This post requires the use of the royal ‘I’
Baby Boomers: It’s All Your Fault
Facebook or Just Face-Look? Are People 55 And Older Really Using Social Networking Websites?
I am 62. The original baby boomer born in 1946. A post war baby. I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, went away to study for my Ph.D. in the 70’s, taught college for ~20 years. Early on I was also an Appalachian Volunteer – part of the original VISTA workers. I participated in Civil Rights marches, stop the war in Viet Nam activities, have a brother who actually was in Viet Nam, and I experienced first hand the deaths of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy. I raised two sons who are now in their 30’s.
In 1984 I began working with computers and learned to work with them in the days before actual manuals and when there were command line interfaces. I loved to write batch files with purpose and beta tested and helped along with millions of others to move the computer along in technology so that it became a bit of a toaster or a fridge – not something one thought of as exotic but thought of as a tool to something else – the video or the blog or the scientific work people now do. I taught my children and my husband how to use computers and I’m still the person who does tech support for home and neighbors.
And I have been thrifty, have prioritized my kids’ education, purchased a house that would dutifully cost me 10% of my monthly income and am one of the few economic strengths in retail markets.
But I am 62. I am a baby boomer. I am the grandmother folks refer to as in here’s a program ‘so easy my grandmother can do it’ Or, as in ‘the up and coming wave of boomers who are going to wipe the economy out (if not drain medicare)’. I am the boomer who is the reason for all the new jobs defined as ‘aids for the elderly’, as in senior activity center, as in assisted living, as in Sun City. I don’t appear in movies or t.v. shows. If you see me I’m in the life insurance ads or the help me I’ve fallen ads. I am nothing and I have nothing to offer.
Worse than nothing, articles tell me I am part of the ‘me’ generation, an old druggie, the reason for Bush’s power for the last 8 years (the old generation versus the Obama young generation), and it is my selfish preoccupation that led to the economic downfall. AND we have talented friends who are intelligent and who have spent their lives in government, volunteer work, as teachers, Peace Corps volunteers, nurses, doctors – who now reside in a Sun City retirement area. Folks who have an enormous wealth of knowledge and experience who disappear inside those walls because retirement means from life as well as job.
Because a Not Welcome sign resides outside many public doors. That includes jobs. It includes folks who have no retirement left because of the corruption of politicians and or wall street. I am rapidly becoming a ghost in the community. No longer seen but still available for babysitting. It includes department stores that feel women of my age have no sense of style, theaters who give me discounts but show very few movies that include me.
I am a cultural dichotomy having worked hard to pay into the system I am being considered a burden to.
So keep in mind: Just because I can’t find my glasses doesn’t mean I can’t actually see. Just Sayin’
Age is how you feel; not who you are.
That may be. Nevertheless it does not forgive what society does. remember, I say I am using the royal ‘I’ I am speaking to how we are viewed not how we view ourselves.