Post #327027 by JackLord on Tue, Aug 21, 2007 9:45 AM

I have begun to wonder about living in the past myself as of late. I too am too young (42) to have experienced a lot of the retro culture first hand. But I recall the “tail end” so to speak. I remember my grandparents and their Don Ho records, aluminum Christmas tree with color wheel, their amoeba ash trays and their love of bowling. I remember when ranch houses were the norm rather than the McMansion. Hell, I remember a time before cable tv.

It fascinates me, particularly the aforementioned relative innocence of the times. A lot of it is just plain cool. But I try to remember that history is a “generous editor.” Its not like those times did not have their share of problems as well (Jim Crow, McCarthy, Polio, etc). The houses and drinks were cool, but they still required mortgages and common sense.

Still, the digital age seems to bring its own problems, namely the destruction of the attention span and a peaceful pace in society. People, all people, seem to have less and less respect for one another. Our quaint landscape becomes ever more sterile and uniform. People complain, yet it keeps morphing.

Oh well, perhaps I will cash out my 401(K) and finance an updated version of The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit.