Sunday, February 28, 2016

A (sort of) Time Travel Weekend...

Saturday February 27, 2016
My friend and I who are both proud members of Generation X decided to watch the pilot episode of "Fuller House," a spin-off of "Full House" which graced the airways 25 years ago. Hard to believe that much time has passed. Deep sigh. Anyway, all the former cast members were back for the episode minus Mary Kate/Ashley Olsen who played the adorable baby, Michelle. This didn't go unnoticed or unmentioned by the cast who all stared into the camera after it was said that Michelle couldn't be there because she was in NYC managing her successful fashion career (which is entirely true as the twins have their own clothing line). One couldn't really blame them since they were both only babies when the series started, so they didn't have the same bonding experience the rest of the cast had. Still, it would have been nice if one of them could have at least skyped in for the pilot.


Later that day Andrew and I went to see the studio Ghibli film, "Only Yesterday," which is about a young woman who grew up in the big city (and still lives there) but spends her vacation time helping out at a farm so she can spend time in the countryside. While there she reminisces quite a lot about her ten year old self. I could definitely sympathize with her difficulties with math, though for me it was seventh grade when I felt like the class dunce (that was the year we were introduced to geometry).


In the evening we watched a program on the BBC i-Player called "Back in Time for the Weekend." I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I saw the program description, but was pleasantly surprised after watching the first episode. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06zyt4z

It's a bit of reality TV where a London-based family of four agrees to take part in a social experiment where they have to spend one week living life in another decade. Part of that entails letting their house undergo transformation (this means gutting their kitchen, living room and downstairs loo) rather than moving the family to another location.


This episode was set in the 1950s, so we got to see lots of cool mid-century modern wallpaper, textiles, and furniture, in addition to clothing and food choices. I agree with their 12 year old son, Seth, who said he had the easiest experience because so little was expected of him. Aside from attending school and Sunday school, he didn't have to do any chores, and he and his mates even got to go camping. His sixteen year old sister was a housewife-in-training who had a ballroom dancing lesson as her one extra-curricular activity. The father had to learn basic carpentry and install a doorbell and build a little table while the mother was left to cook and clean and do all the grocery shopping. Yes, life definitely sucked for women until the invention of modern appliances to help with some of the more grueling chores.

I can't wait to watch the next episode where they're put through the paces of life in the 1960s.

Have a good week everyone!

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