I never got the 'Pepto Pink' bathrooms from the Fifties, until lately. I wasn't alive back then, but I've always had an appreciation for other things from that amazing decade... the cars, fashion, music, movies... but never the obsession with matching pink tiles, bathtubs, sinks and toilets.
When we moved to Florida last summer, we found an amazing house. Surrounded by fruit trees, with a view of the Intercoastal, and just minutes from the beach... I loved just about everything about the house; with the exception of the master bathroom.
Putrid Pink was more like it. I worked around the disturbing color by adding hot pink, lime green, bright orange and aqua -- playing off the Pepto color.
Since last fall, people have been tightening their belts. Our neighbors now comb the streets for discarded items from each other's curbs. Many of us shop for furniture and clothing from the Goodwill or consignment shops. We barbeque at home with friends, rather than going out to dinner.
We've seen hemlines drop well below the knees (uncharacteristic for South Florida), a surge of 1950s bicycles (some replicas, some original), and an attitude change toward luxury items. More people are selling gold, than wearing it. People are actually clipping coupons again.
With unemployment rates reaching 14% in nearby counties, the nation's third highest foreclosure rate and a pretty high cost of living... things are becoming clearer. And life gets simple really quickly when you're looking at unemployment.
Suddenly, I'm beginning to enjoy my cool showers surrounded by soothing pink tiles. I'm thankful for my friends and family. And I'm hopeful for a brighter future. I'm relating a little better to the lady who picked those pink tiles, the pink toilet, sink and tub back in 1955.
Maybe its time we revisited the optimism and hopefulness of the 1950s, and the confidence in ourselves.
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