Pre-Boomer Musings

Taking our grandchildren on a little summer trip has been an enjoyable change of pace over the past couple of years.  My wife and I just returned from a jaunt to Las Vegas with our two older ones, now seven and thirteen.  One of the highlights of the trip, according to the kids, was the amusement and arcade area at one of the hotels.

Kids are not allowed in the casinos, but one hotel has an entire floor dedicated to families, particularly the children.  There are rides from those fit for toddlers to really scary roller coasters and others that will test your courage and the condition of your stomach at the same time. 

In addition, there were games of chance and skill everywhere.  While some of these are high-tech, most are the same or variations of the ones we New Seniors played as kids when the carnivals or fairs came to town or we took a trip to the amusement park or went up on the boardwalk at the shore.

The games I was familiar with included: knock the iron milk bottles off the table, shoot the ducks, break the balloons with a dart, ring toss, fish pond, land the pennies (now quarters) on the numbers, ski ball, horse races and many more.  Our kids spend several hours strolling around watching the circus acts and playing various games the first night we arrived.  They had a great time and asked to go back one more time before we left.

There was one problem; we had eight stuffed animals of varying sizes joining us for the ride home.  So the backseat was very crowed, but the kids didn’t seem to mind one bit.  Compared to what we spent for shows, restaurants and everything else on the trip, hour for hour this was the most cost effective part of all.  And the kids sure loved it.

On the drive home, I got to thinking about how I liked doing what the grandkids had just done.  The carnival that made a lasting impression on me came to town the year after WWII had ended.  It was held on the grounds of the American Legion, the same one where my family tended to a Victory Garden for several summers before.  This time everyone was home and the Legion brought in the carnival as a fund raising effort.

I never saw so much activity jammed into such a small space.  And, unlike the other road shows that came to town, this one did not have rides.  The veterans manned the food booths and supervised the games.  There was one act, a man that dove from a super-high tower into a shallow pool at ten each night of the five-day event.  So my friends and I, all ten year olds, were allowed to wander around and play the games with money we had saved.  Our parents allowed us to do this because the money went to a good cause.

Probably what I remember most from the carnival at the Legion was to unbridled joy, the laughter and the overall feeling that with the war over good times lay ahead.  Now, another war has officially ended.  Hopefully, the other one will improve.  Then, maybe the American people will have more faith in the future like we did 65 years ago.

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Tags: America, Grandchildren, Nostalgia // Add Comment »

Having reached the age of 65 carries no promises with it.  This simply means you lived long enough to learn a few things along the way and had the good fortune of not dying.  The real achievement will come when you put the experience and beliefs gained over the years to work for someone else. 

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New Seniors have much to offer trailing generations as we continue to travel the road of this great adventure called life.  If ever there was a time for truth and wisdom in America it is now.  That’s why if you’re 65+ you must be willing to give back to the country that was so good to you through a commitment to service.

However, there seems to be a resistance to making waves or getting involved in unfamiliar areas at this phase of our lives.  Sure, New Seniors continue to serve on church boards, participate in the activities of service organizations or engage in some other ongoing volunteer work.  But, you may say, “It’s only natural after 65 to resist tackling something new.”

New Seniors who are making a difference in their communities are finding this kind of thinking to be far from reality.  After all, you’re 65, you’re retired (or soon will be) and you’re capable of doing just about anything you put your mind to.  So ask yourself, “What am I going to do with the remaining third of my life?” 

You have lots of experience, lots of energy and plenty of time that could be devoted to worthwhile ventures.  How much golf can you play, how many books can you read, how many trips can you take and how much television can you watch before getting bored and asking the question, “Is there a meaning and purpose in life after 65?”

More than any time in your life, this is when you can dream about what you’d like to do and then go do it without restrictions.  And the beauty of service work is you are helping others rather than focusing on yourself.  The sense of accomplishment expands when you help another person, and it may well be the incentive to cause that individual to help some one else.  And the chain gets longer and stronger.

