Wednesday, February 2, 2011

What Era Do You Feel You Belong?

Do you feel you were born in the wrong decade? Is there a persistent feeling that the era you live in is not the one you most identify? When reading about a different time period, do certain things resonate? Do you long for a time long ago... or not yet here? When you think of the ideal time period to live, when is it? These are the questions I thought about yesterday when I shoveled endless amounts of snow onto mountains of snow from previous storms. Take a moment to read and give your answer to the question, what era do you feel you belong?

I used to think I was misplaced in the generation I was born. My thoughts, ideas, and perspective seemed far off from those of my peers. I'd fantasize what life for me would have been like in the 1950s, married, raising children, staying home, and living an idyllic life. In fact, I have been so completely fortunate to be a stay-at-home wife and mother, leaving a career to do just that. I still wear dresses and, yes, have even vacuumed in my pearls! But, the longer I'm on this planet the more I learn, about it and myself. I now know how truly fortunate I am to live in this time period. The 1950s may have seemed like an ideal time in our country, but when I look how far we've come technologically, emotionally, and socially, I'm elated that I'm from "now".

Yes, I am a stay-at-home wife and mother, but I did have a career, one that I could go back to at any time. And, not only that, I am embarking on another career, from home, while raising my family and keeping house. I can do that from my office chair on a thing called a computer. My writings can be read by hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people worldwide (or, at least tens of people!). I can write about social issues without the fear of becoming a social outcast. My husband is my partner and we are a team. There is no distinction of bread winner vs. stay-at-home, and I'm fortunate, again, that he knows how very hard I work and contribute to our family. I have a state-of-the-art washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, and hair dryer cutting down the time I do my chores considerably. I can buy pre-packaged foods at the grocery and not have to make everything we eat from scratch! Even my salad comes pre-washed and  ready-to-eat in a bag! I don't have to sit at home waiting to see if the nurse from school calls to have me pick my sick child up, because the school has my cell phone number and I am "reachable". Whatever my interest there is a cable station on television to feed it and when I tire of that I can listen to any of my favorite songs on my iPod. Meanwhile, I can 'surf the 'Net while my children watch a DVD or stream something from Netflix on their Wii. I know how to drive and have a car to get me and my three children around in comfort. And, because I do not wish to have more children, there are endless choices for me to employ to ensure I won't have more! And they are very reliable! Are there problems in my era? Absolutely. But every era had problems and every one will, it's just part of life. I wish terrorism didn't exist, children wore their pants to cover their bums, and authority was respected more. I wish racism, religious wars/persecution, and hate crimes ceased to exist. But these problems, ageless and universal on our planet, do exist. Still, I believe this era is more enlightened, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking than any that came before. From annihilation of disease, global health initiatives, and relief missions, to our ever-smaller world, this is the time I feel is best. But perhaps we all feel a kinship to the era in which we live, even when we think that another age would have suited us better.

What say you? Do you feel you belong in a different era? Which one and why? Play along, ice is treacherous so you don't need to be going anywhere. Take a moment to tell about the era you belong!

10 comments:

  1. I feel very grateful to have been given the gift of living in the "now".

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  2. I think we all carry romanticized versions of the era we'd like to be from while the reality is probably quite different.

    I am from this era, for better or worse. There are things in my past that I prefer to current trends. On the flipside, there are some great advancements that I couldn't imagine as a kid but can't live without today (the internet? MP3 vs 8-track?).

    For better or worse, here I am.

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  3. I don't think the "Happy Days" were that happy. Everyone was digging bomb shelters.

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  4. While out to dinner a few month ago this topic came up and I immediately said the 1950's. God was still the center of most homes. People dressed up to go someplace rather than wear their pj bottoms to pick up some milk. There were just enough creature comforts (tv, washer/dryer, etc) to make things easier. People still met places to connect and socialize face to face.

    My only concern was the hatred of others because of the color of their skin. Unfortunately, this hasn't changed and it still sickens my stomach. Even among this the 50's still had this sense of innocence and peace.

    I also LOVE the clothes as well. I know the 50's weren't all pastels and lollipops, but I just love the early part of the decade.

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  5. I saw a news clip yesterday about how people over estimate their friends lives through the wholly edited medium of Facebook and I suspect the same thing happens with Era's especially thanks to the wholly edited medium of film and television, if I could time travel I head into the future, well aware that I would find it difficult to comprehend what I saw.

    As Racer suggests amazing is between the beginning and eternity here and now :-)

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  6. As a child of the late 60 early 70 and as my parents were real hippys, I have had the privalage of living in two era's, or maybe the curse. Although I hate the decaying morals of our time and cannot stand music the encorages our children to degrade women, our most precious comodity. I am so grateful that I can temper that with the living word and works of God. yes I love this era, it is where i feel at home...

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  7. I think this is a great era but the music leaves something to be desired. It's too digitally polished, as I like to call it. But music from the 50s-70s was raw and real. Someone singing one of their songs live and in person sounded as good as the record itself whereas today, unless they're lip syncing, it's like a different voice. I guess it could also be said that values and morals have dropped a good bit in today's times compared to the old days.

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  8. I'm ok with the era I'm from, seeing all the changes from world leaders to technology has been great to witness over the years. Its made me Jeopardy savy!

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  9. If there were such a thing as a one-way time machine, knowing that there would be no returning, I wonder how many would choose to "ride" it to another era? I'd guess that there would not be that many takers.

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  10. I have always known I am a bit of an old soul. To answer this particular question, ever since I was about 6 years old (too young to have studied history yet) I pictured myself in the Middle Ages - codes of chivalry, peerage, life at court, etc. And the clothing! A history major friend of mine from college later got a job as a historical consultant for film costuming. A dream. However, I realize that this fascination has probably been shaped by literature, as the plague and wars would have been less than romantic. And there are always re-enactment societies to have fun with. :)

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