Saturday 23 February 2019

The Best Decade?

This was a hard prompt to answer. My automatic response is the 1920's for the fabulous fashion. I would have loved to have got round in the feathers and sequins and tasseled dresses. Also the drop waisted daily wear suits me. They were also mad for dancing. We don't dance enough these days, if you ask me.



We saw Eddie Izzard last night (apologies if I've not got the pronouns right, just googled and 'he' predominated), and he raised a point that we were like in the 1930's again, and we all know how great that worked out for everyone. Later on, he stated that we would either wipe ourselves out off the planet completely in the next 80 years if we continued the way we did (in it's destruction) or we needed to stand up and insist on change (environmentally, economically etc). It's an interesting concept and I think he's probably unfortunately right. We can make it better for everyone, or we will end it all.

As for me personally? I'm very much of the La Cage Aux Folles song mindset. The best of times is now.

'The best of times is now
As for tomorrow, well, who knows?'

There are always difficult times but I think I'm probably stronger and better at handling them (so much practice by this age!).

'Now, not some forgotten yesterday
Now, tomorrow is too far away'

Things are easy with the internet, we travel more, we can do more*, musically we can reach more artists of our choosing than ever before** and we can stay in contact with our friends around the world with ease. When the problems arise, it's easier to get help - medical or emotional. People are more accepting and tolerant of difference. We're better educated in terms of diversity or disability (generally speaking). We are making life easier and happier for more and more & more people on the planet. Equality is slowly creeping into the lives of a myriad of minorities. Still a long way to go but this all has to be an improvement on what went on in the preceding decades.

It is up to us, I guess. If we want this decade to be our best one, we need to make it so. Like the song says:

"So hold this moment fast
And live and love
As hard as you know how
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now, is now"

What do you see as the best decade?

Linking with #Lifethisweek and #Dreamteam

*Last night at the State theatre, I was discussing how as a kid I went to see the Disney film Snow White there and I was amazed at how beautiful the building was, and how it seemed like a magical palace, as prior to that I'd only seen movies put on at the Macquarie Uni hall. My husband pointed out the rise of the suburban cinema came much later. Now we have the luxury of 3 different multiplexes pretty much in walking distance from our home!

** I am in LOVE with Spotify. As someone who listens to music in other languages, I am getting suggestions to amazing artists I would never have found. Last week, Spotify sent me an email. Two artists I like were performing near me (weirdly it thinks I live in Sylvania but I guess nothing is perfect). I would have missed these concerts but have now booked myself tickets. One is the glorious Eric Bibb, who I've been seeing every time he comes to the country. We have a luxury in our connectedness to stay informed on both the biggest news and smallest of pleasures.

8 comments:

  1. I like your take of "the best of times is now". #lifethisweek

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  2. I'm with you re the best of times is now. I love the fashion of the 20s, the music of the 70s and 80s...there's something to love about every decade.

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  3. I agree that the best of times is now although I also would have liked to live in the 20s. Jo has said it about music the 70s and 80s were my favourites. I'm happy now and I think one of my best decades was my 50s.

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  4. I agree with you, the best of times is now! Lovely to read your thoughts here #lifethisweek

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  5. I love the idea that the best of times is now. I appreciate how connected we are and how technology makes the world a much smaller place. I have just discovered spotify and it's been a game changer and of course, Netflix! However, I can't help but feel all this technology has made us somewhat disconnected in many ways. Call me old fashioned but I prefer my conversations face to face or voice to voice. Sigh! That said, I think the eighties were the greaties and were my favourite decade by far!

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  6. I agree, the best of times is indeed now, Lydia!

    SSG xxx

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  7. Returning back from #dreamteam looks like you had an amazing time X

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  8. Sometimes my phone thinks I live in the Blue Mountains and for now I am not telling it anything different. Loved your post. Like your thinking and musing. I LOVE the State Theatre and have seen more live shows there than movies. As a young teen and then a bit older we would go to movies (double features always) in George St. I saw so many there. But locally there were 3 cinemas or maybe two in Manly and our own suburb had one and it did not close for ages. Music is the great connector of humans. My husband who turned 70 yesterday was sent a Spotify playlist from his eldest GD (22) called "Papa these songs remind me of you"...my hub was touched as music is his first language.

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week's optional prompt is the first Taking Stock in 2019. Denyse

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