January 14, 2006
In the year ahead, both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will turn 60.
Statisticians say there are 78 million Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964.
AP national writer David Crary filed a story at the end of 2005 in which he said of the Baby Boomer phenomenon:
“They partied and protested, then grew up to dominate America with their chutzpah and sheer numbers. Yet now, as the oldest of the baby boomers prepare to turn 60, there are glimmers of doubt within this ‘have it all’ generation about how they will be judged by those who come next.”
Crary does concede that Ron Kovic, author of Born on the Fourth of July, begs to differ.
I have to agree with Mr. Kovic on some of his points; namely, when he says that Boomers are just as strong as they ever were.
Kovic says, “We have every reason to be proud. We were brash and bold and beautiful…Often when people get older, they say to the younger generation, ‘Well, it’s your turn now.’ I feel very differently. Rather than just passing the torch, and saying we did our best, this generation, which dreamed such big, impossible dreams, refuses to step aside. It sees itself as part of change that it still passionately believes will occur.”
Amen.
Boomers, we do not need a comeback. We never left.
Either way you look at it, Baby Boomers have put a decidedly different slant on this aging business than have previous generations.
Furthermore, most of we Boomers do not really care what history writes of us or how future generations judge us.
Never has a generation before or since experienced such an unbridled run of success.
It has not gone to our heads either.
Boomers seem to know, innately, that we would be everlastingly wrong if we were to assume that what we think and feel only affects us.
We know all things are universal.
Truth is Boomers sense that everyone feels pretty much the same way, have the same doubts and fears, suffer hardships, learn to rise above them, and marvel at the surprise of grace, joy, and forgiveness when it appears.
Boomers, no stranger to adversity, may have scars, but nearly all come out stronger, or die trying.
Throw us all into a sack, and we come out pretty much the same.
No exceptions.
Therein, lays the strength and the longevity of the Baby Boomer generation.
Furthermore, we possess a collective understanding of “team spirit.”
And one more thing must be said of Boomers, we are, simply put, very interesting folks.
Actress Katherine Hepburn once observed, “I have no romantic feelings about age. Either you are interesting at any age or you are not.”
Few would argue that Baby Boomers are not interesting!
We always have been.
Today, that lively and fascinating 60’s generation is ready and able to tackle the 60’s one more time.
Once again, we will do it with all the gusto and moxie we have exhibited since the day we were born.
For all those Boomers turning 60 this year and for those soon to follow suit, a celebration is in order.
Throw a party and dance until dawn.
On second thought, maybe a movie and popcorn would do just fine.
Nah, I am planning a party!
