Month: May 2016

Lieberman Center Afternoon Social

source: Harry Benson
source: Harry Benson

90-year-old Illinois resident Celia Goldie belts out a rendition of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” in 1988.

Two things I notice right off the bat:

  1. Old peeps are always cold and keep the cardigan market in business.
  2. Men die first.

Just look how even the gender population is at age 64. But by 85, the men are barely represented.

NursingHomeResidents-202

If you’re interested in moving in, the Lieberman Center serves kosher food, and the current daily rate for a room is $278. Wow–that’s more than double our daily household income! But keep in mind that most of that is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

For her part,  Mrs. Goldie was quoted as saying, “I hope I drop dead before I’m here one year.” She was profiled in an October 1988 People article as such:

Nearby, a nurse spoon-feeds ice cream to a man strapped into a wheelchair. Beside him, a woman dozes, her head against her walker.

“Look at them—half of them are dead,” Celia says, waving her hand. “I’m alive. I guess I have to make the best of a bad bargain. What can I do? I can’t go back. So I have to like it here. You look around you, and you realize how grateful you are.”

Per articles.chicagotribune.com, she died in September of 1989 at Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie. She had been a resident of the Lieberman Geriatric Center for 13 1/2 months.

For more on Celia’s story, visit: http://www.people.com/.

 

The Last Of The Famous International Milk Bars

Herald Sun 1988
Herald Sun 1988

The Herald Sun declared this milk bar in Brunswick (a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria) “a sight unlikely to last much into the 21st century.”

But what is a milk bar? Those two words don’t go together. Perhaps a milk chocolate bar, like a satisfying Snickers (not fun-size please). But when I think of a bar (and I do, often), milk is not included. No dairy, no cream, no White Russians for me. Just the pints, ma’am. And maybe a whiskey sour. But certainly not a glass of milk.

Actually, the USA does have seven bakeries called milk bar, which its own website praises as “a culinary empire and lifestyle brand founded by award-winning pastry chef and masterchef judge christina tosi.” You see how they did that? They used lowercase on her name to balance out the pretentiousness of overpriced dessert. Bad grammar doesn’t fix the fact that a SIX INCH birthday cake is $50.50 online. Holy Mary mother of God, I saw an 8″ fresh fruit tart at Sprouts yesterday for $6.99. Now what’s the better deal? Sorry, it’s just that when I see terms like “lifestyle brand,” I throw up a little in my mouth.

But back to real milk bars. It’s actually quite simple. They were general stores/corner stores, where one could go to pick up groceries such as milk. They are being replaced by more modern convenience stores such as 7-11, and the ones that do exist serve mainly ice cream and milkshakes. Below is said to be the first recorded milk bar in Australia.

http://neoskosmos.com
http://neoskosmos.com

Englishman James Meadow Charles opened the first milk bar in 1930 as the “Lake View Milk Bar” at Bangalore, India. The concept spread to the UK, where it became a morally acceptable alternative to the pub–a place to get diabetes instead of alcohol poisoning. By 1936, over 1,000 milk bars had opened nationally. Sounds like a perfect place for teens to gather.

And this one is full of Australian brands of which I’ve never heard: Streets, Peter Jackson, Tarax?

milkbarpinterest

He’s a cute little bugger, no?

Heels To The Laundrette

Herald Sun 1966
Herald Sun 1966

At first glance, one might find pity on this older woman at the laundromat (we call it washateria in the lower states), and in Australia (where she was) it’s the laundrette. Note how she has put herself together to visit this place of convenience: heels, floral dress, and cardigan. Nothing like the flip-flops and jean shorts one sees today.

1916 Election: Peace With Honor

Illustrated History of the US
Illustrated History of the US

One hundred years ago, incumbent President Woodrow Wilson used newfangled machines on wheels to get his message of peace across to the common man (not woman, of course; they were still unable to vote). While Europe had already entered WWI,  Wilson remained popular with his campaign slogan “He kept us out of war.” He defeated Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes, the Republican candidate, by a narrow margin. And then he sent our boys off to war the very next April.

You can’t always stay neutral, folks.

 

Bus Etiquette: Civilized vs. Liberated

Science For Work & Play
Science For Work & Play

Once upon a time, elementary school boys wore ties to school–natty ones which matched their hunter green socks. Global warming and aspartame had not caused ADD yet, so children sat perfectly still, carrying on conversations void of uncouth words. They were well-mannered and neither stood in the aisles nor threw spitballs at their bus drivers. Was this just a fantasy?

A generation later, the bus was brimming with free love, altered states, lewd bare arms, and sunglasses to disguise dilated pupils. One young man even attempted to punch his way through the roof in an ill attempt at a glass ceiling metaphor. I can smell the patchouli from here.

1974 El Rancho
1974 El Rancho

Which bus would you rather ride?

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