What could be more timeless than the Grand Canyon? The rocks exposed over time range from 200 million to nearly 2 billion years old. 2 billion years old...let that figure wash over you a moment. Neither the deepest nor the longest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is nevertheless world renowned, and justly so, for its jawdropping beauty and scope. 5 million visitors a year can't be wrong. Stand on the rim, and gaze. Awe-some.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Wizard of Oz - 1939
This movie lays claim to the title of Most Watched Film in History. It didn't even recoup its production costs at its release, but the world eventually woke up and embraced all the charms of this movie. Friendship, family, bravery, search for Self, an archetypical villain and an otherworld soaked in Emerald green are the building blocks of this classic. Who doesn't recall that breathtaking moment when Dorothy's sepia toned world becomes Technicolor bright in Munchkinland? Or that feeling of bittersweet relief when she leaves her loyal friends, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion to return Home with three clicks of her ruby slippers. This movie will be enjoyed for many, many more years to come.
Monday, March 12, 2012
China
Holiday decor ideas: Miles Redd's luxe red table setting, from Domino magazine, a photo by xJavierx on Flickr.
Our love of all things refined and elegant, as exemplified by a formally set table with fine china, is timeless. Porcelain, which was so completely mastered and refined by the Chinese, just became known as 'china' when it came to Europe. The fine china houses of Europe have taken what the Chinese started and added an endless amount of design and experimentation over the years. Meissen, Sevres, Limoges, Royal Doulton, Spode, Wedgwood, Belleek and countless more have all given the world lovely plates upon which to rest a meal. In our rushed and budgeted existence, we may not have the wherewithal to stage a formal seven course meal on Limoges china, but it is nice to know all it would take is a quick trip to a specialty china shop and several thousand dollars and voila! You are The Sun King, reigning over the soup course. Yes, dreams are timeless too.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Tuxedo
Developed in England in the late 1800s, the tuxedo has become an ingrained tradition in America for the memorable occasions of high school prom and weddings and pretty much nothing else unless you happen to be George Clooney in which case you are heartily encouraged to wear one every day. The tuxedo continues to evolve gradually, and does follow the tides of fashion: shawl collar, notched collar, bow tie, long tie, shiny shoes, matte shoes, etc., but somehow still manages to have timeless appeal, a far cry from its distant dowdy cousin, the denim leisure suit, of 'Not Timeless' fame. Gentlemen, you become suave and debonair and at least seven times more handsome when you don a tuxedo, please don't balk, but submit studiously and seriously to this time honored suit that will make you a Man.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Not Timeless - The Denim Leisure Suit
Why oh why did so much horribly designed and executed effluvia emerge from the decade of the 1970s? To look at many of the cars and styles of clothing that were considered the height of fashion, one wonders about the nation's mental status as a whole during that time. Case in point: the denim leisure suit. Half casual, half 'dressy', it was a mockery from the get go. Many were seduced by the siren call of the denim leisure suit, only to be haunted today by fears that any photographs that were taken at the time may be unleashed on the Internet, spoiling any chances of holding elected office. This is a fashion trend that mercifullly only held brief sway. Never to be heard from again. I hope.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Aspirin
Acetylsalicylic Acid. First derived from the leaves of the willow tree, Hippocrates described its use and left a recipe for what must have been a cure all for the Bacchanalean soirees of Ancient Greece. Bayer developed a synthetic form of it in 1897, and we've been using it to reduce fevers, and help along our various aches and pains ever since. As part of war reparations in the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, Germany gave up its trademark to aspirin in the US, the UK, France, and the Soviet Union, where it is referred to generically as 'aspirin' with a lower case 'a'. In more than 80 countries around the world, including Canada, it is 'Aspirin' because Bayer still holds the rights to it in those countries. Long live the magical properties of aspirin!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Wanderlust
Man has longed to wander from his immediate territory for who knows how long. Traveling used to mean looking for new places to subsist, and eventually expanded to include exploration for its own sake, as well as a method to discover new places and people to conquer. In the Middle Ages, traveling meant going on a pilgrimage, whether to Santiago de Campostela, Canterbury or other religious sites. In the Renaissance, the Grand Tour was de regeur for the monied of the day. The airplane age has seen the explosion of travel as leisure, a means unto itself. 8 countries in 5 days! We are dreaming of the ultimate travel destination, in which we can escape from our daily monotony if only for a brief interlude, and immerse ourselves into a novel version of life. Half of the fun of travel is the planning of where one will travel next. Where do you want to travel, o restless wanderer?