If you’re 65+ think about what you learned from parents, teachers, coaches, clergymen, bosses and other leaders – those things that were so freely given to you.  Then consider where and how you can apply this knowledge to make life better at home, in the community and across the country.  All that remains is for you to take the appropriate next steps.

These kinds of commitments are what constitute the New Seniors movement.  It’s not an organized effort, rather it’s people like you and me trying to do the right thing and make a difference in the lives of others.  If you’re already doing your part, tell us about your activities.  If you haven’t started, investigate the possibilities and don’t be afraid to jump in.  You’ll find lots of other New Seniors ready to help you be of service.      

Tags: America, Pre-boomers, Retirement // Add Comment »

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Two years ago, at just about this point on the pre-election calendar, people of all ages were wearing pins , donning T-shirts and slapping stickers on their cars in support of the idea of hope and change as the battle cry for fixing whatever was wrong with America. 

Today, there is growing anger among many regarding the attitudes and policies of those they elected.  Recent pools indicate that two-thirds (66.6%) of likely voters believe we’re on the wrong track, yet the train keeps on rolling faster and faster toward possible disaster.  How could things go so bad so quickly?

Of course, we all recognize there’s a difference between how well politicians campaign and how well they perform in office.  I voted in my first election the year Jack Kennedy ran, 1960.  You had to be 21 to vote back then.  As with our current president, JFK had charisma, he excited people (especially younger ones) and he was a breath of fresh air in staid, old Washington.  However, his work was cut short by an assassin’s bullet.

In 2008, the idea of change appealed to the majority of voters on election day.  But the concept of change means different things to different people.  To some change was a promise to clean up Washington and make it more transparent.  Others believed change to mean giving the government back to the people by listening to them and trying to meet their expressed needs.  And for another group change meant fixing the nation’s problems, real and perceived, which would require some restructuring of the current system. 

Most citizens did not understand that change would mean out-of-control spending, a worsening economy, increased unemployment, collapse of the housing market, higher taxes and running up a national debt that’s so big our grandchildren and great grandchildren will be paying for it throughout their entire lives.  And, while all this was occurring, we were fighting two long-standing wars, found ourselves unable to handle home-grown disasters like the Gulf oil spill and were not able to stop the flow of illegal’s at the borders let alone deal with those already in this country.

The above problems, as well as others too numerous to mention, were not created by one person, or even one party, and did not all happen within one year.  However, as in the past, those in power get the accolades as well as the blame.  This is why so many incumbents or establishment candidates from both parties are in real trouble this year.  Because it is not a national election, past voting records and current issues will be viewed more carefully by state and district voters.  And party preferences can be trumped by candidates deemed more trustworthy and better qualified to tackle what’s facing us.

So, a big change can be expected this fall, in the U.S. Congress and in many state houses across the country.  It will be a people’s election, one where change will be instigated from the bottom up instead of from the top down.  And, one thing is certain, if the newly elected representatives don’t get the people’s work done to our satisfaction, these politicians will be voted out of office the next time we go to the polls.  Because in the United States, government is supposed to work for us not the other way around.     

Tags: America, Current Events, Government, Pre-boomers // Add Comment »

Some segments of society believe any opinion contrary to their own is reason enough to label those expressing opposing views as bigots.  For instance, if your values are not in line with open boarders, gay marriage or building a mosque in the shadow of where the twin towers once stood, get ready to be demonized.

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No matter what you say or how valid your points may be, these folks are unlikely to hear, let alone accept, your rationale.  Expect a personal attack rather a logical and fair response, if the other party is even willing to address the subject.  “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up” is the prevailing attitude of many these days.  If you believe that prejudice is best described as contempt prior to investigation, then the one who derides you based solely on their personal philosophy is the one whose motives should be challenged.

Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, New Seniors (those born between 1930 and 1945) support protecting the southern border, placing greater restrictions on hiring and not rewarding illegal immigrants by offering them government services.  A nation is defined by geographic borders, its constitution and laws.  If you agree, does this make you a xenophobe?

