I've been called an "old soul" on more than one occasion. And I suppose that it doesn't come as a shock to me. After all, my favorite movies are those from the 1930s and 40s, something which I write about on a semi-frequent basis.
And how many thirtysomethings do you know who spend their free time researching decorators like Elsie Sloan Farley, someone whose heyday was eighty some odd years ago?
As a child of the 1980s, I have a fondness in my heart for those designers whose work epitomized that era, namely Mark Hampton and Mario Buatta. (And by the way, you must, and I mean must, get the new Mark Hampton book
. It's absolutely wonderful, much like the man himself.)
I'm old enough to remember the outrageously glamorous days of television, shows like Dallas, Dynasty, and the short-lived Paper Dolls. Or perhaps I should say the glamorously outrageous days...
I was listening to Bobby Short as a teenager- and that's automatic old soul status right there.
I have- and wear- Belgian Loafers.
Really, the list could go on. But something happened yesterday that has made me rethink this old soul status. What happened, you ask? Just look at what I got in the mail yesterday:
Seriously? An AARP card? Belgian Loafers aside, I'm not that old. What's next? Geritol? Perhaps I should rename my blog: The Chic Has Peaked!
And how many thirtysomethings do you know who spend their free time researching decorators like Elsie Sloan Farley, someone whose heyday was eighty some odd years ago?
As a child of the 1980s, I have a fondness in my heart for those designers whose work epitomized that era, namely Mark Hampton and Mario Buatta. (And by the way, you must, and I mean must, get the new Mark Hampton book
. It's absolutely wonderful, much like the man himself.)
I'm old enough to remember the outrageously glamorous days of television, shows like Dallas, Dynasty, and the short-lived Paper Dolls. Or perhaps I should say the glamorously outrageous days...
I was listening to Bobby Short as a teenager- and that's automatic old soul status right there.
I have- and wear- Belgian Loafers.
Really, the list could go on. But something happened yesterday that has made me rethink this old soul status. What happened, you ask? Just look at what I got in the mail yesterday:
Seriously? An AARP card? Belgian Loafers aside, I'm not that old. What's next? Geritol? Perhaps I should rename my blog: The Chic Has Peaked!
(Image of Mark Hampton from Mark Hampton: An American Decorator
by Duane Hampton, Rizzoli Publishers, 2010)
Same thing happened to us with AARP. What makes my jaw drop is when I see photos of the actors on Dallas, and remember thinking they were old, and now I look at them and see they weren't. Ah, how'd that happen.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Mine came last week, too! Would it be a stretch to say that 50 is the new 30?
ReplyDeleteThe delivery of that card to our mailbox caused quite a kerfuffle, not on my part - already passed that mark waaaay back - but it is one of those landmarks. But in your case I think they're going after the youth market.
ReplyDeleteThat's an hysterical post!! How dare they send that to you!
ReplyDeleteBeing an old soul is one thing...being "OLD" quite another! I've had my AARP card for quite some time, but have refused to accept anything that it provides...I just can't think like that. Really a cute post, very clever, girl (and I call you that in all honesty!). Go off today and act you age! LOL
ReplyDeleteOK, y'all are all making me feel better. I think AARP is pushing it by sending cards to people in their thirties!
ReplyDeleteI found it quite nice that your name was included on the card ; this shows that they take your aging in a personal way. I truly think they would be better served to send these out in the yearly report on our social security benifits; this way we can see that the AARP discounts are going to start a good 20 years before retirement.........KEEP that card........ it will come in handy at Publix on Wednesdays!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean you can take early retirement? Not that I'd let you. I'd send it back in protest. Really.
ReplyDeleteLook on the bright side, you can eat at K&W Cafeteria for half price before 4:00 ! :)
ReplyDeleteI did think about that Publix discount!
ReplyDeleteI got one sent to me when I was a senior in high school. It was the result of a mistake with the social security number on my tax forms. I guess it made me appear to be an 85-year-old dead woman being claimed as a dependent on my parents' taxes. Needless to say, we got audited!
ReplyDeleteVery cute post -- love the loafers!
ReplyDeletehysterical
ReplyDeleteNow, Peak as someone who passed the big 6-0 and a Boomer whose generation's motto was "don't trust anyone over 30" you need to accept either you age or you die. Personally I hope you will be chic-ing and not peak-ing for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think it's part of a new youth campaign b/c clearly in years you are well below their usual demographic.
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW even though you have sophisticated tastes, you have loads of youthful virve in person!
Your old soul style is ahead of the curve.
ReplyDeleteThat is really funny! We have a dear and amazing friend who celebrated her 80th birthday recently and doesn't look or act like anyone even half her age. You really are only as old as you feel!
ReplyDeleteLove it. I remember it all toooooooooooo well. Ouch, that sounds so old. My husband got his AARP card and I almost keeled over. I mean, we still have teens at home!
