I finally got around to take an old chair to an upholsterer.
After years of storing it in attics I decided to spend the money to re
upholster the early 1900's Victorian high back that I just can't part
from. The fabric is torn in several places but the style and
construction so far superior than the machine made chairs one would buy
today. I cast the antique status aside (re upholstering pushes the value
downward but the condition of the original fabric made it un usable).
Point is, I like old things far better than new.
When the chair is re done I will have a relic of the distant past and it will impart a personality to my house that a new piece of furniture will not. Strange, I like new houses but old furniture. It's probably because I am realistic enough to know that new houses need far less care and expensive maintenance than do old ones. I have always bought newer houses and placed my old furniture in each, this even though I prefer to look of old construction. My schizophrenic sides show...old versus new.
Maybe my resistance to technology is because of my life-time enchantment with things old. Though it's true that as we age we cling to and embrace old things, I have always done that. My daughter is amused by my stance and my vow to not only never own or use a cell phone, but to have an inscription on my gravestone that reads, 'He Never Had A Cell Phone'. I suspect that those in the future who might read that will think I was either a visionary or a nut. No need for your opinion! I know which you think applies.
Humans have to adopt some new ideas and technology. To not do so would be to ostracize oneself from society and to deny oneself of some of its improvements. The problem today is that technology changes so fast people now don't judge which new invention or idea is improved and which is not. They simply accept the new. Hence we have mindless use of the new, some of which is detrimental to maintaining a kinder and more sensible society.
Those of us old enough to remember the world prior to technological invasion that began in the 60's will admit that things work more easily and efficiently today, but that those using the devices have become coarser and less caring toward other members of society. While providing us with amusement and efficiency, the new has also isolated us from our fellow humans. No wonder I need that old chair to speak to me again!
When the chair is re done I will have a relic of the distant past and it will impart a personality to my house that a new piece of furniture will not. Strange, I like new houses but old furniture. It's probably because I am realistic enough to know that new houses need far less care and expensive maintenance than do old ones. I have always bought newer houses and placed my old furniture in each, this even though I prefer to look of old construction. My schizophrenic sides show...old versus new.
Maybe my resistance to technology is because of my life-time enchantment with things old. Though it's true that as we age we cling to and embrace old things, I have always done that. My daughter is amused by my stance and my vow to not only never own or use a cell phone, but to have an inscription on my gravestone that reads, 'He Never Had A Cell Phone'. I suspect that those in the future who might read that will think I was either a visionary or a nut. No need for your opinion! I know which you think applies.
Humans have to adopt some new ideas and technology. To not do so would be to ostracize oneself from society and to deny oneself of some of its improvements. The problem today is that technology changes so fast people now don't judge which new invention or idea is improved and which is not. They simply accept the new. Hence we have mindless use of the new, some of which is detrimental to maintaining a kinder and more sensible society.
Those of us old enough to remember the world prior to technological invasion that began in the 60's will admit that things work more easily and efficiently today, but that those using the devices have become coarser and less caring toward other members of society. While providing us with amusement and efficiency, the new has also isolated us from our fellow humans. No wonder I need that old chair to speak to me again!
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