Just imagine what the next 100 years will bring

How can it possibly be 2010 approaching? I feel like Mrs. Rip Van Winkle, nodding off during the celebration of the year 2000 and in the blink of an eye, 10 years have elapsed.

If indeed, someone had fallen asleep in 1909 and awakened this week, they would be amazed at the changes, social and economic.

Our future now seems more uncertain. Many of our industries are outsourced, we have become a borrower nation and are much more affected by the political and economic climate of other nations. In 1909, the national debt was a paltry $1.15 billion and divorce was one in 1,000, possibly because as yet, women did not have the vote.

In 1909, the average life expectancy was 47 years, only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub, and a mere 8 percent a telephone.

The first model T Ford rolled off the assembly line and cost $850 (quite a bit of money since the average wage was 22 cents an hour). A postage stamp was 2 cents, milk 37 cents a gallon, eggs cost 14 cents a dozen and coffee was 15 cents a pound.

None of the following had been invented yet: canned beer, zippers, toasters, Band-Aids, hair dryers, traffic lights, penicillin, ballpoint pens, nylon stockings or disposable diapers.

Teddy Roosevelt was the president, clothes for the family were still made at home, and women wore long skirts and high-button shoes. Two very popular songs were “In My Merry Oldsmobile” and “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree.”

More than 95 percent of all births took place at home, which was probably a good thing, as most of the doctors had no college education and hospitals were notoriously unsafe. The leading causes of death were pneumonia and influenza, tuberculosis, heart disease and stroke.

Only 6 percent of Americans graduated from high school, but 18 percent of households had at least one full-time servant. The American flag had 45 stars, and 95 percent of the taxes we now pay did not exist.

Football and basketball had not really caught on, but baseball was already popular and most small towns had competitive leagues. The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was first heard in 1909, and critics of that newfangled invention, the airplane, were convinced it would remain a racing machine for gilded youth.

Each age develops its own special slang expressions. Here are a few some of you may recall:

- “I need a cup of Arbuckle” (slang for coffee). Arbuckle was a popular brand; just as Starbucks is today.

- “Put on your best bib and tucker.” To get all dressed up.

- “He’s a bunko artist.” Someone who is a con man, i.e.: Bernard Madoff.

- “Fetch me my hat.” Bring my hat to me.

- “Dude.” A term to describe an Easterner. Now, “Dude” is used as a form of greeting.

- “Come a cropper.” To fail at something.

- “Get a wiggle on.” To hurry up or to get going. Which is exactly what I must do until next week.

Happy New Year. Can you even imagine what changes the next 100 years will bring!

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Cousin Judy got the 10-cent tour of New York at the holidays

My cousin Judy, who is actually a second cousin, twice removed, or a third cousin, once removed (I’ve never been good at figuring out these distant family connections) called a few weeks ago to ask if I would meet her in New York to show her the city at Christmas. Judy, a widow, lives in Seattle, but spends winters with her sister in North Carolina.

Although it was at a busy time for me, it was also a rare opportunity to get to know one another, as over the years we have seen one another most infrequently.

In making plans for her brief visit, my first shock came when I ordered tickets for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show. Admittedly, the last time I was at Radio City was over 20 years ago, but prices have increased astronomically.

Judy arrived on a recent Saturday, late in the afternoon, and was welcomed by a Seattle-type downpour, so we decided to rendezvous for dinner instead of seeing the windows on 5th Avenue, as previously planned. Her hotel was in the Chelsea area, a few blocks from my son’s apartment where I was staying, so we all had dinner at a low-cost, but excellent, neighborhood Thai restaurant.

Sunday morning we had tickets for the 9 a.m. show at Radio City. Leaving Chelsea about 8:15, traffic was minimal and we easily grabbed a taxi and were there in ample time to admire the beautiful renovations made to this landmark Beaux-Arts building. A new addition is an enormous, sparkling crystal chandelier gracing the grand staircase.

The show itself works hard at selling Christmas, and although at times slightly corny and a bit over the top, does for the most part succeed. The Rockettes are featured in many more numbers, but still perform that astonishing wooden soldiers routine and the corps de ballet delight with the opening number from “The Nutcracker Suite.”

