Because we were creative children, our parents needed to craft creative punishments.
Once, my mom threatened to transform our house into the era that she grew up (the 70s). The TV would display a single digit number of channels. Our orange juice would have a surge in the population of pulp (a horror in the Bolinger household). And, we would spend a significant amount of time outdoors rather than in front of the television.
My siblings pleaded with her not to implement the punishment.
I begged her to do it.
Although she never followed through with the sentence, I always wanted to live in a different time period.
Although she never followed through with the sentence, I always wanted to live in a different time period. The 40s intrigued me with rich music. 50s: a strong sense of familial connection. 60s: the fashion. Elderly people always reflect upon "the good ol' days." I never had the good ol' anything.
They had Sinatra. I had the smartphone.
The 40s was a selfless time. I had the selfie stick.
They feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I: an overwhelming sense of missing out.
Of course, I do not hate living in the 21st century. My freshman year of high school I caught a disease which would have lead to my death in any other time period that did not begin with a 20. And, I will never turn a blind eye to horrors that have happened in past generations. I'm not here to say the 1940s was a perfect place to live. because it wasn't. No decade has a perfect track record.
No decade has a perfect track record.
But, I find myself in a terrible state of in-between.
I sympathize with elderly people as society shuns, ignores, and condescends them. At the same time, I shrivel under the scrutiny older generations place millennials. Because, often, I do not have the same habits.
I would always rather talk face-to-face than over text. Dating today definitely does match my ideal. I would rather play Balderdash with my grandma than binge on Netflix. If a man holds a door for me, I believe he's being chivalrous not patronizing.
The list goes on for generations.
Perhaps, being old-fashioned is not as big a conundrum as I imagine. My generation surges forward through life, through progress, through achievements like mountain hikers. Never scanning behind to capture the view, always forward. Maybe my old-fashioned character exists so I can look back as they press on. I can admire leaps of progress, picturesque moments, and overcome struggles.
But, I will press on up the mountain. My boat against the current. Because we will be borne back ceaselessly into the past. We can't help it. But, when we do repeat history, I will remember. I will remember the climb.
