If that’s unexpected, Marigold, beware of humans talking with each other. They do that much MUCH more often than you’d expect. “The greatest barrier to communication is often the assumption that it has taken place.”
Alas, alas for the English of my youth! It’s so strange to have lived long enough that I can actually see how the language has changed. Language always does, but it’s disorienting to see it so ineleuctably. (Sorry about that word — but not very. It means “impossible to escape from”.)
If “romantic image” means “there was nothing pointless, no downtroddenness, no annoyances or chores, just exciting challenges and wonderful moments”, then there’s really not a lot to back up ANY romantic image.
Those socks have evolved. They used to just come back as wire coat hangers.