The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

by Angela Sanford

This summer has been a quiet one and has given me ample time to consider the old adage “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

Growing up in the 70s and 80s meant a simpler time, though not necessarily a better time; we have modern conveniences that I'd rather not give up but a closer look at practices in our daily lives often mirrors those simpler times in some respects. 

A new business, “Your Hometown Pantry,” provides a direct to your door delivery service for families while there are an assortment of online ordering platforms that allow us to have items shipped directly to our doorstep, also. Though these online merchants have been available for some time, they certainly took an uptake during COVID.  However, the similarities of these online shopping experiences to ordering from the Sears catalogue gives me a melancholy sensation.

  I fondly recall the days, especially in August, of circling items in the Sears catalogue of clothing I wanted for back to school or our copy of the Christmas Wish Book finally arriving and, again, circling all of the items I hoped Santa might bring. Now, I drag items on the screen into my shopping cart and leave them there until I eventually purchase them or finally delete them - since I cannot be bothered with creating a shopping/favourites list.

In both instances, once the order has been placed, the stage of eager anticipation begins. I cross my fingers that I’ve ordered the correct size, or the item matches what it looked like online, or in the catalogue many moons ago.  I even sometimes check my inbox occasionally to see

where the items are in their journey to me, while in years gone by, I had to be more patient, awaiting the call from the pickup point, in Kennetcook, to say our parcels had arrived. From flipping pages in catalogues to scrolling screens online, I appreciate the convenience and, really, the overall experiences haven’t changed much.

   Follow this with a recent trip to PEI, which was an occasional event of my childhood as well as one for our own children, one flavoured with sentimentality.  Since my last visit 4 plus years ago the attributes of PEI have changed dramatically, much like the Nova Scotian landscape - new homes, new highways,  but wait just a moment, upon plugging in the coordinates for our motel, as we crossed the Confederation Bridge, one thing has not changed; there is still no direct route from Borden-Carleton to Cavendish.  One still must navigate the cross country back roads and potholes to cross the island. How is it that in all of the years of tourism a road “as the crow flies” into Cavendish has not been constructed?  Sure, the GPS has replaced the paper map sprawled across the passenger’s lap to navigate the island, but it baffles me that there is not a more direct route.  This is one of those times, I appreciate the modern conveniences (Siri giving directions, not I) so that I can enjoy the sights while we drive and again takes me back to each previous trip and declaring the sites I remember from years gone by, so maybe a direct route would not be welcomed.

Then, there's the concept of drought, which is not new but is seemingly a surprise to many in the circles of conversation, particularly on social media.  Dry summers existed long before the phrase “climate change” was coined in 1956 or became more widely used in the late 1970s.   And while water restrictions and fire bans are more frequent, perhaps it is possible that in those simpler times people did not need to be told to restrict fires and conserve water, common sense might have dominated, and government regulation need not have been enforced.

Despite climate change and the multitude of resources available to us that provide weather predictions, the weather itself remains unpredictable. That is the change that stays the same - however, if you enjoy a good conspiracy theory novel with at least an ounce of truth I'd strongly suggest you read Sidney Sheldon's “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”  which suggests that the weather is very predictable as it is, in part, controlled by “Big Brother.”

Further examples of modern transformations that echo our simpler past include how we introduce foods to babies -much different than when I had my boys -, the return to regular backyard gardening, and the rise of multi-generational living—often driven by the high cost of living. Farmers’ markets and other community-based practices are also making a comeback.

Progress doesn’t always mean moving forward with something new; sometimes it means returning to what was already working. While technology is essential in today’s fast-paced society, the foundation of our global world often rests on modern twists to time-tested traditions.