WIGS, GIRDLES & GOOD ABS!

FROM WHERE I SIT Wigs,Girdles & Good Abs    JAN. 17, 2014  

PAT SPILSETH

History has interesting tidbits of information of how folks lived their lives in the past.  Personal hygiene habits through the years have changed drastically.  We’re almost manically into health issues today, but in the past, as incredible as it sounds, men and women used to take baths only twice a year (May and October).  Today, many of us take daily showers, but a relaxing bath takes too much time for hurried people.  

Many modern day men and women color their hair, especially the roots, with age-defying colors, henna or bleach.  In much earlier days, women used to keep their hair covered, while men shaved their heads because of lice and bugs and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool, but they couldn't wash those wigs.  In order to clean the wigs, they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig'. Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.  Mom used to say “Don’t get the Big Head” meaning don’t be proud or flamboyant.  Remember, we Scandinavians were taught to be humble, not cause attention to ourselves.  

Personal hygiene throughout history has room for improvement.  As a result, many women and men developed acne scars by adulthood. In the past, women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.' Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt. Therefore, the expression 'losing face.'

Acne was a problem for most of us in high school, another problem to deal with in those teenage years.  We had tubes of Clearasil, the vanishing acne cream, to to hide zits’ red blotches on our faces and necks.  Dandruff was a problem especially in the dry winter, but special shampoos, like Head and Shoulders, cleared the white flakes from our scalps.

Ladies wore corsets years ago, which would lace up in the front.  A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace.  The corset would cinch in her waist, but push up bust and enlarge hips.  Though today’s women might wear Spanx to suck that cupcake roll around the waist, few gals today wear girdles that many of our moms wore to slim their tummies and hold up their nylon stockings.  Remember nylons, that sheer fabric on our legs that always had runs and bagged in the knees?  How about garter belts that always pinched our skin when we sat down?  Who even owns a pair of nylons today?  Many women wear tights in the winter if she has a skirt or a dress, but pants are now acceptable at work, church, concerts.  In the summertime we bare our legs, hoping to get them tan, like those “tan” colored nylons we used to wear. 

Foot fungus or athletes feet erupted between toes that got too moist.  Though we had mandatory showers in phy-ed classes, time constraints often caused us to not dry our toes well: moisture accumulated and brought on athletes’ foot problems.  Powders sifted into clean, white cotton socks provided the drying powder for affected toes.  Dark colored socks and colored underwear were thought to cause hygiene problems for guys and gals. Those rarely washed towels stored in our smelly storage baskets in the phy-ed lockers probably contributed to hygience problems.  Just think of the very personal, cleanliness issues folks from past eras had when they rarely bathed!  Powder and perfumes can’t cover months-old body odors.

How our health habits have changed through the years!  Today, phy-ed classes are needed more than ever with the obesity levels skyrocketing among all ages. Gym and health club memberships are climbing, offering hot tubs, pools, showers and saunas...we’re really into cleanliness today.  But what’s happened to our eating habits?  We’re a nation of overweight people sitting at computers, eating too much fat, causing our cholesterol and blood pressure levels to rise. Check out those abs in the black and white photos.Today we’re a huge contrast to our grandparents, who worked long hours at household, field and barn chores without modern-day conveniences.   Check out those abs in the black and white photos.  Grandpa and Grandma might not have smelled so good, but most of their bodies were rock-solid trim.    799 words