Timeless Souls: Why I Feel at Home in the Past

Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong era? I’ve felt that way for as long as I can remember. History has always fascinated me—not the boring dates we memorized in school, but the lives of everyday people. What did they wear? What music did they dance to? What did dinner smell like?

I’m especially drawn to the Victorian, Edwardian, and 1930s–1940s eras. My grandmother, born in 1920, raised me the way she was raised. I learned so much about living through the Great Depression and WWII. Life was hard, but it also had beauty, strength, and community. And today, as I reflect on VE Day (Victory in Europe, May 8th), I think of both the sorrow and the celebration of that time.

Vintage Finds

I adore vintage finds—old books, antique shops, oil lamps (which I actually use!), and most recently, I found my dream car: a 1946 Ford Pickup. It’s like a little piece of history on wheels.

Vintage Life

Some of my favorite vintage-loving people are:

• Sara H. Chrisman, who lives with her husband as if it were still the Victorian era.
• Real Vintage Doll House, where a mother and daughter live in a beautifully restored British cottage with vintage treasures.
• Ruth Goodman, my HERO. She’s a historian who brings the past to life through farm series like Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and Wartime Farm. These shows let you see daily life as it really was—and they’re fascinating!

I’ve often thought about adding more vintage traditions to my everyday life. Maybe next spring I’ll plant a Victory Garden. I might try cooking more recipes from my grandmother’s 1940 cookbook. Even small things—like a 1940s cleaning routine, old hobbies, or playing Big Band jazz—can make modern life feel richer.

When I was younger, I even played in a Big Band jazz group. That music still makes my heart soar.