There’s something about antique shops that I find irresistible... stepping inside one is like entering a portal to the past. Who needs a time machine when you can simply browse through all the second-hand treasures? With modern life becoming more alarming every day, I slip into the past whenever I can. My favorite ways are through music, film, and literature.
After picking up a few vinyl albums, I got one of those portable Victrola suitcases to play them on. My favorite find was Music for the Golden Hours by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra. Here’s what the back says: “This is music for the twilight hours… when memories are waves upon the shore, and love is fresh as sea wind on your lips… this is music for the dancing hours, the romancing hours, and for remembering.” Isn’t that lovely? Well, I’m happy to report the music is just as enchanting! As grateful as I am for Spotify’s online library, old music sounds best on vinyl. There’s a romance to it with the little static-y pops and crackles that can occasionally be heard if an album has been well loved. I recorded one of my favorite tracks for you to enjoy.
‘Deep Purple’ by Peter DeRose
When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky
Through the mist of a memory, you wander back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh
In the still of the night, once again I hold you tight
Though you’re gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat, lover, we’ll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
Songwriters of the 20th century understood romance in a way that modern musicians do not. Their songs are unapologetically poetic, and they weren’t afraid to put voice to emotions we are so often self-conscious to speak about. Cringe and corny did not exist then – people expressed themselves freely without embarrassment. I think that’s what I love best about old music. My parents introduced me to the brilliant songwriter musician, Jim Croce, who died tragically at the height of his career. It’s hard to choose a favorite track of his, but ‘Time in a Bottle’ captures the wistful beauty of life’s transience.
LYRICS
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I’d save every day like a treasure, and then
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go through time with
If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go through time with
~~~
Does that song touch your soul the way it does mine? It’s always a profound experience to find a song or book or poem that speaks to you in this way. Ursula K. Le Guin says it best:
Of course, sometimes you just want to lose yourself in an entirely escapist story that doesn’t pretend to be anything grand – it’s simply a good time. I’m that way with old musicals (Singin’ in the Rain, South Pacific, and Brigadoon are particular favorites of mine). Anything with Gene Kelly is always worth watching!
Another fun thing I’ve just discovered are out of print Regency romances. I got some tattered Barbara Hazard paperbacks from Thrift Books that I’ll be working my way through this summer. I recently finished The Covington Inheritance, which is set in an old Scottish manor house overlooking the sea. The mystery/suspense element was fun even though I worked out the culprit. Luckily, she rewrote the book twenty years later under the title The Scottish Legacy with new characters and a different ending, so I’ll get to enjoy it a second time around 😊
I’m also listening to I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith on audiobook. This has been a favorite of mine since I saw the 2003 film in an old theater. It has it all: a quirky English family, comedy, romance, drama, gorgeous scenery, and a love for the past. I describe it as Jane Austen set in the 1930s. The film is probably available for streaming on one of the popular platforms, although I also recommend reading the book because Cassandra Mortmain is such a charming narrator. Books always give just a bit more insight into the story and characters.
To cap off my love for antiques, I’d like to share a little story I wrote earlier this year.
An Attic Full of Memories
The third floor is a wonderland of neglected items… every time I visit my grandmother’s house, I unearth a new treasure. Today, I find some broken dollhouse furniture, a collection of colorful thread on wooden bobbins, and a faux-marble fountain pen. I glue the legs back on the miniature chairs and set them on the windowsills of the enclosed porch (after all, even fairies have to rest their wings from time to time). The thread is for my mother’s embroidery projects, and the pen I’ll give to my father. I break for tea and chocolate biscuits before returning to the attic. There’s a stack of 1950s fashion magazines that my sister will adore, but my favorite discovery of the day is a patchwork bunny made of floral fabric. She has brown button eyes, whiskers made from twine, and a pink velvet nose half rubbed away by kisses. She will look charming on the rattan wall shelf I rescued only last week. I glance around one last time. The afternoon sunlight catches something green glittering on a cluttered bookcase. The dust motes spiral down from the rafters like summer snowflakes as I cross the room. The green object turns out to be a squat glass vase. I run my finger along its wavy rim before using a tissue to wipe away the grime of years gone by. I’ll fill it with sprigs of lily-of-the-valley and bring it with me to the hospital. Grammie says that seeing flowers from her own garden is the most powerful healing charm. When I get to her room, I’ll show her the things I found, and she’ll tell me about each one of them. Grammie may be ninety-years-old, but her memories are as shiny as this emerald vase. With a smile, I descend the three flights of stairs and head for the garden. I wonder what sort of stories she’ll spin for me today?
Do you love old things too? What are some of your favorite songs, music, films, and books from the past? Let me know in the comments!
Bringing forth the old and introducing to the new is a noble pursuit. Difficult for many people to fully understand or appreciate, after all what can be better than discovery through the "smartphone"? Humanity, particularly the popular segment most likely are nostalgic for the ancient history of the 80s.
A full immersion of any period involves period research that helps to paint the picture of that time. Music, literature, etc. help us to understand those times. Brilliant that you captured this from a personal view. Maybe others will be inspired to reach back further and find their immersion.
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous songs and your lovely story! Reading this was such a cozy way to start my Sunday. I adore I Capture the Castle too - it's such a charming and enchanting book. I think I'll need to reread it soon.