Looking Forward in the Rear View Mirror

Nostalgia. That terrible ailment  that drags us mercilessly back to the day when we were, usually, we thought, (Choose all that apply.) happier, better off, richer, more content, love school, glad to get out of school, and we had not a worry in the world, and if we did, who cared?

Meaning a sentimental longing for the past, especially for a period of happy associations, the term nostalgia describes a longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.  From the Greek "nóstos", meaning "homecoming", and  "álgos", meaning "pain or, ache" it has become and obsessive longing for some, and an excuse to remain immature for the rest of one's life.

 That terrible ailment  that drags us mercilessly back to the day when we were, usually, we thought, (Choose all that apply.) happier, better off, richer, more content, love school, glad to get out of school, and we had not a worry in the world, and if we did, who cared?

Meaning a sentimental longing for the past, especially for a period of happy associations, The term nostalgia describes a sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.  From the Greek "nóstos", meaning "homecoming", and  "álgos", meaning "pain or, ache" it has become and obsessive longing for some, and an excuse to remain immature for the rest of one's life.



Like most who revel in the nostalgic days of their youth, I h ave a "nostalgic" file. Old photographs, letters, knick-knacks of an event or occasion remember with fond thoughts of those earlier days. Looking through it one day,  I came across a photograph of a tea stall that was situated opposite a well frequented pub, (but at the age of 14,  not by me). In my cycling days, when a 50 or even a 100 mile round trip was easily attained. The roads were relatively free of traffic, and this tea stall was at the end of a 12  mile ride, and where a tired but happy cyclist could slake his thirst with a strong "cuppa."

 Taken in 1945, it was complete as I remember it. A large tent within which cups of tea, sodas and other refreshments were served.   I spent many a Saturday or Sunday visiting Epping where The Rising Sun  public house was just inside the countryside, latterly  known as The Green Belt, a broad swath of undeveloped countryside surrounding what was then t he largest city in the world.. 
Beyond lay Epping Forest proper, full of oaks and ash and brambles. There was always a jar of wild blackberries for Mum on my return.

I had forgotten all about those trips, pedaling  past Victorian and Edwardian housing, rundown in a poor economy or bombed out -  both results from World War II, dodging in and out of traffic, avoiding the trolley lines, and having my bones shaken out by the ubiquitous cobble-stoned streets.The cobblestones have gone, except for tourist expectations of a Dickensian London, as have the trolleybuses, the traffic is king and  the houses still look the same but smarter and upgraded,s  full of gadgets and decor the Victorians and Edwardians dared not dream of..

For me, nostalgia almost always brings on a feeling of happiness. I am not sure this is because the world today seems to be a lot more unhappy than it was in my younger days, or that I only remember the happy times.

It was said that the singing of Kuhreihen, a traditional song played on a horn, was forbidden to Swiss mercenaries because it produced not only an emotion of nostalgia, but encouraged them to desert. This led to nostalgia to the point of desertion, illness or death.  I haven't quite reached that stage yet. The internet feeds my need to visit my past, and to remember the various portions of my progress.

 Were they really the good old days? I think it depends upon your outlooks, political social, financial and mental make up. (One of my daughters incurs my envy as she can't remember a thing before her teen years.) Bankers would not recall the Depression, railroad lovers moon for the days of luxury rail travel, and Midwest farmers long for the days when they had rain!


I am now living in my children's good old days!