It started out as an innocent thing, a gift subscription to Sunset soon after we were married. I loved all the articles about gardening, home décor, and scenic locations in California. In the eighties, I was caught up with country design. Enter Country Living and Country Home. Those two were easy to read and toss out when the next one arrived. But only after I had torn out all the pages that inspired me. It took me far longer to toss those select pages, even though I seldom acted on those inspirations.
We also “needed” a news magazine to keep up with world events, even though we watched the nightly news and subscribed to at least one newspaper, and Time made its weekly entrance in our home. Later on, Newsweek found out where we lived. It wanted to compete for my time with Time, and I let it. Now, a number of years later, we’re still trying to send one out the door, but we can’t decide which one. Besides that, we still have a couple of years’ worth of subscription remaining.
I blame my Granny for getting me started on Redbook, particularly in the early days when the pages were filled more with short stories than fashion. She didn’t subscribe to it, but a friend gave her old copies. I used to go through the piles she had stacked up in her sewing room, taking them home to read. Later, I subscribed on my own, looking forward to Judith Viorst’s columns on her husband and three boys. When the content changed and Judith left, my interest waned, but I found others to fill the gap. Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens began to come to our mailbox. At some point, I let them both lapse, but one of them kept pushing me, making me an irresistible offer, luring me back with low rates. I gave in.
When our boys were young, I was sure we needed National Geographic. After all, they’d have reports to write and would like the pictures. That was followed by Smithsonian. These marketers know how to keep you in their fold: if you like this magazine, you’ll love this other one, too! When we moved a few years ago, I had a hard time unloading those pristine yellow-covered, faux-leather boxed, almost never-read magazines.
When one of those boys grew up and had a serious girlfriend who worked for O Magazine and even had her name on the masthead, I subscribed. When she moved to O at Home, I subscribed. I was almost relieved when O at Home folded. When she wanted a subscription to National Geographic Traveler, I ordered it for her – and one for myself, since it was such a good deal. Mr. New York still has the girlfriend/now fiancée, and I’m still reading Traveler. I’m also reading The New Yorker, thanks to same son, only now I buy my own.
Twenty years ago, before I knew about online sites like epicurious, we joined a gourmet group. I read Gourmet, followed by Bon Appétit. And, perhaps it was all those butter-infused, cream-sauced recipes that led me to subscribing to Cooking Light, followed by Weightwatchers and Prevention magazine. I meant to cancel at least one of them; I really did. Maybe when the next renewal notice comes, I’ll just throw it away. Really.
2 comments:
Hi Susan, Love the blog! I have already confessed that I am a fellow addict. I have been rescued (sort of) because we volunteer at the information desk at our Kaiser Medical Clinic, and magazines are donated on a regular basis. I have plenty to read, and don't have to fuss with subscriptions. There is an amazing variety, as well. Did you KNOW that there is a magazine called "Geezer Jock" for older athletes? Can you imagine a title any less appealing to an aging fitness fanatic?? Well, that is one that I did not have to read.
I am looking forward to your next post. Love, Kathy
When I was growing up, my mother subscribed to Redbook magazine. My, how it has changed! Instead of the "homey" magazine I recalled from my childhood, the emphasis seemed to be on pepping up one's sex life. I thought about following their advice and clearing the desk for some wild, unhibited sex, but my husband was working on the computer and didn't want to be disturbed. :-) It's certainly not my mother's Redbook!
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