Today I went to Colonial Day at Katie's school. It's a day for all the 4th grade students to dress up as a profession from the colonial days and share with visitors.
As I walked around the room I was reminded of simpler times. Not to say that life was easy back then (those folks worked hard) but there was such a simplicity that is so intriguing to me.
Whenever I watch a movie like Jane Austen flicks, I find myself desiring to live many years ago - and not just because I want to marry Mr. Darcy :-)
I want to spend my days cooking in a wood burning stove, practicing music, doing embroidery, and reading. Oh, and writing letters. I wish that I wrote more handwritten letters.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to spend time in some pretty primitive living conditions. I really must say that some of my favorite times have been in villages.
Some of the best fish that I have ever eaten was in a Philippine fishing village. Fish that was cooked by simply placing it on the roof and letting the sun bake it.
Some of the best bread that I have ever eaten was made in a Moroccan village. It was cooked by being stuck to the inside of a clay oven.
Oh, and that one time that I ate the bread with butter that was made with milk that came straight from the cow. I got to help churn that butter...bliss.
Now things just seem to be so complicated. Microwaves, email, fast food, TV...the list goes on and on and on. I am grateful for our advancements, but sometimes I just long for simplicity.
Some of my favorite "simple life" moments:
Drawing water from a well
Plucking a chicken
Spending some time living in a hut in a Sudanese refugee camp
The bathroom at the refugee camp (ok, so maybe not a "favorite" moment, but still pretty cool)
and making yeast bread from scratch....yum...yum!
ReplyDeleteGreat memories and perspective. Thanks for sharing Mel!