What does it mean to be a “boomer”? It is generally accepted that the “Baby
Boom” generation lasted from 1946 to 1964. The peak time was the early ‘50s,
from 1950 to 1956.
By that time, Rock and Roll began to overtake the
music, TVs were popping up in many homes, FM radio was in its infancy, and WWII's
great general, Dwight (Ike) Eisenhower was elected twice as
President.
America’s economy was enjoying a long-term resurgence
after the war, the housing market boom was unprecedented, Ike began the longest
peacetime era after withdrawing from Korea. And boomers were watching Captain
Kangaroo and Howdy Doody, while their moms watched Dave
Garroway, J Fred Muggs and Senator Joe McCarthy.
But there was the Cold War, too. The USSR
developed the bomb and threatened to use it, until Stalin died and cooler heads
prevailed. Then, the policy of “peace through strength” was foisted on
the world as both the USSR and the USA engaged in a massive arms race. And
boomers spent many school day afternoons under their desks or in the halls
hiding from the bombs which never came.
There was more: the Space Race, the young
vibrant President who followed the Old General, the Cuban Missile Crisis,
the Berlin Wall. The Beatles, Vietnam, the civil rights movement, assassinations,
protest marches, Nixon.
All of these events influenced an entire generation,
though those born after 1956 were less influenced by these events than their older
sisters and brothers who were as old as ten when the younger group was
born.
Our parents were from the greatest generation: WWI and
WWII, the Great Depression and a front row view of Fascism, Nazism and
Communism. They influenced us with their experiences, their world view. Until
they didn't.
We have elected four presidents born since 1946
from our generation, two Democrats and two Republicans. The current occupant was born in 1942, before
the Boomer Generation officially began. He was also influenced by many of the
events which influenced us. And is probably the last person from his generation
to be elected President, or any other position as a first-timer.
As for being a boomer, I always thought the term Baby
Boomer was demeaning, because the society at the time felt we were too
immature to make any decisions, any headway to improve the lot of society as a
whole. My opinion.
But I came to terms long ago with that moniker, understanding
the significance which defined us. Not as babies, but as achievers.
We made all the other generations, both before us and since, pale by
comparison. Gen-X? Millenials? One group did nothing comparatively of note to
us and the other didn't make it to its namesake, millenium, when the I-Gen
generation was being born. I-Gen you ask? Yes, those born since
the I-Pod, the I-Pad, and the spread of Apples and PCs, developed by
those from the boomer generation.
Writing this has made me consider so much from my own life
that similarly affected many others: Graduating high school in 1969,
going to college to study in one field and ending up working in another,
totally unrelated to my original field, getting married, having kids, retiring
and still doing something to stay viable and alert, in yet a third field,
unlike our parents who retired and mostly sat in front of the TV.
We are now doing a slow walk to 80, still young at
heart and looking younger than our years. Even those of us with silver
or white hair look great compared to generations past. Even our music
from the 50s, 60s and 70s are popular with those generations which came after
us. And many musicians we idolized in our teens are still performing to this
day.
So what is a boomer? We are many things to many people.
But we are the generation that saw it all happen in real time, on TV,
without edits, unlike our parents who watched it unfold on a weekly showing of
film in a movie theater or our children who watch it happen on videotape, on
their laptops and phones. Which we invented.
Best music? Check. Longer life span? You betcha! But most of all, the broadest,
most honest view of life. All because of our childhood and total life experiences.
And I am proud to say I am a boomer.