ReplyDeleteDesign Biiaatch on facebook reposted. Surely they are senile at AARP!
ReplyDeleteI got mine about a month after I turned 28.
ReplyDelete"OLD Soul" is fine. AARP in your thirties is ridiculous! But if they give you a discount..I say, take it!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about turning 60? I was buying something at The Gap or somewhere.......and I get a discount of 20% or something from now on!!
I'll take it!
I am a Belgian Loafers fan; too!!!!!
The chic hasn't peaked yet! (you musn't be an "early peaker"!) Higher and higher!!
Bravo!
I got mine when my husband turned 50 and I was only 47. Who knows why AARP does that. That was a few years ago - I've gotten used to it -sorta.
ReplyDeleteSome things just get better with age. I am an old soul myself.
ReplyDeletepve
OMG, I can't believe you just referenced Paper Dolls. LOVED IT! And Dynasty and Dallas, though I never got into Falcon Crest.
ReplyDeletebecky
I am seriously giggling right now. I myself have been called an old lady or an old soul on more than one occasion, but I do also have a grandmother who loves to rattle on about past lives. I suppose its something that I have come to love and embrace, despite the fact that I am almost 24.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have that grandmother! Sitck with her! You will be a star!!!
DeleteToo Funny. (But if joining means you get a movie discount, I'd go right ahead!)
ReplyDeleteVery funny blog post-LOL! I SAW Bobby Short at the Carlisle before I got married and I currently am watching Season 12 of DALLAS on DVD...and I watch Bill Bixby in 'The Incredible Hulk' and David Carradine in 'Kung Fu' etc. etc. and I love old movies like "I Know Where I Am Going" - time warp right? I think some us like to feel the past isn't really too distant...great post, thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI never heard the term 'old soul' until a few years ago, but that describes me, all the way back to when I was a fresh-faced kid. I was a shiny new Corvair with a Model T engine.
ReplyDeleteI started to go gray when I was in college & had barely turned 40 when the checkout clerk at Woolworth's cafeteria asked if I wanted the senior discount. Under other circumstances, I would have said No, but I had just quit a good-paying job to enroll in interior design school & was nearly broke, so I said Yes. That went on for three years, and, at graduation, when we were given a chance to do a little speech just to fill up time--my original thirty-odd classmates had dwindled down to nine or ten--I thanked my teachers for sharing their knowledge, my family for encouraging me when the work got hard, and Woolworth's for subsidizing my lunch all the way through school.
A few years after that, though, Woolworth's went bankrupt, and an icon of American retailing vanished from our streets. Their big, bright store on south State Street is still there (these days, it's a Footlocker) but I can never walk past the place without a feeling of loss--and a little pang of guilt.
No guilt, Magnaverde! None! they helped you become who you are.....and you accepted!
DeleteBe proud! Never feel guilty about this. They did not go bankrupt because of you; or even this policy!
Starting as a decorator; 44 years ago; Scalamandre, Brunschwig and were my favorite.....(everything was on Robertson....no Pacific Design Center)!
I just started.. The darling woman at Brunschwig (Deloros) walked me through my application....and I started ordering.....right away! she said..."PO number?" I had no idea what a PO number WAS!
so I said; no thank you! apparently , I grew to be the #1customer of furniture or fabric and furniture....whateveritwas....I was a really good customer..I loved how they treated me from day one.
44 years ago!
Scalamandre also! From the first day; I was treated with respect....and very sweetly led through the signing up. (Talk about a green-horn!!!)
they were lovely to me.......and during my "glory days"; I was ordering great volumes of fabric and furniture....they were friends....and still were (Brunschwig.....not sure friends are left...but so thankful
Kravet saved them!!!)
and Scalamandre Mr. Rizzo had the brilliance to hire Steven Stolman!! Steven , I think saved the company!!
Steven isn't president anymore....Scalamandre is back in the PDC (SOB!!) huge mistake in my opinion!!
Now let's see what happens!!!
Penelope
ps I was called an "old soul" when I was 6! My brilliant and talented and wise mother said....."That is a huge compliment!!" and it is!
So; I hope you can think of it the same way! HUGE compliment!
Hi there, just stopping in from Purehome.com to let you know that we absolutely adore your blog! It is so intriguing. The graphics are eclectic, your writing is fun and honest. This particular post was as sincere and charming as they come. Keep up the great work! We will continue to follow.
ReplyDeleteAndie (Andie@purehome.com)
Every single time we went to New York......I insisted on seeing "Bobby Short"! Thank God! I think we saw him a dozen times; (we even saw him twice in Venice and twice at private parties in Los Angeles) It was as though positive happy energy I could hear....and love....more than that......positive energy was being stored in my heart and soul.....I am still feeling it and remembering him!
ReplyDeleteI love Belgian shoes too!
XXOO
Penelope