backward....but we have the same issues the whole world is struggling with.

I wish my wife & i could be transported back to an age where wives stayed at home, people had morals, people were well mannered, had respect for others.
I love the 1950's...to me it sounds like a generation i would've fit in perfectly with. People knew each other!