The Luxury of Being Brought Up in the Best of Times

 

If you've ever looked back on childhood memories with a sense of longing, you're not alone. The years following 1935 were a time when life, despite its challenges, felt surprisingly simple and joyful. 

This period's cultural and social subtleties permanently influenced a generation's experience in ways that they still fondly remember today. What made it memorable was the sense of community, the tight-knit family bonds, and the small luxuries that defined their everyday life.

The Importance of Community and Family

For those growing up in the years after 1935, family time was sacred, and social life revolved around the close-knit communities of our neighborhoods. People in small towns and cities made friendships through shared interests and traditions, like a simple bridge game at home or Friday night dinners.

Social events were often centered around the home, where gathering together became a form of bonding. Nell Cahn, the author of "You Can't Make It Up," discusses her upbringing and shares that playing bridge was a regular activity for many, as it became a social occasion in itself.

She remembers that, as a child, she would welcome the guests to the game, even humorously misidentifying herself because of her maiden name, which was also Bridge.

The Joy in Mundane Life

What really made life special those days were the small moments that turned into happy memories. At this time, people found humor in every mistake, turning embarrassing situations into stories that would be told with a laugh for years to come.

One memorable story from Nell's memoir, "You Can't Make It Up," is about Miss Ethel and her misadventures with her father-in-law's luxurious LaSalle car. 

In an attempt to show off, Miss Ethel convinced the chauffeur to let her drive the car to a bridge game, only to have the car roll down into a bayou. What ensued was an attempt to keep the incident a secret and the eventual slip-up when the truth came to light. 

Despite the disaster, Miss Ethel remained a funny memory in her community and family.

The Unbeatable Community Spirit

Living through the Great Depression and wartime was difficult for Nell's family, but they made it through with unity and lightheartedness. 

In her memoir, Nell also recounts that during World War II, her family in Monroe, Louisiana, would open their homes to young men training at local military bases, offering food and a community they could bond with. 

The shared songs, the singing around the piano, the collective cheer, it was a time when family meant not just those you were born to but those willing to embrace you.

The Simple Pleasures of Life

Hardship often reveals the beauty of life's quieter moments, like Nell's mother's love for hot tamales, something many might overlook. 

Even after discovering that the tamales were made from unsavory ingredients, she couldn't resist enjoying them again. That level of nostalgia, holding onto the small joys in life, often defined the daily luxuries of this era. 

The Luxury of Simplicity

When you think back to the post-1930s, there was not much luxury or material wealth we associate with today's standards. 

Instead, it was a time when people cherished simplicity and deeply valued their communities. It wasn't about having more; it was about having enough. Enough love, enough community, and enough experiences to build a life that felt rich in ways that money could never measure.

Take a trip back to this time of nostalgia in Nell Cahn's riveting memoir, "You Can't Make It Up."