It is l05 degrees in Oklahoma today and as I lay nestled in pillows, with the air conditioner and the fan on, I was delightfully comfortable. The novel I was reading was about Oklahoma and was set in l9l4. It caused me to wonder about the American wilderness of 300 years ago.

In every time we have different anxieties and different discomforts. I have always wondered how our founding fathers coped with itchy wigs and woolen clothing when there was so little in the way of comfort or bathing facilities in Colonial America. I have suffered through a summer on the Potomic with no air conditioning and I recall it well.

What about the pioneers who ventured into the wilderness with all their possessions in a covered wagon. Usually, their animals were tied alongside them. They were prey to disease, hostile Indians and all kind of misadventures when they had to ford rivers. Often the very old and the very young perished before they reached their destination.

I was born in a more innocent time. People seldom locked their doors and on hot summer nights slept outdoors. A freezer of home made ice cream was all the entertainment that we needed. That is, until World War II came along with an unprecidented loss of life.

Now, we live in a time of global uncertainty and anxiety.
We have all the creature comforts and entertainment instantly available. Goods and services abound. The computer puts us in touch with people around the world. Are we better off? Or does each century bring us closer to peace and tranquility? What do you think?

Comments:

so true jerri i couldnt have coped i would have fainted more times than not cant stand heat have to have my air con as for the indians i shudder to think great post kiddo

comment by oldroan on Aug 6, 2008 4:06 AM ()

I can remember when a fan blowing hot air was all we had and those awful car trips when you blew your hair silly.

reply by elderjane on Aug 6, 2008 11:09 AM ()

I don't think I could have survived in the days with no air conditioning and no creature comforts! Oh, heavens! Do you know what just happened? I was just thinking about what I was writing, and I was suddenly on my home page (MSN)! Now, isn't that strange? Technology! It causes strangeness, too!

comment by sunlight on Aug 5, 2008 11:17 AM ()

Technology is a blessing and sometimes a curse. I am longing to do something creative and I am thinking about a mosaic but it is so messy that I don't dare start it in this heat because it will have to be done outside.

reply by elderjane on Aug 6, 2008 11:12 AM ()

I miss the gentler pace, I miss the quiet look of places taken over by malls and urban sprawl, I miss street entertainers with "trained" chickens. I think the single greatest detriment to all life is pop culture. I am an anachronism. Happy about it though.

comment by tealstar on Aug 5, 2008 9:59 AM ()

I miss it too, Teal. Read Sunlight's latest blog..it is great.

reply by elderjane on Aug 5, 2008 11:09 AM ()

I think every generation has its own unique set of problems and benefits. I sometimes wish I had been born into a kinder, gentler era, but that is a thing of my fancy, not a past reality.

comment by dragonflyby on Aug 4, 2008 9:05 PM ()

I think maybe the Civil War may have been the hardest. The terrible loss of life plus not being able to trust your neighbor in some areas.

reply by elderjane on Aug 5, 2008 3:45 AM ()

comment by elfie33 on Aug 4, 2008 4:54 PM ()

I sort of think we have to endure what life demands of us.

reply by elderjane on Aug 5, 2008 3:47 AM ()

all these questions posed by you to ponder lately!
I think it's a trade off. I am glad I have a washer and dryer, yet I still don't have enough down time in my day, ya know? I dunno!

comment by kristilyn3 on Aug 4, 2008 4:26 PM ()

The conveniences we have are wonderful. I wish you could have more time for yourself but retirement will come sooner than you think. The older you get, the faster time passes.

reply by elderjane on Aug 5, 2008 3:51 AM ()

Think that the weather pattern has changed a lot since then.
Maybe the body heat.As for us we have all kinds of problems.
Stress,money,etc.This heat up the body and you feel so hot from
it.Those day they did not have all the problems that is happening
here.The climate changing also.

comment by fredo on Aug 4, 2008 4:15 PM ()

I think global warming makes for hotter summers. We would give our eyeteeth for some rain.

reply by elderjane on Aug 5, 2008 3:52 AM ()