Those Were the Days

From 1970-1980 the local paper here on the South Shore ran a column called, “Those Were the Days.” It was written by a former school teacher from the area, born in the early 1900’s. Her column was quite popular among readers. It was reminiscent of life growing up in a rural setting, at a time many of us could only imagine. I love the nostalgic feel her column produced as it brought the past front and centre, and sometimes had me dreaming about life in much simpler times. Much of what she wrote about I was familiar with, but there was also new things to be learned about life lived long before I was born.

We say that life was much harder back then and yet I wonder if people complained less about the way things were and just accepted them as the way life was. Maybe they were too busy in survival mode, preparing for the upcoming seasons, making sure there was plenty of food and wood and hay for the livestock to get them through the winter months. People did not run to the grocery store the way we do. They stock-piled food and supplies. If they made it from one season to the next, most times that was all they asked for.

The author of the column didn’t speak about her own specific experiences but wrote about life in general; a time before there were TVs and when no one locked their doors, and how simple life was back then when so many of the things we now take for granted were luxury items. But I suppose it is like that for each generation that comes along as people run out to purchase the newest gadgets to keep up with the rest of society. No one wants to be left behind. We call it progress.

When we look back fifty years ago, we can see so many changes in our world–some good. others not so good , depending upon who you ask.

A book came out quite an number of years ago with many of these same newspapers columns in it. I found an extra copy of the book among my mother’s things and it prompted me to start reading it again. I’m not sure why, but it feels like a good winter read and I’ve been saving it for my treadmill sessions. While much of what the author writes about are memories from long before I was born, there are still many things in the book I can relate to from my own childhood. Rural life moves at a slower pace and it often takes much longer for us to catch up to the rest of the world. Not surprising, many of us living in the country have hung onto some of the older ways. It’s just a part of who we are. I suppose that is why so many of the things she wrote about feels relevant to my growing up years.

The author wrote about how fast-paced the world was back in the 70’s, which is something I hear echoed these days by many people my age. Maybe that is something each generation feels. I find it interesting that she spoke about how fast paced life was becoming and I wonder what the author would think of the world we live in today, where thoughts and information can be shared in a matter of seconds.

I have to admit there are many things that us rural people have hung onto, things that have been passed down through the generations. Maybe it’s ingrained within us. I enjoy revisiting these stories of life before I was born and oddly enough I feel a certain connection to it as well.

While some things are becoming lost to the past, there might be some hope out there that at least some of these things will continue on. I see a new generation gaining interest in some of the older ways. Mind you, it certainly looks different than it did in the past but that it to be expected. People are raising “urban chickens” and gardening on small plots of land. They are back to canning vegetables and baking bread, making soap.

This winter as I work on the edits of my upcoming book, I’ll keep this little book close for inspiration. Coincidently, my next book is set around 1920 in rural Nova Scotia and was inspired by a friend of mine who was born around the same time as the main character. I won’t yet share the title with you as it could change. What I will do it share the cover, etc here as things come together.

One last thing–thanks for taking time out of your busy day to read my thoughts. I absolutely appreciate it!

Posted by Laura Best on January 4, 2022

https://lauraabest.wordpress.com/2022/01/04/those-were-the-days/