Throwback Memories for Future Folks

May Essay

I was always a troublemaker

The other day, I ventured into the world of laundromats for the first time. Until that moment, it hadn't dawned on me how spoiled I've been with on-site laundry in the buildings that I've lived in. Now, with just one machine in my building, any laundry mishap leaves me cozying up in a stripped bed. I am a notorious laundry procrastinator. Luckily, there is a laundromat within walking distance that came to my rescue.

Walking into the laundromat, I couldn’t help but feel like a college student attempting to do laundry on their own for the very first time. Despite this, I found the hum of the machines strangely comforting, and the scent of freshly laundered clothes was delightful. Plus, the machines were far superior to any that I've had access to on-site. Just sayin'. Later, while folding my clothes at the laundromat, it struck me how the experience felt like a blast from the past. Laundromats have been around since the 1930s, gained popularity in the 1950s, but somehow exude a 1970s vibe.

My reading of The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman led me to consider the nature of nostalgia for a past decade. Like how right now there's an undeniable nostalgia for all things early 2000s, which in retrospect had a very specific aesthetic. Looking back, I can now see that I unwittingly embodied the quintessential elements associated with the time, despite thinking myself unique. This made me wonder what a time capsule packaged today would look like, considering how we're all into old trends that are bleeding into the mainstream. When does something old become cool again? And what will people think of when they think about the 2020s?

Nostalgia

The 1990s was a decade where the eagerness for the new was palpable, but somehow, amidst this race towards the unknown, we all found ways to fit in while fiercely waving our flags of individuality.

For me, the 90s evoke feelings of nostalgia for a time when boy bands, girl bands, overalls, and Friends dominated popular culture. The era also introduced us to trendy jelly glitter shoes and purple Pop-Tarts. It was a simpler time when see-through phones were considered the epitome of cool. The internet began its ascent into our daily lives and gave us a taste of the digital age to come. CDs replaced cassettes, DVDs began to slide into our homes and sideline VHS tapes. I, for one, was begging for the Spice Girls CD and repeatedly watching Space Jam and A Nightmare Before Christmas.