Musings About Market Factors and American Lifestyle

It's interesting to me that many of the the things my mother used to do as a matter of course (to save money and possibly because she had gotten in the habit of saving during WWII rationing) are the very things we are now being urged to do to save the environment. She used to save aluminum foil and even plastic wrap--drying these in the dish rack next to the sink, glass jars, paper bags, boxes, and newspapers. All of these things were reused whenever possible. We had cleaning rags made from scraps of worn out clothing. These are just the things I'm remembering off the top of my head.

But, what almost seems the strangest to me now, are the purchased items she had that helped her to save money. One of these was a quart-sized aluminum can with a filter and a lid. Whenever she had leftover grease from frying, she'd pour the grease through the filter, wipe off the filter, and fasten the lid on. Then, the next time she went to fry something, she could use some of the strained grease, instead of new. Today, I read articles about not throwing that old grease down the drain, because it damages the environment, but I don't see those cans around any more. We may deep-fry far less than people used to, but I still see deep-fryers for sale in the appliance aisles in Target and Wal-Mart, so it hasn't completely disappeared and the idea of reusing cooking oil just doesn't seem to be part of the picture anymore.

I miss the little plastic bottle she used to dampen clothes before she ironed them, which reduced the amount of starch needed when ironing. (At least, I miss it when I simply, absolutely can't avoid having to iron.) This bottle was about six inches tall and an inch and a half in diameter, and the screw-on lid had a number of holes in it, so you could sprinkle the water out. I use a spray bottle these days, but there are times I'd prefer the other.

So, is there anything like these items I've mentioned that you can remember you or your parents or grandparents using, that you just don't see around anymore? If there is, do you think it's obsolete, or are we due for a resurgence?

Also, what are the factors you believe have contributed to the changes in reuse? Is it just that they're not needed anymore? Are there market forces at work? (i.e., Have they been replaced by something else, possibly something disposable?) Are we just too busy to take the time to reuse?

Required Reading

I've been trying to spend a little time each day reading short stories, since that's about all I'm writing these days, so as to better understand the market and the goals I've set for my writing.

This afternoon, I read Nancy Kress' "The Fountain of Age", which Asimov's Science Fiction has graciously made available to everyone (you don't need a subscription), along with other Hugo Award Finalists and Nebula Award Nominees. I really appreciate the fact that even if I don't get to read everything, I get to read the stories that are up for the top awards. 8)

As for "The Fountain of Age": Whooosh! What an amazing story. I was definitely engrossed. At one point, I had to get up and do some stuff in the kitchen and I found myself trying to find the "book," so I could hold it and read the story, while continuing my work one-handed; it was with a certain wry disappointment that I realized I'd been reading onscreen.

Go forth, ye, and read!