January 13, 2010
“When I get older losing my hair, many years from now, will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine...will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four." --The Beatles
The "golden" baby boomers (those born immediately after World War II, and I am among them) loved those lyrics shown above when we were in college. The tune was lilting and the rhymes sweet and poignant.
Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1967, the song "When I'm Sixty-Four" became wildly popular in the late 60s.
The meaning of the hit song's lyrics didn't matter much to us at the time because the idea of turning 64 seemed an eternity away.
Impossibly and far too fast, 2011 is here, and I will be 64 along with thousands of others born in 1947.
Encarta Encyclopedia defines the word "impossibly" that I use to describe my emotions about turning 64 and depicts exactly how boomers feel. We cannot be that old; it's ridiculous and unreasonable because it could not possibly be true. The word also means "to an infuriating or intolerable degree."
We get that.
However, for those slightly older than we, those turning sixty-five in 2011 rather than sixty-four, this birthday milestone means more than merely aging.
It means that it is time to sign up for Social Security.
On January 1, 2011 (1-1-11), the first wave of baby boomers, the group dubbed the "golden" boomers began to turn 65.
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are among them. So are Diane Keaton, Donald Trump and Cher to name a few.
Suddenly The Beatles' song is relevant.
The baby boomer generation includes those born after soldiers returned home from World War II in 1946. It includes everyone born between 1946 and 1964, one quarter of the U.S population numbering 79 million, according to the Pew Research Center.
Dan Barry of the New York Times writes:
"The generation that once sang of teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony, and then buying it a Coke," is now retiring, eating early bird specials, and wearing Velcro shoes ... or not. The truth is, "many of them, whether through exercise or Botox, have no intention of ceding to others what they consider rightfully theirs: youth."
But I might note that we don't mind taking out our Social Security.
Each day beginning with January 1, 2011, more than 10,000 people turn age 65. This will continue for 19 more years. Instead of paying taxes into the national treasury, this group will be taking money out.
The numbers alone are mind-boggling.
In fact, they are too mind-boggling to comprehend.
Instead, let us simply wish all baby boomers a Happy Birthday and recall the prophetic words of The Beatles in their enduring song, "When I'm Sixty-Four."
Who knew The Beatles were writing about boomers signing up for Social Security benefits?
Who knew boomers could indeed use the lyrics of that famous old song when they write to Social Security?
Take a listen to the last stanza, and you will see what I mean:
"Send me a postcard, drop me a line, stating (your Social Security) point of view. Indicate precisely what you mean to say (how much will I get). Yours sincerely wasting away (those turning 65). Give me your answer, fill in a form, (send me my benefits soon) mine forever more. Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?"
As the old English Proverb notes, the older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.
