NOSTALGIA - WHO DOESN'T LOVE IT!?!

Nostalgia can bring about a myriad of emotions and thoughts.  Dictionary.com defines nostalgia as a wistful desire to return in thought (or in fact) to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time. The catalog Vermont Country Store always evokes a very odd array of reactions for me. It is the epitome of nostalgia.

I'm not sure how I discovered it, but occasionally I order something and have for many years. Having thrown it into my suitcase when I travel, I believe it's better than any magazine you will buy at the airport. Just the name Vermont Country Store conjures up adjectives like nostalgic, amusing, fascinating, perplexing, delightful, intriguing, and even refreshing. The catalog started in 1946 and they guarantee 'Forever, We stand by our products'.

Not being familiar with most of their products hasn't kept me from appreciating them. From the front cover to the last (about 80 pages), I get lost in nostalgia. Occasionally I wonder where do people live that would wear a dress like this? Some of the styles are from the 50's and 60's, like simple cotton dresses or moo moos. Please google that term yourself, but suffice to say, it is a loose fitting, floral cotton print dress.

The products range from clothing, household products, cold cremes our grandmothers might have used, chenille bedspreads, percolators, and so many more. However, I must give an honorable mention to a few others: Vermont maple syrup, they even sell new typewriters (again google it, to those of you that are too young), a soft-bonnet hair dryer (?) for $69, and Ovaltine! That was/is a chocolate with less sugar in it and my mother did not allow us to eat a lot of sugary foods. Our chocolate was always Ovaltine, hot or cold. They have many foods from pancake mix, to hard candies, to jams and all sorts of sweets. My favorite products are the all-natural tonics and skin care that you would think came out of the 1890's. Loving natural home remedies and homeopathic health remedies myself, this section is most fun to read through.

The very best part of this wonderful catalog for me is the art work. It's like walking into an antique store, it takes me away. Most of the old art work is before my time. But I love antiques, the simplicity and beauty. It's a respite from a very busy life, into an era where life was simpler. If you had a cough, you went to the corner drug store and bought Honey and Anise syrup. Does drug store sound foreign to some of you? You must be 30 something. I grew up with them.

My suggestion is that you request their catalog, and sit in your comfy pajamas, with a cup of relaxing tea or maybe hot Ovaltine, and let yourself go away. Look into a life 70 years ago.  Simply relax and smile and breathe, and wonder, 'what was life like back then?' I strongly suggest you order something wonderful you can't resist, something you will love using. And share your experience with your friends. Because after all, that is what I am doing, sharing something wonderful with you. I hope you truly enjoy it! By the way, they will not send you a lot of junk. Perhaps a catalog 3-4 times a year.

Thank you, this post was particularly fun for me. Good night and God Bless!!    Aleta

ps  Looking for a quote for this post was quite a task, most of them being very negative. I do like these 2, and found the later hilarious.

"Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days."  Doug Larson, columnist and editor.

"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be." Peter De Vries, American editor and novelist, known for his satire!