Well I gave this some thought…I did try to do a bit of research to make sure my timeline is accurate but with this lack of Internet, you will have to forgive a few mash-ups.
You must also forgive any spelling and grammar errors as I am one finger typing on my iPhone to try and get a post up. My finger is already going numb…
Cave Man Days – No because of a few things. First I saw Clan of the Cave Bear when I was too young and there was a scene that has bothered me ever since. I think it was Darryl Hannah who got dragged by her hair and shagged doggy style without any foreplay or talk of ‘gosh you look wonderful tonight’ or Lionel Ritchie singing softly in the background. So that doesn’t appeal to me. There is the living in the cave thing too which does not appeal to my issues with germs and dirt. Plus there is no bread, custard, pasta, coffee, chocolate or cake. So no thanks.
Ancient Civilizations – Egyptian, Greek and Roman – I do fancy being royalty of some sort in these times. I also think it would be totally awesome to be one of the great minds who started to build modern mechanisms and philosophies for societies to flourish. However with all the sodomy, incest and gross fighting stuff, I don’t think I’m cut out for it. I really have issues with with sanitation, and I know Rome and Greece did some awesome stuff in this area. I guess I just feel concerned about sharing baths or only bathing every other day. Also I really think any time where women are expected to sit, look pretty and stare into space is just not for me, and despite doing the domestic stuff I think that is what was expected. Finally no chocolate, coffee and I’m sure no custard or pasta yet.
1800’s – Jane Austin Times – Only if Mr Darcy gets out of that fishpond and sweeps me off my feet. Seriously though, way too much wandering around the gardens for ‘constitutionals’, not enough getting dirty, speaking your mind no freedom to have a personality. Blah. The romance is not enough to want me to be there. I would wear the pretty dresses though with my boobies all pushed up like they were when I was nineteen. Not sure chocolate or coffee were readily available here which would make me grumpy. No amount of fresh air can compensate for caffeine.
1900’s – A lot of interesting scientific, mechanical and engineering feats were going on here which makes it intriguing. Not sure about the boofy dresses, corsets and ribbons in the hair. Not happy about the lack of womens rights and again, lots of women sipping tea, gossiping and staring into space. Not really my scene.
The 20’s-50’s – This era I do love. I would be more than happy to hang with the likes of Sartre, de Beauvoir, artists like Cezanne, Picasso and all those literary hero’s we still speak of today. To be immersed in this bohemian romantic arty-farty world somewhere like Paris would please me. I can totally pull off the beret but I don’t fancy the STDs going around back then. I love the glamour element of the 30’s – 50’s. The clothes, the elegance, the gorgeous manners and etiquette. However it all came at a price didn’t it. Repressing your desires, feelings, emotions to do what society felt was the right thing. If you didn’t you were ‘out there’. Which I really would be more comfortable with anyway.
50’s – 60’s – Oh so done. No thanks, except I would have been able to stalk and possibly marry Paul Newman and/or Cary Grant. Oh la la!
1970’s – Oh yes. That retro style is fabulous. I was born in the 70’s so I guess a part of me never left. Am I the only one who got excited when fondue became cool again a few years back?
1980’s – I would totally live as an adult here. I would be a feminist trail blazer, the professional corporate kind. Not the other type – no offense. I want the hair styles, shoulder pads, and I want the Count Down life (reference to Australia there – best rock’n’roll show ever on TV).
1990’s – Oh gosh no. Nothing exciting happened here, except my gorgeous niece and nephew were born.
This brings us to where we are now. Honestly, if I could turn back time (not interested in forwards thanks), I would like to go back just six months with the hindsight I have now. I would make sure that we made some different decisions about our life here in the Philippines. So when we got to where we are now, there would be less tears and worry. There are no regrets here, it’s just that hindsight is so wonderful and for two clueless adults with two little children, some decisions could have been made differently, to make life a little easier.
6 Comments
Turning back time for just a few months would actually be the most beneficial! Great idea!!
You're a brave soul for diving right in to the unknown!
Though I don't know the specifics of your very last paragraph, I can relate! I feel the same way about decisions we've made about moving to Hawaii. Wish I had the knowledge I had now…but then again, if I did, we might not have even come. And I don't regret coming! It has been a learning experience for sure 🙂
I love how you outlined each era and reminded me of why I *really* wouldn't want to live in those times either…even though it sounds neat for just a minute. Haha.
Thanks Andrea. I honestly could not think of a better time than right now. We are at the edge of such greatness. We have a freedom never before experienced. We have amazing diversity and technology that puts us at each other's door. We are so blessed to be living now.
Thanks Marie, the thing is I didn't think it would be as 'unknown' as it is! I was all like 'yeah I've travelled through Asian countries, I'm totally all over it, not living there but am totes cool'…yeah good one hey! However ugly some days get though, it is always an adventure and as I said to my sister today, a series of thing will happen that almost break me, then something special happens which renews my courage. It always happens at the right time, when I really need that hope. Then I'm smiling again and able to see the really cool aspect of living here.
Thanks V. I was told by a friend who moved to Aus that you don't realise how emotional it is while your in the thick of it, it's once your on the other side, unpacked and sitting in your new home looking around that you go 'OMFG'. It is big, whichever place you move to and when you have children there is more to consider. We will be ok. Small things become big when your finding your way. Big things become beanstalks to the moon to climb. 8)