Those Were the Days

I gotcompletely turned around and ended years and years of "sad and blue Christamases" and found,too, if I keep rehashing and bringingup old memories od sadness and disappointments: A Methodist Miniser in a Church I sometimes attended,right across thestree fromme in Westfield. Nj, held a special "Blue Christmas Service" for allof us sad peopel whowantedtoattend , at Christmas time!1 and He geve me a piece of information-reason for rehashing and being sad every Christmas- I was about 75 yrs of age thatyear- We have a hidden agenda that somehow it's all goingto change and be better!" Wow! Kicked the props out fromunder me as I knew inall my reasoning that he changeof the past was impossible! So STOP Revisiting IT! Clyde D Beaty SSGTUSMCRET DURHAM<NC

My husband and I visited the Norman Rockwell Museum several years ago, and enjoyed it very much. I, also subscribe to a magazine called "Good Old Days". We once visited The Amish country area in Penn., which was an amazing experience. The New England states, in the country areas, especially in the fall, is about as close as one gets to being able to relive a little of what life must have been like many years ago. I like lighthouses--probably from living around the ocean for so many years. If you want a taste of what times were like in the beginning of our country, visit Colonial Williamsburg, Va. Many of the old original homes from those days are still there, and very well maintained. There are many place one can visit to get a real feeling of the past.

Thank you for this article; it expresses the feelings so well of many people who enjoy re-visiting a time when things seemed simpler. We tend to forget that every era has had its problems, and we remember our childhood, or perhaps envision a time even before we were born thats appeals to our sense of longing for peace and calm and a time without so much fear of the unknown. I'm, basically, a realist, so I know we can't really "go home again", so this is a way we can, at least, re-visit an era from the past in an effort to re-assure ourselves that it is possible to live in a less stressful world. I have to admit that I like all my modern conviences---my cell phone and computer being my favorites, along with my car with its air conditioning and stereo, but it is nice to day dream about a time when.......

What an amazing article. I am on my own for the time being, and several years ago, became interested in collecting Art Deco antiques. I fell in love with Deco when I was fourteen, on a rainy Sunday afternoon touring second hand shops with my parents. I loved the connections that were made that day, I never saw things quite the same after seeing my first Frankart figurines and amazing overstuffed rainbow colored sofas and chairs. it was unique, and I was a unique, but rather lonely kid, pretty artistic when being an athlete was cooler, you remember the seventies, and this style suited me immensely. I collect all things Deco now, from sofas to sconces, i listen to vintage jazz and i even have a "Louise Brooks" bob. It is a time that was short but treasured, and surrounding myself with it, and my "Deco dog" Spike, ( who looks like something out of an old silent movie, eye patch and all) keeps loneliness away. I have formed some great friendships with antique dealers and other people who share my interest. We are kind of the same and it great to see the people when I am out searching for things and finding them too. Let your passion become you and it will be the cure for any loneliness you may be feeling. Thanks again for publishing this fabulous article. I knew there was something special about what I was doing. "Decogal" -Lynell Robertson

This article is right on target.
Being around older people all day has indicated to me for some time that nostalgia and memories are how they not only interact with others when outside their own space, but the realm of their world and home surroundings which they continue to pull in around them in order to feel comfortable; i.e., music, old tv shows, old material items, etc.
Too bad there is not one upbeat person for every lonely one to just touch base and create happiness through interaction on a daily basis.
Even telephone calls can heal an otherwise lonely day for someone out there. Take heed, those of you who have an extra few minutes each day.