Category: The Publications

When we last spoke, the world was one year and some into a global pandemic. The world felt like it was spinning in two directions. It has since, summarily, changed drastically. We did some growing here at RRBlog, too. We invite you and our larger audience to check us out as we remodel what it means to live a timeless life while stuck in the trappings of our ‘modern society’. Bleh. It’s not everyone’s favorite flavor.

If you’re like us, we want to learn and grow and ‘stay woke’, but we also lean wayyyy into the consumer need and want for an aged time. A comfier life. Sometimes this comes in the form of simplicity or taking favor of our own happiness over the larger economic dollar-sign value we are prescribed. Other times, it comes in the way of seeking culture and enrichment or busting rump to achieve a life of eco and off the grid bliss.

We are hopeful to bring the silver lining stories and words of encouragement to our readers to remind us all that change in a retro-progressive way is not only possible, but it’s all around us- if we know where to look to help foster its flourishing. The world is full of ever-changing and seemingly-new themes that emerge on the daily, but we are excited to shed a new light and perspective that may help bridge the generation gaps and help draw connections between what’s a trend today and why we are drawn to it. There’s a few cool reasons for what we call retro-progressive occurrences: 1. We have an inclination to eras that naturally generated greater cultural output (not strictly economic), 2. We as a generalized society don’t have connection to the ‘mainstream’ pre-covid experience because it didn’t capitalize on human connection at all, and finally 3. Everyone still talks about the ‘good old days’ so maybe there are components of these old days that are worth using as inspiration for today and tomorrow (please note, we are NOT talking about the racism and rampant social discourse and inequity- we have a post that talks exclusively about this separately).

So we challenge you all, dear readers- indulge in your desires for greater hiraeth, a flavor of the best days. Seek a life fulfilled and overflowing with lively, wholesome, and timeless experiences. Cheers, darlings. We are happy to be back.

Recently I learned about the word ‘hiraeth’ (Welsh, pronounced like hee-rai-th with a lil’ roll on the ‘r’). It’s basically a non-english translateable word meaning somewhere on the emotional spectrum between nostalgia and sad longing for a thing, place, or experience that was never had. I’ve never felt so understood. Life’s good, don’t misunderstand. The work is soulful, the hobbies are heartfelt, the family is my world. I try to practice gratitude every day for the people I love and the happinesses we are afforded. But there’s an undeniable pull to an era well before my own.

And now it has a name. Hiraeth.

I was standing at a memorial service for an incredible soul who helped us write the Doris Duke book in 2016 surrounded by his beautiful family and noticed a few faces in the crowd even younger than my own. This hiraeth feeling… that isn’t just me. I am not alone with my feelings. This isn’t unique to me. I went home and keyboard-mashed until dusk. This is what I found…

My current theory is that Millennials and Gen Z (you know, the ones who allegedly ‘ruin’ everything? Yeah, we actually don’t suck, for the record- hear me out) are probably experiencing hiraeth more than any other population ever because of our sociohistorical placement. Think about it- all the generations before right now got to experience both the triumphs and the struggles of the 20th century. We go thrift shopping for snippets of an era bygone. We cling to the stories our grandparents told and save up hours of wages to make sure pop-pop’s chair would get reupholstered for the next generations. We prefer reusable materials over single-use just like Nonna used her apron instead of a dozen paper napkins to get the popsicle stains off our cheeks. I’m entirely reassured by my peers and contemporaries that there is a deeper connection to the years before ourselves. If only for those brave enough to read beyond the surface of our beliefs and preferences, politics and ideas…. the hope that tomorrow can reflect and honor our collective generational hiraeth is with us all.

This week marks a difficult transition in chapters of my life- the passage of my own maternal grandmother, who was an icon of who I want to be in so many ways- and through this transition I hope to build a greater appreciation for her and her life. As I continue this sub-series on hiraeth, I’m hoping to find more ways that the feeling guides us, and ultimately may be the thing that defines my generation.

Rita, this one’s for you. Cheers, darlings.

In a most trying time, the global community has faced a pandemic unlike anything in the past 100 years. As we are certain our readers are aware, the dangers of this novel coronavirus, ‘covid-19’, can not be understated. With hopes or reducing the new incidences of illness in people across the world, governments have taken steps to isolate germs and people, effectively placing most of the modern world on quarantine- and we are often left with minimal work or no job at all- which means we all get to stay at home for days- weeks- months on end.

Just the other day, we were watching CBS2 News out of New York, where a conversation was sprung about competing with food scarcity and the need for the community to feel some sense of control in these unique circumstances. Victory Gardens, a concept from back in the days of World War 2, was a fantastic intervention suggested by the news station. A victory garden is a formal term (rebranded with a new name) that describes a garden that families and individuals plant for sustainability. Instead of depending on hte mainstream marketplace for produce, these victory gardens allow households to grow their own food, effectively releasing the burden that markets have right now to meet excessive demand.

This got us thinking; even though covid-19 is no small situation and we recognize the dangers it poses, what about this quarantine period could be positive? What about this shared experience can bring back a better version of normal? What if this ‘new normal’ that will emerge after the virus is really just a resurgence of good habits from yesteryear? What does this mean for a legitimate retro revival?