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Flip-flops
They've been around for at least 100 years, they are cheap, fun, flexible, casual. They scream summer and fun times at the beach. Unlike the Northwestern women's lacrosse team, I would not wear them to a reception at the White House, no matter how 'dressy' they were. They are worn into the shower at summer camp, and with eccentric millionaires' tuxedos and a million places in between. How many pairs have you owned in your life, and don't you wish you were sporting some on Bora Bora right this moment?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Not Timeless- The 8 Track Tape
Developed in 1964 by a consortium of car manufacturers, Motorola, and Lear Jet, it was first introduced as a feature in Ford automobiles in 1965. By the late 70s it had been eclipsed by the cassette tape, and the nail in the coffin was the arrival of the compact disc in the 80s. For its brief moment in the sun, it was the first method for custom music delivery in the automobile. Who can forget those awkward pauses while the track needed to change? 8 track tape, you are not missed.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
La Bella Luna
The moon...our constantly changing companion in the sky. It glides in synchronous rotation with the Earth, which means we almost always see the same aspect of it. It has the same reflectance value as coal, yet still shines brightly in our night skies. It modulates Earth's tides. It inspires lovers and poets. It has been blamed for inducing 'lunacy' in people during the full moon phase. It inspires me to think deep thoughts, to dream, to sigh, to wonder. Have you ever been moonstruck?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Canis Lupis Familiaris
A dear friend lost her darling dog yesterday, far too soon, and I have been contemplating the topic of our love affair with dogs. They've been at our side for at least the last 15,000 years, hunting, working, herding, chasing, and playing by our sides. More than the sum of their utilitarian functions, though, they have developed into our stalwart companions that we lean on through thick and thin. They give us unconditional love so unselfishly, so lavishly, that it's no wonder that there is a bumper sticker with the saying, 'I hope to become the kind of person my dog thinks I am'. Because they love us so well, we love them right back, ever fiercer. And when they leave us, it is always too soon. Our hearts are broken. No other animal on Earth has such a bond with Man. We are so fortunate to share our lives with these wonderful creatures. The love of, and for, the Dog is Timeless.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Honey
It has been used by humans for at least 10,000 years, judging from cave paintings found in Spain. It was used for embalming in Ancient Egypt. Honey is the only natural food that doesn't spoil. It is a traditional part of a 'sweet New Year' in the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, where apples are dipped in honey. It holds a place in the literary canon as the sole love interest of the bear Winnie The Pooh, who can never get enough 'hunny' to eat. It has been praised for its curative properties, whether on burns or for a sore throat. Many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines feature honey, with Greek Baklava being the most well known and delicious use of honey invented by man. Whether spread on corn bread, sweetening tea, or baked in a cake, honey is our go-to natural sweetener. Thanks, Bees!
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Carousel, or Merry-Go-Round
Ah, the timeless pleasures of mounting your wooden steed, going round in circles to the tinny calliope music, ever more determined to catch the brass ring. The carousel enjoyed its heydey in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially in America, where Old World craftsmen let their imaginations soar, with vivid depictions of animals in motion, manes tossing, eyes dancing. A merry-go-round ride is a delight for a child, with the anticipation of picking out the prettiest horse, and the freedom of motion. For the adults, it is a chance to recapture the splendor of youth, with a shared smile between the generations. My favorite carousels are the Looff carousel in Spokane, Washington and the one at the base of the Eiffel Tower. But the one I'd really like to find is the one Mary Poppins rode...
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Timeless or Not? The Vinyl LP
Introduced in 1948, the vinyl LP quickly surpassed the 78rpm shellac album as the standard. LPs could accomodate much more music per side as compared to the 78's measly 5 minute playing capacity per side. However, in the 1970s the LP was eclipsed by the cassette tape, which was in turn overtaken by the compact disc in the mid 1980s. Thought to be on the way to the junk heap of musicdom, the vinyl LP is enjoying a modest, though significant, renaissance as a younger generation discovers the charms of the vinyl album. A spiffy new copy of "The King is Dead" by The Decemberists is sharing shelf space next to our Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, a sign of our love of the old and the new, the tangible and the crackly.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Beach
Man has been escaping to the beach, or dreaming of escaping to the beach for a very long time. Or at least as long as they've been making tropical beach calendars. Which begs the question, when people live in the tropics, what is featured on their escapist calendars? I admit to having a Hawaii calendar last year, and a Maldives background on my calendar before that. I am drawn to the water, invigorated by it, replenished just by being near it. And whether that water is the wild, cold Pacific crashing on Northern coasts, or the calm Caribbean lapping at my toes, I just can't get enough. My love of the beach has been timeless.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Rose
Symbol of love since Aphrodite and Venus, the rose is also associated with the Virgin Mary, has had a war named after it, and is the national flower of England and the United States. Portland, Oregon is the City of Roses and Pasadena, California hosts the Tournament of Roses. Passionate rosarians attempt to grow the ultimate rose. Perfume makers riff on the fragrance. The Victorians attached meaning to all of the colors of the rose, so if you gave your love a yellow rose, it symbolized jealousy. Has your heart been warmed by giving or receiving the timeless rose?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Drinking Straw
