When I was growing up as a kid in the eighties there was this one defining feature that you would see everywhere, and now that it’s gone, I get a weird sort of nostalgia for it. And it’s really rather odd, if I do say so myself. That feature? You might ask… Massive rippling burgundy curtains on every wall or surface. Going to the movies? You could expect stairs, levels, and burgundy curtains everywhere. Going ice skating indoors? We’ll do I have news for you, along with burgundy curtained walls we have blue cloud sky patterns on the ice, a magnificent cyan blue. Rippling burgundy textiles were either all the rage from the seventies with heavy carry over into the eighties, or had its hey day in the eighties. That shit was every fucking where. Inside restaurants. And I miss it. It was a bold statement! Couldn’t tell you what it was trying to say, but it was loud, bold, and omnipresent. The colour of my youth outside the home — burgundy; rippled hanging curtains, with gold tasseled ends, or draw strings. Black objects with gold or silver inlays. Black porcelain toilets. Dark stained wooden cabinets, hutches, and tables. It was a wild time. Dim orange lighting, and ash trays and heavy smokers. Not a good time if you were asthmatic.
Then we got builders beige, Millenial grey, dark slate grey homes with black trim, open concept homes, dual toned kitchen uppers from lowers, marbles and granites for counter tops, soon carpet will be back in fashion leaving hard wood & laminate floors covered up for another decade or more. The times they are a changing!
Funny the things we get nostalgic for isn’t it. Sometimes it is people, places, old brands or toys, but I think the hardest hit are the “feelings” we experienced from our youth. There’s no going home, as they say. Which house from my youth would I yearn for anyway? We moved a double digit number of times. My childhood home memory spans five, or six, possibly more places. Houses, apartments, different countries, and entirely different groups of surrounding people. If I had the chance to “go home” where would that even be?
Speaking of which, the last time I moved was 2009, this is the longest stretch of time that I have lived in one place, with the same friend group, and the same neighbours, and I think my kids benefit from having roots of their own developing here. One childhood home where all the memories are. We’ll, besides the inlaws house, farm property, and the cottage, but those also don’t move or change locations, we do. We go there. It doesn’t randomly become a new destination to find every few years.
I grew up feeling nomadic, and I’m not outgoing enough for it anymore. Making new friends over, and over, and over again isn’t in my wheel house anymore. I really don’t want to move even if we somehow come into money, via lottery or otherwise. I love my tiny house. I’ll stay put I think. Although I did get pretty good at moving, and paring my life down to fit a number of totes, boxes, bags, and bins. I love a good purge! I can spring clean like the best of them. Marie Kondo has nothing on me! You just have to remind yourself that your house will not magically expand in size just because you cleaned out some closets, cabinets, or storage rooms. The foot print remains the same, but you might enjoy some visual freedom from clutter, or have an easier time opening doors, or walking with fewer items in the way.
How did large hanging burgundy curtains become a discussion on purging, moving, and childhood nostalgia? I don’t know, but my disorganized mind took us there didn’t it? Sure did Bob.
It’s Saturday, and the last day of January. I have had the second best ever month on this blog this January. I hit 800 or more views. Wild. I don’t expect to hear the 2,000 in one month like last July, but this is a very strong start to the year. My fifteen cents in ad revenue is a testament to that! So thank you! Germany, Singapore, even the US, and the UK have put up significant numbers here already this year. I do not know what you have found, or that which you seek, but I’m happy you found this wee little blog on your travels. Thanks for stopping by, and looking in. Ciao Bella!
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