It’s a highly silver lining among the headlines of morbidity and sorrow. Community orientation, policy advocacy, and social empathy are all on the rise already; even as the majority of us stay locked in our homes, the need for revitalization and change is a pulse that links us together. We are being given the best platform to slow down, appreciate the little things in life, and reignite relationships with our family members and friends (virtually). Even slight lifestyle changes like planting your first victory garden to tolerating leftovers a little better, wasting less to learning a new skill like sewing or painting or woodworking in your spare time all contribute to a healthier and more productive life overall.

Think about it this way; if your neighbors don’t have as much of a yard as you, and your family plants a victory garden that flourishes, you may be more inclined to share your surplus- which facilitates conversation with people who you may not have interacted with on a usual basis. *Note, sharing and interacting herein refers to socially distant and safe measures.

That resurging sense of ‘togetherness’ unites us all, makes the world a smaller place, and develops a stronger sense of empathy than before. With empathy, we are more likely (on a psychological level) to react to others in need, in distress, or otherwise that trigger us to feel. This is what makes the world a kinder place. Everyone loves those feel-good articles of humanity- and with all of us honing in on our social emotions and exercising empathy, there’s bound to be a lot more of these articles being published because of our newfound call to action.

So embrace your retro soul and teach it to your children! Engage in activities that are joyful and enriching to you and to those around you. Paint a picture for your family member, write letters to our brave first responders, grow vegetables for the block, and communicate with people for the sheer purpose of being kind and bringing a smile to someone new. Above all, encourage and teach others around you to share in this new spirit of unity. Togetherness, after all, is how we are stronger. Post-War America was painted as a friendly time… (Author’s Note, we recognize it was plastered with racism, and it was far from perfect)… but post-viral Earth can realistically be a friendly time. Cheers, readers- be the change you want to see.

Stay healthy, stay safe! -Retro Rebellious Curious- The RRBlog Staff

It is always a distinct feeling of joy someone gets when a happenstance occurs that we previously thought to be impossible.

Today, readers, was a microcosmic nugget of happenstance that was just enough to get Harpie to smile from ear to ear until ebullience became the sound of laughter that echoed through the Ginkgo trees at Duke’s Estate.

The adventure for today began with a simple ride around the circle that fronts the 1907 Conservatory, where I started a sketch to practice depth in watercolor. (Authors Note: Harpie is an expressive art therapist, which hopefully explains the artsy component of her existence.) I couldn’t recall specifically whether or not the Statue of Athena was once flanked by overgrown trees or shrubs. Something in my memory fabricated tall pine-line trees, but as I paused to sketch, no such trees were there anymore. Apparently, recent vandalism replaced the trees with a sturdy black fence that now protects Athena. I tried to think nothing of it and continue my dabble in the arts.

I hit the Orchid Range for some color pop and floral inspo. Status Quo. Day was going great, cardio is done for a solid 2 weeks. Next stop was Great Falls. As usual, I missed the waterfall itself. It was a splendid struggle uphill filled with cramps and internal crying over my tiny legs. But… I made it. So after careening down the hill from the Old Foundation, something pulled me toward my old favorite… the Eagle Gate Fountain.

This sad little corner of Duke’s was once the grand entrance for guests. It featured a bi-level fountain with a basin where water flowed at ground level. For as long as I’ve been going to Dukes (~2013), this fountain was inactive and decrepit- the main features were rusted out pipes from an era bygone and a large collection of rocks. Today, in the still of the silence and absence of many visitors, I thought it was a mirage.

Although not to rival its former glory, the sweet sound of a waterfall cascaded against the faint whooshes of traffic beyond the gates. Was I dehydrating? Was I developing heat exhaustion? It wasn’t even that hot out…

It was real as day. I stood dumbfounded, overjoyed, and felt outwardly ridiculous. A simple gesture like fixing a fountain changed the atmosphere completely from ‘forgotten’ to ‘full of life’, and it was palpable. Maybe someday, the full restore of these incredible testaments to water display will be implemented, but for now- we are so excited to see the baby steps of meshing historic integrity with a natural feel. It’s almost like the Dukes themselves gave us an entire blueprint to follow 😉

I realize that it is also a form of modeling for good behavior; there have been several instances of vandalism beyond the Statue of Athena. The Blue Boy’s well was severely mistreated as well. It is assumed that the perpetrators recognized that no one was caring for the property, so it wouldn’t matter if they graffiti’d up the place. It is not acceptable, quite simply. With the steps toward revitalization and balancing intended aesthetic with new-wave eco-think, it is my professional opinion that possible perpetrators will be dissuaded by this simple mindset. The new norm seems to be that the property is cared for and monitored neatly, which is a vicarious teaching method for visitors to copy themselves.

Congratulations to the Duke Estate proprietors; in one small way, you have illustrated that, for the second time this month, you are capable and willing to restore the memory, preserve the legacy, and integrate a reminder of the past into the visions for the future.

It’s the Dukes way of doing, after all. Let’s hope from here, only more is done to preserve what’s left.