Three-D glasses, which come with the program guide, give an up-to-date and thrilling version of Santa’s sleigh ride over New York City, allowing the audience to zoom over landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Although the Nativity scene has been shortened, there are still the magnificently costumed three kings, the manger and yes, even live camels.

Leaving the theater at almost noontime, we entered a sunny, cold, but by now, crowded, New York. We opted for a quick soup and sandwich at a nearby Au Bon Pain, then searched several drugstores until finally locating one that stocked batteries for Judy’s hearing aide. By the third try, we were getting discouraged, but Judy perked up on learning that not only did the final Rite Aid stock the elusive batteries, they were featuring a $2 discount coupon.

That accomplished, we made our way crosstown to Madison Avenue, where we boarded an uptown bus and I tried, through the heavy traffic, to point out some of the name designer stores that might interest Judy. However, many of them were unfamiliar to her, and she was surprised to learn that there is no branch of Nordstrom’s in New York. Departing the bus at 70th Street, we walked over to Park Avenue, only to find that the Christmas trees that usually light up that broad, beautiful street as yet had no lights.

We stopped at 70th and Park at Asia House, one of my favorite small museums, which has a unique gift shop and a lovely tea room. After resting our now-weary feet, we enjoyed both the gift shop and the exhibit of elegant Indian bronzes.

Once again, out and walking over to 5th Avenue, it was turning very cold, and the wait for the downtown bus in front of Central Park took forever. We finally boarded, and through foggy windows, I tried to point out the Plaza Hotel, Bergdorf’s, Harry Winston’s, etc., but it was difficult for Judy to get more than a brief glimpse. It was dark enough by now, however, to see all the bright lights illuminating 5th Avenue, a shopper’s wonderland.

Finally arriving a few blocks from Rockefeller Center (buses do not stop directly at the site during the holidays), we elbowed our way, partially on the street, partially on the sidewalk, with Judy clinging to me, for dear life. One friendly lady, pushing nearby, smiled and said, “Hi, how you-all doin?” “I would be better if there weren’t quite so many you-alls in New York,” I thought, but did not say aloud.

When we reached Rockefeller Center, peering above the huge crowd, Judy could barely make out the skating rink and the beautiful golden statue of Prometheus. By now we were too exhausted to hoof it over to Broadway and 47th to catch the night sightseeing bus as planned.

Instead, we decided to take the subway back to the Chelsea area. Trying to buy a senior Metro card at the subway station, Judy, who is in her 80s, was asked for her Medicare card, which she did not have with her. Forced to pay full fare, she attempted several times to insert and use the card, to no avail.

Meanwhile, I was shouting instructions from the other side of the turnstile. Finally, two kind-hearted New Yorkers held open the emergency gates, and Judy slipped through in time to get the train.

When we got to Chelsea, we collapsed at a Japanese restaurant. Judy was leaving the next morning for North Carolina, so after eating, we said our good-byes. I regretted that with only a day and a half, I had barely been able to scratch the surface of New York at Christmas as I had, in the past, experienced it.

The most important and lasting Christmas gift, however, is that in our senior years, Judy and I have developed a new, fond relationship. Here’s wishing all of you a warm and wonderful holiday.

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We found another gem on Main Street in East Haven

Last year, in need of a jewelry shop to replace my watch battery, I stumbled upon DiLustro Jewelers at 280 Main St. in East Haven; a modest, almost inconspicuous shop, which is a real gem. John DiLustro is a master craftsman at working with gold, setting stones, making new jewelry castings and repair work. His repair work is so outstanding that he often works for seven or eight other jewelers, as well.

John has enlarged several rings for me, replaced an impossible-to-manipulate clasp on a pearl necklace with an easy-to-do one, and re-strung a gold and coral necklace which had broken ... all skillfully done at an extremely reasonable price.

The DiLustro family saga started when John’s mother was on a boat going to Italy to visit her family. His father was on the same boat on his way home to Ischia (a beautiful island off the coast of Italy). He was immediately smitten and asked her family for permission to court her. A short time later, they were married and returned to America, living in New Haven, then Hamden and finally settling at 414 Main St. in East Haven.

