Historical Romance

Historical Romance with an Inspirational Touch

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

New Meaning to Black Friday

As I have mentioned, stories I write take place either during the American Revolution, French Revolution or Regency Period. Long before things like electricity or gas stoves. I always figured that had I lived back then I would have been a maid in household, or some middle to lower class person – no big deal. A friend once mention that had I lived in an even earlier time period I probably would have been a wench in a tavern. I am not quite sure what she meant by that, but she assumed she would be right there with me.

Well, the day after Thanksgiving I soon learned I would not like being a maid during the 1700s or early 1800s. You see, my water heater went out – giving a whole new meaning to “Black Friday” for me. This was also the day I decided to kick off my baking. As my husband had to work overtime, dinner was not an issue because he was going to bring something home during his 3 hour break in shifts. He knows what a pain it is to stop in the middle of baking cookies, bars and candies to cook dinner. (He really wanted to make sure I got the pecan bars done)

However, as soon as I went to wash to first set of measuring cups, mixing bowls, beaters and such I realized there was no hot water. Thus, I began heating water on the stove. This continued through the weekend whenever I needed to do the dishes or someone needed a bath. He tried to get the pilot light lit while he was home but it wasn’t happening. Given he was gone far more than he was home this weekend, I didn’t expect him to get to the water heater before Monday. I also learned that the whole hauling water thing is not me.

So, while being the lord or lady, or even the middle class, back in 1810 may seem romantic, it was far from that for the maid. I am so glad I lived in 2009.

If you had been born in a different era, what do you think you would have been - Poor, middle class, lord or lady? If you were of the servant class what job would you have really disliked more than you do now? And, if you could pick era(with the exception of now) when would you have lived?

12 comments:

  1. I'll go with cavewoman.I'm not that far removed from it even now.

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  2. How awful! Did you get the water heater fixed? Although I love to read historicals, I would never want to live back in those days. I must have my microwave...my car...my bubble-filled tub..and yes, my toilet! lol

    ~Phyllis~

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  3. Since I get to pick, I would have lived during the Regency period, and I definitly would want to be of very rich nobility! It's my choice, afterall. Loved the blog!

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  4. Ugh! Life without hot water, toilets, adequate heat, epidurals? Can I choose to live in the future? I love to read historical romance, but I would never want to live in the past in any era. I'm too spoiled. However, I would have been wealthy in the 1700s. My ancestors owned a tobacco plantation in the Carolinas - or else I would have been hung for being a horse theif. We had some bad seed in the family too.

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  5. OMG! I'm laughing so hard at Gail's comment. Too funny!

    As for me, there's no doubt I would want to live in the Regency or later, and absolutely no doubt that I would have been well off. I don't do poor. I mean, I have done it, and I know I don't like it. My hubby either, which is why we gave up the "starving artists" gig. I've never understood people who embraced the fact that they were broke. And for me it's not about having "stuff", it's about peace of mind...you can't have it if you don't have money. After years of wondering if we'd be able to pay our rent (at all, let alone on time!) and worrying that we'd get sick, I have no desire, in this time period or otherwise, to experience that again!

    Fun post! :)

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  6. LOL @ Gail's comment! Oh poor Amy, I hope you got that fixed! That's terrible. I'm not sure what I would pick to tell the truth, while I love history and the thought of living in it, I don't think I would choose to live it. OMG I love them all, I can't choose an era. I think I would have to go with Victorian only because it's closer to our time period and there were more conviences lol. Aren't we a lazy bunch? lol

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  7. I wouldn't have wanted to live long ago. As it is I took a saturday night bath in a tub on the floor of my grandma's house with water heated from the stove and used her outhouse. It's not fun and I don't like camping for that reason and am thankful I was born when I was...

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  8. I think I would either want to be a plump in the pocket duchess, who'd already produced the heir and spare, and had some freedom or a simple country maid. If you have to be poor - better to be in the country where it didn't smell so bad. *grin*

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  9. When I watched the BBC production of Regency House, I soon found out I could *not* have survived as any type of servant during the early 1800s! I love studying about history and reading about the past, but I don't think there's any way I could have lived in it!

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  10. My granddad was a milkman. His dad wouldn't let him go to high school, or train for the police. I'm guessing I'd've been poor. But as to picking an era, it probably has to be now or I wouldn't be me.

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  11. Hope your hot water is fixed! We would probably have been middle class---whatever that is. But when? Hard question....

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  12. Hard question but I think middle class. Sure am glad I don't come from that era. ick. I like my hot water, heating and cooling, and all the modern conveniences. Yes, I'm spoiled but aren't we all.

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