“There will be no factories with people wasting their lives manning noisy machines. We shall emulate the self-sustained villages and towns of the 18th century but with 20th century no-how.”
No radio or teevee? Does that mean no entertainment except books and old movies?
“Entertainment definitely. Live entertainment. Professional acting, dance and opera companies, and bands and orchestras based every large community and touring each commune. Performing artists, acrobats, comedians, poets and—the list is endless.”
Now, even before Anne said her name, applause erupted for the lady with the French cooking show. Even her crackly voice when she began was interrupted by laughter.
Packaged or canned and fixed quick designed,
My parents worked full-time, so that’s how we ‘dined.’
Then after college I traveled to France
To work in a restaurant, garden behind
Fruit trees and veggies well-tended and vined,
Smart, I said, saving from shopping plus francs
No, not the reason, chef said with no thanks.
As he offered a spoonful of lightly-cooked beans,
Nothing added, no spices, we don’t like to waste.
My mouth was so shocked with the very first taste
That it shouted so loud it fair burst my young ears,
WHAT’S THAT MUSH WE’VE BEEN FEEDING ON
ALL OF THOSE YEARS??!!!
Laughter and clapping followed the chef to her seat. Anne said, “All our food comes fresh each day from the gardens. Larger communities will have tailors, dressmakers, cobblers, carpenters and artists—imagine living with beautiful things found only in antique shops and art galleries? Wearing hand-made clothes only the rich could afford.”
Anne stepped down and the familiar growl of a designer of haute couture read.
I learned how to sew when I was just three
From my granny whom everyone called Granny Bee.
We lived in the south so I wasn’t allowed
To have my own shop, to work and be proud.
So I sewed and I sewed till a man came and showed
How I could own a shop in the heart of the town.
You see, he was white and had some renown
So his name and not mine was the name of the shop
And I’d work in the back all the day till I drop
Making dresses for all of the rich and smart wives
And, natur’ly, some who were only part wives.