Used by the Sumerians to drink their beer and avoid the dregs of fermentaion as early as 3,000 BCE, used by Argentinians for their mate, used by kids worldwide in its bendy form, the humble drinking straw has been a staple of beverage drinkers throughout the world and throughout the ages. It has evolved from gold and metal, to rye grass, to paper coated with wax, to plastic, and now to biodegradable straws that won't clog the landfills. The straw has been shown to limit tooth decay when drinking sugary drinks, as it limits the contact of the liquid with the surface of the teeth. In crazy straw form, it has coaxed children to drink their milk. My favorite is the straw pictured, the aimiable bendy straw. What little joys have been had by unwrapping said straw part way, then launching the wrapper at your brother blowdart style, scoring a direct hit.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Elizabeth Taylor
Timeless Glamour. She made the transition from adored child actor (National Velvet) to two time Academy Award winner (Butterfield 8, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) She lived larger than life, having been married eight times to seven men. She collected jewels like they were candy (her collection was estimated at upwards of $150 million) and almost single handedly put AIDS awareness and fundraising on the map in 1984, at a time when no one was acknowledging the illness. She was by all acounts tremendously kind, with a bawdy sense of humor, and you get the sense that we will never see another Hollywood star as great in beauty, personality and scope of life experience as Elizabeth Taylor.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Not Timeless - 1972 AMC Hornet Sportabout
Was this the beginning of the end of the American car industry or the beginning of the end of American culture in general? Whattapieceofcrap. I'm sure you are shocked, SHOCKED, that the esteemed AMC, creator of the equally gorgeous Pacer and Gremlin, in addition to the featured Hornet, is no longer in business. This is How Not To Design A Car 101, folks.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Disneyland
The joys of a visit to Disneyland are timeless. Whether you are 3 or many decades older than that, a visit to Disneyland never fails to charm. You never forget your first visit there, and you forevermore want to recapture the magic of first setting foot onto Main Street, USA. My heart still skips a beat when I see Sleeping Beauty's castle. It's been pure fun to take my kids there and experience it through their eyes. I can't wait to go back!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Knitting
As I sit on the couch knitting my striped blanket project, my teenage daughter is next to me, knitting a pair of fingerless gloves with four tiny needles. I think we are engaging in a timeless craft. The first known knitted fragments that exist date from around 1000 CE. For the last 1000+ years, people have been going to town with two sticks and a piece of string! Did you know that knitting was once strictly the realm of males? Now, it is a sport for all. The best thing about knitting is the human connection: yes, you can teach yourself from a book, but it's infinitely better to have a teacher by your side, helping your clumsy hands figure it all out. Knitting skill is handed down, generation to generation, person to person. The second best thing is also about connection: most knitters enjoy knitting gifts for family and friends, or charitable endeavors. If you ever receive a hand knitted item, you are the recipient of tangible love.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Navy Peacoat
This sartorial standby has its genesis in the 1700s, where it was developed to protect sailors from the elements on deck. Dark navy 30 oz wool was the standard, with eight buttons and wide lapels. Today, the wool can lighter in weight, and clothing designers have a ball nipping and tucking and playing with color and texture, but the essence of the peacoat survives. A Coat For All Time.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Crayola Crayons
Who says time travel isn't possible? Take a deep whiff of a box of Crayola Crayons and you are instantly transported to Kindergarten, your five year old self drawing a house, a lollipop shaped tree and sun with sure, determined strokes. Accept no substitutes, there is only one brand of Crayon and it is Crayola. They've been around since 1903, and have 99% name recognition in the US. Whether in the 24 pack, the sturdy rectangular 48 box, or the extravagant 64 assortment (with built in sharpener), these are the go to item for becoming a kid again. Timeless fun.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Helvetica
Can a font developed in 1957 be timeless? If timeless=ubiquity, I think we have a contender. Developed in Switzerland, it has achieved cult status, even starring in a film ("Helvetica", what else?). It is everywhere, quite literally. It is the signature font of: the New York City subway system and the Chicago 'L', the Gap, BMW, Toyota, Panasonic, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Nestle, Verizon, The North Face, JCPenney, Target, 3M, and...federal income tax forms. Where else could hipsterish Urban Outfitters and the US Government find themselves in bed together, except in the vibrantly modern yet accessible and welcoming bosom of Helvetica?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Roast chicken
Peasant cuisine, haute cuisine and everything in between. A perfectly done roasted chicken, slowly cooked, gently flavored, is heaven on earth. Salt, pepper, olive oil, maybe some lemon and garlic, and the dish is elevated beyond the sum of its parts. Timeless cuisine.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
1952 Packard Hood Ornament
What makes a hood ornament timeless? What makes anything timeless? I got to pondering this issue as I was thinking about how so much of our daily lives are filled with the throwaway, the transitory. For me, what's really frustrating is the constantly changing nature of technology and how we constantly are 'upgrading' our lives...or are we? I want to spend time exploring that which passes the test of time, whether it is a style of skirt, a cake, or bar of soap. I think I will spend a fair amount of time pontificating on what is NOT timeless. (AMC Pacer, anyone?). For me, Timeless hearkens back to simplicity, which is what I'm craving. I love this hood ornament, it is graceful yet strong with swooping lines, from a time when buying an elegant car with a SWAN (a swan!)on the hood was perfectly fine. It is gorgeous, this swan. Who designed it? I imagine the soft whistles of approval when it was unveiled. It is Timeless.
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