Continued
Newspapers
There’s just something sacred about the morning
kitchen-table ritual: coffee in hand, newspaper spread out, the whole world
delivered in crisp, ink-smudged pages. Boomers are still keeping that vibe
alive—but for most people under 60, the “paper” is an iPad or a phone (and yes,
we’re choosing to believe they’re reading headlines—not speed-running
Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok).
This is a sensitive one for me because Daddy was the local Publisher and editor of the newspaper. He owned the business. He was tutored by one of the finest men in the field, Mr. Raymond Nichols. R H Nichols was even invited to a press conference at the White House under Dwight Eisenhower. I have long ago lamented the demise of the local paper. It held TRUTH because the journalist had to cover the stories with all the elements covered: Who, What, Where, When, Why and sometimes How. They didn't want to get it wrong because these were the people they rubbed shoulders with in the grocery store. As a journalist myself, we were taught how to avoid propaganda...just straight forward news. I believe that today, most people key in to only the side of the news that they fall on. There is such prejudice in our news media...yes, even the newspapers that are still there. It saddens me greatly. We long ago stopped our subscription of the paper copy because a city as large as ours (over 2 million) sold off to another publisher in a DIFFERENT city to print the paper. SO, THE NEWS is a day old, and we have already heard the stories and sports scores. We miss the day of true reporting, which is something that the Millers will never understand. It came with core principles, avoiding slander at all cost.
A Job Means Everything
For many boomers, their job was the most important thing. We can't imagine any boomer ever heard, let alone used the term work-life balance throughout their work lives.
You better believe it was everything and still should be. It is your bread and butter! It is a means to support yourself later in life. As far as balance, we weren't snowflakes, needing space to balance our mental health. Working was our mental health; learning to balance our lives around those we came into contact with. We learned to look people straight in the eye, shake hands and respect others. Then using our precious time outside of our work schedule to do the most important things, being with family and cherishing the time away from work, knowing we must return to work hard and be the BEST we could be.
And while we're on the topic of jobs...
9-5 Workday We will always love the Dolly Parton song, but it probably won't be too long before the idea of working from 9am until 5pm every day is oh, so very antiquated for most people.
What's wrong with learning how to navigate this world with others. We were NOT secluded in our homes, in our pajamas, pretending that we were working.
Hats Off At The Table
Have you ever gotten an angry look from a baby boomer? Wear
a hat to the dinner table and you will.
We learned PROPER MANNERS...which has gone by the wayside and so has the respect for others and how you behave appropriately in public.
Landlines
If you're wondering why forms still have separate fields for
"mobile phone" and "home phone"—baby boomers are why.
What's the big deal? You've gotten your way. Things progress and we have, too. The landlines will be going away. Besides, copper is expensive and now the younger people are stealing the copper wiring. There is no way that the system will support these much longer. We GET IT! Right now, though, I find it handy not to give my cell number to everyone.
The Good China
Not the country. We're talking about the fancy dishware sets
that, like the formal living room, were only to be used when guests came over.
For folks under 50, plates aren't for saving, they're for using.
It's nice to have special things for special occasions that we have with special people. I really don't know why we had such nice dinnerware, as I have not used it very much, and it is very expensive. It probably goes along with the 'wood furniture' that the young people scoff about. But IT'S GOOD STUFF. Quality that last, unlike IKEA products that are nothing more than particle board. And...it is just like us, Built To Last!
Movie Dates
Partly because there are fewer quality movies being made
(there are only so many sequels and superhero movies one can take)—and partly
because these days it's easier to just Netflix and chill.
The movie industry has gone WAY off track. And who's to blame for that? The younger generation has no concept of modesty, manners, nor putting a pure good look to something. They need too much gore and sensation for entertainment. Not just good quality character movies. And once again, the young people have no idea how to teach older people how to use all the new technology. I'm inclined to think that most of it is filled with trash anyway.
Asking A Father's Permission To Marry His Daughter
A few Gen Xers still hang on to it, but at this point it’s
been the rare exception—not the norm—for quite a while.
Who owned her first? It sure wasn't you, and most fathers need to hear that a man will take care of and cherish a father's most prized possession.
Handwritten Letters
It's rare getting a handwritten letters via snail mail at
all these days—but even rarer is getting one hand written by a person under 60
years old.
I pity those who don't understand handwriting, as you will no longer be able to understand the history that is preserved from long ago. And there is just something very special about getting something WRITTEN that restores your spirit. But how would you know? When most of the time, you don't even see the importance of responding even in text. You are on you own, buddy! Let's just disconnect from anything we see as a nuisance. Let's not see anything as a lasting treasured item,
Owning A Home
Sure, there are plenty of Gen Xers, millennials, and
probably even a few Gen Zers buying homes. But it isn't as important to the
younger generations as it was to baby boomers. It was expected, it was what you
did. And yes, housing prices are keeping a bunch of people from home ownership,
but plenty are very happy to rent, even if they could afford to buy—many even
see it as the smart financial move.
Well, it is special to have you own property. Something that shows that you have WORKED, been successful and something that others have no say over. I never thought it was expected of me. It was something I was proud of. And we don't live in debt, because we worked hard to pay off the mortgage and in retirement, we are not paying rent, just expenses. Hopefully, younger people will not regret having something to show for their lives and commitment to society.
Having 2.5 Kids
1977 marked the last time the average American family had
more than two kids—barely, at 2.01. By 1978, it slipped to 1.96, and it’s never
climbed past 1.95 since, quietly cementing the two-kid household as a thing of
the past.
No comment as this is totally a personal choice. I'm fine with that.
Retiring At 65
Go to school, get a job, work 9-5, by a house, have 2.5
kids, retire at 65. That was how it was for the parents of baby boomers and for
most of the baby boomers themselves. We've already talked about the changing
work landscape as far as work-life balance and the disappearing 9-5. Whether
it's retiring early or having a few side hustles and lines of passive
income—the traditional retirement structure is going away.
All I can say is...you may never know the joy of stepping back and enjoying the fruits of your labors, whatever that looks like to you. Good luck with not having a place of your own later in life when the challenges of living get harder. You may never be able to retire on 'side hustles and passive incomes'. We didn't stand around waiting for someone to hand us something. What we worked for, we earned.
I am disappointed in this, and truthfully offended, article that shows no respect for our generation and for what we stand for. It surely explains to me why young people today don't want to look me in the eye, or give anyone older than themselves any respect. Many are spoiled brats, always given things and not understanding truly where you came from. I pity that lack of compassion. At my age now, I'm seeking out those people who have wonderful children and who have taught them to honor others and be nice with good manners. There are many of you out there and I'm choosing YOU and the people to lead us into the future. I praise and thank God for you.
