Old-Fashioned

On By granonineIn Daily Prompt, Word Press Challenges

Archaic

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.

 

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From the Greek root arkhe, beginning, this word has come to mean very old or old-fashioned. 

Younger folks today, for example, often think that the music I love is archaic. Maybe, but at least it has a melody consisting of more than four or five notes repeated endlessly until the song is finally over.  I’ll take archaic to what passes for some types of music today. Here’s one example of what I mean:

If you’re a fan, then enjoy yourself. If  you’re bored after the first 60 seconds, feel free to move right along. You are not required to listen to the whole thing. You’re welcome.

There are some things, of course, that truly are archaic–and that I’m thankful have passed off the scene. High-button shoes.  Bustles.  Foot-binding.  Hoop skirts. Corsets. Layers and layers of petticoats. That list is endless.

I’m also very glad that I don’t have to deal with a wood-burning kitchen range; that my water is available at the turn of a knob or lever; that I don’t have to use an outhouse or a chamber pot;  that I can luxuriate in a daily shower or bath. That list could go on for a long time, too.

There are things about the “olden days,” as they are sometimes called, that I think we should bring back.  No public displays of affection. That’s a big one.  I’m not a prude.  No, I’m NOT!  But I really object to having people make out Right.In. Front. Of. Me. in the grocery checkout line.  Good grief.  Get a room.

I also think it would be a good thing to just turn off all our electronics for a few hours now and then. Civil conversation has become a lost art, which is one of the reasons I do so much marital counseling in my office. People just don’t know how to communicate with each other any more. Listening?  Yeah, that’s a thing of the past.  We need to learn to listen in order to understand, not just to respond.

However, when I think of some other archaic practices, such as blood-letting or the use of leeches in medicine, I’m very thankful to be living in the present.  One archaic practice that I wouldn’t have minded  was that women were expected to remain in bed for two or three weeks after giving birth.

I think we should revive that one.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/archaic/

 

 

11 thoughts on “Old-Fashioned”

  1. What a whimsical post, thank you for sharing! I’m glad that outhouses remain archaic, at least in some parts of the world. My archaic prompt is about a garden treasure that I found last night, which was a perfect remedy for the day’s previous melancholy!

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    1. Di you know that when I click on thethoughtgalleryblog.wordpress.com the message comes up that it doesn’t exist? Same when I click just on your name. I found your blog earlier this morning by clicking on the link you used yesterday.

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  2. I agree — so glad some things have passed and technology has made life so much simpler. Lasers can zap cancer cells; e-mail can zap a letter to Timbuktu in a few seconds. Though your point re: lack of conversation is valid. It’s a challenge to stay upbeat and not to slip into lamentations at times, isn’t it?

    I’m feeling old-fashioned myself today. I’ve just read Jill the Reckless by P G Wodehouse. An excellent book from back when songs had words and books had stories. 🙂 My mind is turning over what makes a book “a golden oldie” and where we writers are missing that boat these days. And wondering if there’s any point posting my thoughts on my blog.

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    1. Oh, Wodehouse! A timeless favorite 🙂

      For me, the point of posting my thought on my blog is that it feels good to have a platform. Also, I enjoy immensely the feedback I get, and my stats are increasing at a steady rate. Have to keep my eye on the small rewards 🙂

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  3. fantastic, Granonine and a charming song !!! A very interesting association and a wonderful execution. I am entirely of your opinion (and almost identical). I’m also glad that some things are no longer there and some would be nice if we could have it back. A wood stove I find very comfortable, but I agree that you have to sigh very much with it, if you only heat with wood. Medical and all the scientific achievements made our life very pleasant and many things (such as a mobile phone) you will not want to do without. Unfortunately, this development has not completely followed the spiritual and social, and there are now deep abysses that must be taken serious. So maybe we need a “renaissance of humanities and arts”? Also, there is so much holistic knowledge about man and nature that has been lost and what could help us all if the knowledge was revived. (and I’m not just talking about grandma’s home remedies like calf rolls and onion wraps).

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    1. Anie, here is America there is a very strong interest in holistic healing. Many health food stores offer a wide variety of natural approaches. Of course the AMA (American Medical Association) isn’t happy about it, and neither are the big pharmaceutical manufacturers. And of course we must approach the alternate treatments with research and care, bur that is also true of taking prescription meds.

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  4. anie

    Oh Granonine, the interest in holistic healing is not American, it is a matter of clearing up and faith. Even in Europe, the pharma lobby is strong and evil tongues rightly claim that the industry has no interest in health and that they are observing the development of childhood diabetes and malnutrition for fast food with a smiling face. But that does not matter, when people are cleared up and thus can avoid diseases. Furthermore, I have to say that I was still educated very old-fashioned and I brought my children only in an emergency to the doctor. I have a big book “Paediatrics” and got all small complaints or fever attacks with home remedies under control and I had two very different children. A son who had a terrible “3-month colic” … that means the first 3 months every evening screaming for hours and swaying the baby to sleep for hours every night, blow warm air with the hairdryer on his belly and massage the stomach, so that he fell asleep exhausted. Since then, he is very healthy and never gets ill. My daughter, on the other hand, slept through eight hours at night on the first day of her life. After I was released home right after birth, I woke up with a shock the next morning because I was sure that I had not heard the baby. But no, she did not need milk only sleep. She is often sick, but I’ve always wanted to fight as much as possible with tea and home remedies…and well she is still more my problemchild, but no biggeser illness….but anyway it feels good, to know what to do, if there are little illness or diseases…

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