Upholding the concept that marriage is between a man and a woman is not new, so it really doesn’t need to be defended.  However, if some factions have their way we will abandon the accepted definition of marriage in favor of their ideal.  Most folks 65+ are open to unions but draw the line on making gay marriage the law of the land.  New Seniors simply have a different point-of-view from those who would erase all lines.  If you agree, does this make you a homophobe?

The New York mosque pushback is not intolerance or an effort to take away freedom of religion or the right to build a place of worship for Muslims.  However, the question is why must the mosque be located so close to ground zero?  This displays insensitivity to the families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks as well as the nation as a whole.  If you agree, does this make you an Islamophobe? 

The above examples are just the beginning.  Detractors of health care reform legislation are considered cold hearted, because 32 million uninsured individuals would be denied coverage if the government had not pushed through a plan late last year.  Belief in the right to life is met with cries that such a position is anti-women, anti-poor and out-of-touch with today’s enlightened social mores. Opposition to the redistribution of wealth is supposedly motivated by personal greed and a lack of compassion for others, yet New Seniors know from experience this is not the way to build a stronger America.

If you’re 65+, don’t be intimidated by people wanting to change the American standards in which you have always believed.  We must stand up for the values, traditions and morals that made this country great.  Our nation’s future depends on you defending them.        

Tags: America, Current Events, Political Correctness // Add Comment »

Remember getting a whiff of freshly mowed grass without the cloud of smoke and the noxious odor of  gas fumes?  Or the aroma of sweet goods in the oven when walking into the local bakery?  How about the fragrance of Old Spice filling the bathroom when dad finished shaving?  If you do, chances are you’re a pre-boomer, born between 1930 and 1945.  Because these were the smells of your life.

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There are so many good memories connected with the things we smelled.  The best ones were in the kitchen.  Coffee brewing, eggs and bacon frying, bread being toasted on a wintery morning made getting out of the snug, comfortable bed worthwhile.  At lunchtime I could tell what soup we were having when I walked in the back door.  My favorite was Campbell’s tomato, and it still is. 

Oft times, the aroma of a roast or other wonderful dish cooking in the oven wafted into the back yard were I was playing.  I could hardly wait for mom to call me in for dinner.  And, of course, there were the festive smells of Thanksgiving dinner and the cookies baking for Christmas, which was enhanced by the strong fragrance of a blue spruce in the corner of the living room.

In the bathtub was a bar of Lifebouy soap that had a distinct smell, so after using it everyone knew you had just taken a bath.  Down in the basement, by the laundry tub, was a brown bar of Fels-Naptha soap that had a particularly pungent odor.  Mom used it to scrub out stains, and it came in handy as a treatment for poison ivy as well.  On the shelf were boxes of Rinso for the heavy wash and Ivory Snow for gentler things.  These were granulated soaps and had a pleasant, clean fragrance unlike today’s harsh detergents.

I can recall one uncle smoked a pipe and the tobacco was aromatic.  The brand name was Holiday; and, in my mind’s eye, I can still see the ship on the label steaming off for some exotic far away place. 

Every time we drove over to the Jersey Shore from Philadelphia, I knew we were getting close when the stagnant stench of the backwater marshes crept into the car through the open windows.  Then the bay, with its distinct odor, signaled the causeway was near.  And once on the isle of Ocean City the fresh, sharp bite of the salt air indicated we had reached our destination, at last.

There were so many other enjoyable smells.  Take restaurants, for instance.  The seafood places always reminded me of French fries, because the popular priced ones served fried fish and fried everything else.  I still love those fried seafood dinners but try to stay away from them these days.  Italian restaurants smelled like my neighbor’s house, and steak places reminded me more of my house.  Chinese restaurants had their own unique smell and didn’t remind me of anyone’s home.  It was all good, and there was so much more.

Do you have smells you liked from your childhood?  If so, please share them with us.

Tags: Nostalgia // Add Comment »