Chasin’ the dream without Naugas

Space exploration fueled it.  All about excitement, rocketing energy, tossing that darn, old, saggy, baggy cotton for modern, space age fabrics – and, for The Graduate, one word: “Plastics.”

Livin’ the Jetsons’ life was just around the corner.

Modern was coming at warp drive.

Today, as I opened emails, couldn’t help but chuckle at Crate and Barrel’s breathlessly announcing the arrival of their New and Now Fall Collection.

Images reminiscent of what became the signature of cheap hotel decor and those “affordable”, sparsely furnished, college apartments.

Only it was avocado green Naugahide. How many Naugas died for that era? Not familiar? Native to Naugatuck, Connecticut, now possibly extinct. A picture of one here…Note the chair the Nauga is standing by. Check that fall catalog. (crateandbarrel.com)

Mid-century eagerly rushed towards an idyllic, modern future. Now there, the reality doesn’t seem to match the dream.

Now going back and trying to find what was lost along the way.

Like in the song, “Everything old is new again”:

….Get out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Let’s go backwards when forward fails
And movie stars you thought were alone then
Now are framed beside your bed

Don’t throw the pa-ast away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again

Get out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Put it on backwards when forward fails
Better leave Greta Garbo alone
Be a movie star on your own

And do-on’t throw the past away
You might need it some other rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again
When everything old i-is new-ew a-again

I might fa-all in love wi-ith you again

(Peter Allen)

Somehow the lyrics sit as well as the chairs

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge