Aesthetics

  Remembering when calendars were a thing. The end of the year is closing in fast, soon be October you know, and it was at this time of year salesman began handing out those calendars. I expect some still do, carry on a tradition so to speak, but I've been retired for a few years now and so don't see that. I'll have to check with the local pharmacy, they used to do that. When I first got a computer and a printer I started making my own calendars, well at least one month at a time. It was a bit of a novelty and I soon quit that. I did keep a desk calendar, the blotter type to record things. Just haven't bought a new one yet as I couldn't find one the right size.

  The last place I worked where the salesman handed out calendars was a factory that manufactured road flares. I was a part of the maintenance crew and also fabricated parts for the unique machinery that produced those flares. It was a machine shop, welding shop and general repair shop. The salesman provided calendars for the "manly" men that worked in that shop. Yes, those calendars featured young ladies! At first they were barely clothed at all, then attire was added, and eventually no ladies at all. The pin-up calendar girls were abolished from the workplace. And, here we are today! I don't want to know what is on calendars today. 

  I do remember when the banks gave out calendars, most of the local shops had them and they had all sorts of nice pictures on them. Nature scenes, animals, cars, homes just all sorts of things. Most people I knew had at least one calendar hanging on the kitchen wall, usually next to the phone. All the holidays were listed. They would be be scribbled with little notes and phone numbers, maybe a doodle or two before that page was ripped off and discarded. Especially nice pictures might be saved and even framed. Today I don't see many calendars at all. They are on the phones! I'm aware I can set reminders on my computer and my phone but I seldom do that. Usually when I decide to do that I've forgotten how to do that. Never had that problem with a calendar. 

  I googled pin up calendars to see if they are still a thing. Turns out they are, although this is how they are described. "They continue to be popular, and with various collections available with glamorous images and vintage styles. Many brands, including vintage pin-up artists and modern creators, produce these calendars, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics and classic americana." Yes, they are something of the past when it was acceptable to display such things in a mans world! That was before the "ladies" invaded the work spaces of the guys. Pin ups were designed to get the guys attention! Yes, it really was a mans world. 

  I remember the day in the shop when that salesman came. We were anticipating the new calendar and asked if he had any. It was with sorrow and regret that he informed us his company would no longer be doing that. There would be no pin up this year, the calendar had pastoral scenes on it, cute little bunnies and flowering fields. No more bikini clad babes holding pipe wrenches or checking the oil in a hot rod! They always wore heels when doing that stuff too. The company was changing there marketing strategy. It was a sad day in America. And now, now it's called retro aesthetics! Aesthetics are concerned with nature and an appreciation of beauty. Yes, that's exactly what we were doing with those calendars! Classic Americana. Yeah, back when men where men, and knew that! There was no confusion about any of that. Ah, the good ole days. Todays calendars just aren't what they used to be.