They were blessed with three children, Lisa, Anna and young John who was born in 1963, which was also the same year that the family decided to return to Ischia for a few years so the children could experience life in this peaceful place. They needed, however, a way to make a living and since Mr. DiLustro had experience in the making and repairing of jewelry in America, the family opened their own jewelry store, “Gioleria DiLustro,” which became very successful.

After six years, they sold the store to Mr. DiLustro’s brother and wife and in 1970, returned to the United States. In 1974, they opened their present store where John, from the time he was a small boy, barely big enough to see over the counter, learned the old-school, time-honored craftsmanship of jewelry-making and repair. His mother dealt with salesmen and customers and John and his father grew the business with their skill and hard work.

Today, John and his charming wife, Donna, not only continue the tradition, they will be welcoming the next generation, represented by John Jr. into the business this June.

Their story typifies the histories of immigrants from Italy who came and settled in this area, bringing Old World skills and values with them. Remember to visit and shop all your local merchants this Christmas and when you are in need of jewelry or jewelry repair, pay a visit to DiLustro’s.

Last-Minute Bulletin: Presence, a holiday co-op of local artists and merchants on the Branford Green, will host a special shopping night Thursday to benefit the Soundview Family YMCA.

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Somehow, Christmas has gotten away from us

Quite a few years ago, a small girl, Virginia O’Hanlon by name, wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun newspaper which in her mind was a final and irrefutable authority to ask if there really was a Santa Claus. Francis Church, in a veteran newsman’s response, which has since become a classic and traditional part of every Christmas, assured Virginia that yes, indeed, there was a Santa Claus.

Lately, I am feeling that like Virginia, I need re-assurance that the special meaning and spirit of Christmas is still alive and well in America. I worry that it is being trampled by merchants and consumers alike, so anxious on one hand to make money; and on the other, to secure a “bargain” on the biggest plasma television or the latest electronic gadget, buyers will stand in long lines at 5 a.m. One store even put up barricades to be sure crowds were controlled so that nobody would get hurt.

I thought in today’s precarious economy, more people would resort to smaller, simpler gifts. Instead, it seems shoppers still want to load up their carts to overflowing with an excess of items; they just want all the usual stuff at rock bottom prices, and they are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to achieve that goal.

Now, some of you are going to compare me to Scrooge, but it is precisely because I cherish the kind of Christmas that existed when Virginia wrote that letter, that I would like to offer the following thoughts and suggestions:

What’s wrong with Christmas?

First, it comes too early. We’ve barely recovered from Halloween and Thanksgiving. Since Christmas trees, mistletoe, candles, carols and gift-giving are all of pagan origin anyway, couldn’t we move all of those features and have a holiday when we most need it ... in perhaps, late January or early February and have a very simple but meaningful remembrance of the birth of Christ on his birthday?

Also, at any time, 12 days of Christmas would be enough. I could enjoy Christmas more if I didn’t have to see and hear so much about it, beforehand; especially certain songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” While I would prefer less time leading up to Christmas, I also think we should adopt a page from the Hanukkah celebration and have it last for, at least, several days. All that preparation for just one day makes it almost anticlimactic.

Secondly, could we do away with some of the old, worn out Christmas movies and their equally bad re-do’s? I would also ban those big, inflatable snowmen or Disney’s seven dwarfs on front lawns and rooftops. Could we all please settle for a few candles shining in the windows and one simple tree and wreath?

Third, I’m pretty sure little Virginia would have been thrilled with just one special gift under her tree. Today’s children ask, “What did you get?” when the question should be, “What did you give?” We need to think outside the gift box and discover the pleasure to be had in the careful planning and selecting of just the right gift for someone. A gift should show thought and an understanding of the singular individual it is chosen for and thus give pleasure to both the giver and the recipient.

Fourth, for many Americans, Christmas has become a financial burden. A large percent of the population is still paying off Christmas credit card debt from 2008.

We are confusing quantity with quality. Let’s do away with Black Friday and Cyber Monday and opt for the simpler, more carefully chosen or hand-made gift. And since staying in touch with faraway friends is an important part of the holiday, could we junk the junk mail and instead have a low-cost stamp just for the holidays?

Lastly, while I am still wishfully thinking, Santa dear, a sprinkling of snow on Christmas Eve always creates a special magic and is a reminder that like each and every snowflake, each and every one of us is unique and special. And if that isn’t magical, I don’t know what is.

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