FF – Think it Through
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Sandra Crook.
Click on the froggy for all the stories.
Copyright Sandra Crook
“It’ll be amazing, my love! We shall live as in Steam Age times! We shall eschew modern technology and replicate a simpler time!”
… Christ… “I don’t know. I rather like my home digital assistant…” … last week it was ‘open a meditation retreat’…
“Steam trains, washing in the stream, clean air, making our own entertainment…”
The train went past. They began to hack and cough, smoke filling their lungs.
“As I was saying, my love… dirty transport, bubonic plague, no antibiotics, filthy smoky air, boring evenings with no Netflix… we should respect the status quo…”
“I think that would be best, dear.” … idiot…
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Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be
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Nope. Nothing’s ever quite as good as you remember/imagine.
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Ha. I took one of those tourist steam trains into the Colorado Rockies. The view was beautiful, but I got a cinder in my eye. Still worth the trip.
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Some form of goggles next time, perhaps? 🙂
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Yes.
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You reminded me of that day, so I wrote about it in my Friday Ficitoneer.
Thanks.
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🙂
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HAHAHA! The good old days without technology. How did they ever survive? 😀
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It’s a miracle we made it this far…
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There are some benefits to modern living, it has to be said!
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Definitely. It wasn’t all romantic steam train journeys back then!
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Ah, yes, the old days. Outdoor toilets, pumping for water, bathing in galvanized steel tubs, wringer washers, butter churns, carpet beaters, spading the garden, coal oil lamps… Why did we ever improve on all that. 😉 Thanks for the reminder.
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I felt it necessary to put a stop to all this “olden days” romanticism 🙂
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every age has its own problems indeed. 🙂
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For sure 🙂
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Ha ha ha, if only we could carry everything to the past 🙂
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That would be cool!
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Not exactly a man of conviction is he? Great take.
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It’s probably for the best that he doesn’t carry all his ideas through to fruition! I’m glad you liked it.
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I’ve always wondered about the over-romanticism of days of yore… I, for one, enjoy indoor plumbing 😉
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Me too. I think time travellers would be in for a rude awakening!
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This was a fabulous read, as per, Alistair!
There are times I would love to visit… but not do without a loo!
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Yes, just a quick look and home in time for tea, that’s the ticket! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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😀
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I think the hill top cottage needs a bit of work too!
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It is looking a bit run down, to be sure!
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But….. but somewhere in 1885 Doc Brown exists! He can bring us all of the modern marvels of 1985! When there was no Netflix. No digital assistants. No….. er, nevermind.
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1985’s not all Doc Brown’s cracked it up to be…
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What? No Netflix? Oh no, you can keep the ‘ole days!
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It’s like the Dark Ages or something!
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I’d never have clean clothes. Ha!
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Down to the stream and then cranking the mangle’s not my idea of a fun time either 🙂
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In the good old days … okay, well, maybe it wasn’t all good. Enjoyed your story as alway! =)
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Every era has its downside I guess. I wouldn’t like to lose my indoor toilet! I’m glad you liked it 🙂
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Oh, for sure. When we travel to Mongolia in the summers we have to use the outdoor facilities and I’m always reminded how thankful I am. I think that’s the top of my list!! =)
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I wouldn’t enjoy using an outhouse very much 😦
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A nice take on the prompt. I wonder how long it will be before his more sensible partner gets fed up and leaves him for someone practical?
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It must be quite wearing on her. And also worrying that one day he might actually try one of his mad ideas!
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Dear Ali,
All those things we don’t think about when we romanticize the present and all those modern conveniences we’ve come to depend on. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It’s all too easy to forget the hardships alongside a “simpler” life.
Ali
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Yes, the ways of the past look much simpler and easier to us than the reality thereof. People think it would be fun until they have to work all day chopping wood for one night’s fire, or spend that day slaving over said fire to cook, or spend the day grinding the corn into the flour that will be mixed with the oil/fat that you harvested from the poor beast that your personally had to slaughter…. yeah, we all think it would be easier and simpler until reality strikes.
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Yes, it may have seemed simpler but it was certainly far harder.
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What you mean it wasn’t a golden age? Love the conversational style of this.
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I’m sure it was really 😉 I’m glad you liked it!
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Made me smile, like the irony in it, loved their quirky conversation. Nicely done.
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Yes, going back to live in an earlier age is going to be painful – let’s appreciate where we are today.
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Yes. Lots of issues today but every era had them. Let’s just be happy where we are right now.
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A good, well-written story, Ali. The farther back in history you go the worse it gets. Memory or imagination can blot out all the inconveniences. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Even memories of past experiences in our own lives can be somewhat rose-tinted… 🙂
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Sweet pollution. Breathe in and meditate 😀.
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Breathe, cough and… relax 🙂
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We always hanker for the good old days – forgetting that there has always been good and bad in life. Although some people do manage to abandon the modern world and live close to nature in remote places. I don’t know how they do it.
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Me neither. Sounds great in theory, but…
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The only thing I am nostalgic of is being young again 🙂 I think that many people confuse their youth with the era in which they were young.
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Yes, I’d like to be a kid in the 70s again, but not an adult in the 70s.
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Exactly 🙂
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A perfect title for this story! Yes, if people only thought it through instead of seeing the past with rose-tinted glasses. Those who lived before running water and electricity must have been a tough bunch!
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For sure. Water from the well/stream, cooking over a fire… no thanks.
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Time gone by may look romantic from a distance, like the present past also had its problems. Not everything was hunky-dory then.
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No, I think we’re better off where/when we are. The grass isn’t always greener.
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So many people talk about “the good old days” and it is much like what you have put forth here. Idiots. lol
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I’ve been guilty of it too. Growing up in the 70s, not a care in the world… my parents have a different take on it, they just shielded us from it.
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As they are supposed to. ❤
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Ah the good old days. But there was no central heating so count me out. Great fun.
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Yeah. Brr 🙂
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Nice write. Original.
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Thanks!
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