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past perfect

One thing continually bothers me as I read Diana Gabaldon's richly detailed story of Claire Beauchampe, a doctor who innocently walks into a stone formation in Scotland and winds up in 16th century Scotland. Much has happened since this beginning...Claire has married Jamie Fraser the young and impressive Scottish Laird (against her wishes), fallen madly in love with him regardless of a precarious beginning to their relationship, followed him around as they attempt to evade the English, fought with him at the battle of Culloden, been forced back through the stones to safety with their unborn child, raised their child with her ambiguous husband from the future, returned after her child had grown up so that she could find him, made a new life with him in an American Colony, and been surprised by the appearance of her daughter and new son in law in 16th century America. Through their many, often rediculous, adventures there is that one thing that my brain keeps going back to. Why doesn't Claire miss anything from the modern days she grew up in and raised her daughter in? Seriously I think the only thing she ever regrets in the whole series so far is not getting a hot shower. I keep imaging myself in her shoes and there are many things I would miss. Definitely hot showers, but also fast food, TV, my bed, womens rights, my couch, pants, toiletries such as toothbrushes and deoderant, etc. I'm not sure if the author left this out on purpose or if she just felt that her heroine was not dependent on such things.
Everyone has been asked the question, at some point or other, what is the one item that you absolutely could not live without if you were stranded on an island?
My question is, what are the five things that you have grown accustomed to having in our modern world that you could not live without if you were thrust back into the 16th century?

 My List:
1) My family and friends
2) hot baths and showers
3) lysol wipes and spray
4) hair conditioner
5) my toothbrush  

Comments

  1. Look up.September 6, 2010 at 7:52 PM

    1) education & equality for women
    2) the internet & the public library/information system
    3) pads and painkillers (how DID they do it?!)
    4) toilet paper
    5) toothbrush & toothpaste

    (allow me to group some - these things need to come in sets!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. MichelleOctober 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM

    Ah, pants. This is such a good question. I've been thinking about it ever since you posted it, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to share my answers.

    1. Chocolate, and disposible income with which to buy chocolate.
    2. Education, literacy, and the internet: accessibility and ease of information and communication.
    3. Motorized transportation and the ability to regularly travel long-ish distances.
    4. Showers and personal care items.
    5. Personal rights.

    Gah, I think I've forgotten my most important one, the one I thought of first!! Sigh. Well, I'll add it on later if I remember what it is.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MichelleOctober 8, 2010 at 6:16 PM

    I remembered! My favorite thing about the present, and the thing that I seem to take for granted: public washroms and toilet seats!

    ReplyDelete

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