Love in old-time Phoenix


The way that we use the language changes, but people don't. Birds do it, bees do it, let's do it, let's fall in love, in old-time Phoenix.

Now calm down here, the word "love" has been used euphemistically to imply physical intimacy for so long now it's kind of embarrassing to see it used for what it really means - a feeling for someone deeper than ordinary friendship.

If I sent you that box of candy in 1921, and it made you feel all mushy inside (for me, not the chocolate), people would call us lovers. I might strum my guitar under your window until your father sic'd the dog on me, and as you defended my serenade, you would have told him that I was making love to you. That is, I was expressing that emotion deeper than friendship. Yes, the language has changed since then!

Once a word has been used euphemistically there's no taking it back. Personally, I find that kind of sad, as it creates a barrier of understanding of the past. And since I love to step into the past, I want to see it through the eyes of the people who lived at that time. And those are the starry eyes of lovers!

Image at the top of this post: 1921 ad for Camelback Chocolates from Donofrios, Cactus Way (between Central and 1st Street) and Washington, Phoenix, Arizona.
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