When I told friends and co-workers there would be 20 people at our Thanksgiving table this year, many of them grimaced or said, “Good luck.”
My reaction was the complete opposite.
I believe the more people at a holiday gathering, the better. Especially Thanksgiving.
For starters, it was comforting to know 18 other people wanted to come to my wife, Mary, and my house on the fourth Thursday of November.
The crowd at our table ranged from my 95-year-old grandmother to our 2-year-old grandniece.
It included nine members of Mary’s family as well as both our daughters, my son-in-law, my youngest daughter’s boyfriend and our grandson. The boyfriend’s parents and a friend of mine for the past 25 years also graced our home.
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. A time to reflect on our good fortune.
Having family and friends who live close by is one of the many things I am grateful for this season.
The holiday meal and the good spirit that comes with it is a task Baby Boomers can take on now that they are moving into the roles of matriarch and patriarch of their families.
The family circle in our society has crumbled. Divorce is shattering one of our culture’s foundations. Only 52 percent of marriages today make it to their 15th anniversary. Only 63 percent of children in the United States grow up with both biological parents. That’s the lowest rate in the Western world.
Baby Boomers have done their part to spread this social calamity. Our generation’s divorce rate hovers at 33 percent, twice as high as our parents’ generation.
It’s time to make amends and time to take the lead.
Strengthening the family can be one of our generation’s shining achievements. We can pick up the fragments of our households and carefully put them back together.
There are a number of ways to accomplish this goal.
First, if you can, live near your relatives, especially if you are fortunate enough to have family members still alive who are older than you. If you have grown children, try to live in the same region as them. Raising a family is tough these days and young adults, especially those with kids, need all the help they can get.
My family has had this blessing. My two daughters grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins who loved them. It does take a village to raise a child.
Now, I can watch my grandson experience the same full childhood. He too is surrounded by family members who praise and hug him. My grandniece is getting the same treatment.
It was in full view on that fourth Thursday of November at a full and happy Thanksgiving table.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A New Era Dawns
President John F. Kennedy said it during his inaugural address. The torch is being passed to a new generation.
Now, 48 years later, it is happening again. And it is a good thing.
President-elect Barack Obama is technically a Baby Boomer, having been born in 1961, the year President Kennedy assumed office.
However, the Democratic senator from Illinois essentially straddles the generational gap. He is part of our age group, but his appeal, demeanor and way of thinking skews toward the younger half of our country.
Yes, the torch is being passed. Slowly. But you can feel the shift. Baby Boomers are stepping into their retirement years. We will be active, but soon we will no longer be running the government, businesses, industry or our communities.
There is some disappointment here. We did not accomplish everything we set out to do. Nowhere near it.
We had two true Baby Boomers who served as presidents, both for two terms.
President Bill Clinton achieved a number of milestones and legislative victories, but his administration has a tarnish to it due to scandal and the divisiveness the country suffered under his reign.
President George W. Bush presided over an even more divided nation. His unpopularity has reached record depths. Frankly, the country is in tatters. Our generation has given our nation perhaps the least successful president in its history.
Now, our generation is sliding slowly from the spotlight, leaving those 16 years as our political mark.
But on Election Night 2008, there is something to cheer. Something to be proud of.
Baby Boomers may not have provided great leadership when it was our turn to stand at the helm. However, we produced the younger generations that helped lift President-elect Barack Obama to the highest office in the land.
We raised our children to be color blind. To reject racial stereotypes and hatred. To accept gays into society’s mainstream. To be sympathetic and understanding of people who are not like them.
We brought them up to choose hope over despair. To choose optimism over pessimism. To have an open mind instead of a narrow one. To look forward to the future instead of to fear it.
With that upbringing, the younger people of our country joined the Obama campaign early on. They walked precincts, raised money, made phone calls, cheered at rallies and went to the polls on Election Day.
They, along with the country’s African-Americans and other people of color, put Barack Obama into the White House. Now, our young people have a president to look up to, like we did when President Kennedy was in office. They have what we were denied when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.
Our country has hope again.
Baby Boomers may be leaving behind a bit of mess, but we have produced a generation quite capable of cleaning it up.
That is our legacy. And it is a good thing.
Now, 48 years later, it is happening again. And it is a good thing.
President-elect Barack Obama is technically a Baby Boomer, having been born in 1961, the year President Kennedy assumed office.
However, the Democratic senator from Illinois essentially straddles the generational gap. He is part of our age group, but his appeal, demeanor and way of thinking skews toward the younger half of our country.
Yes, the torch is being passed. Slowly. But you can feel the shift. Baby Boomers are stepping into their retirement years. We will be active, but soon we will no longer be running the government, businesses, industry or our communities.
There is some disappointment here. We did not accomplish everything we set out to do. Nowhere near it.
We had two true Baby Boomers who served as presidents, both for two terms.
President Bill Clinton achieved a number of milestones and legislative victories, but his administration has a tarnish to it due to scandal and the divisiveness the country suffered under his reign.
President George W. Bush presided over an even more divided nation. His unpopularity has reached record depths. Frankly, the country is in tatters. Our generation has given our nation perhaps the least successful president in its history.
Now, our generation is sliding slowly from the spotlight, leaving those 16 years as our political mark.
But on Election Night 2008, there is something to cheer. Something to be proud of.
Baby Boomers may not have provided great leadership when it was our turn to stand at the helm. However, we produced the younger generations that helped lift President-elect Barack Obama to the highest office in the land.
We raised our children to be color blind. To reject racial stereotypes and hatred. To accept gays into society’s mainstream. To be sympathetic and understanding of people who are not like them.
We brought them up to choose hope over despair. To choose optimism over pessimism. To have an open mind instead of a narrow one. To look forward to the future instead of to fear it.
With that upbringing, the younger people of our country joined the Obama campaign early on. They walked precincts, raised money, made phone calls, cheered at rallies and went to the polls on Election Day.
They, along with the country’s African-Americans and other people of color, put Barack Obama into the White House. Now, our young people have a president to look up to, like we did when President Kennedy was in office. They have what we were denied when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.
Our country has hope again.
Baby Boomers may be leaving behind a bit of mess, but we have produced a generation quite capable of cleaning it up.
That is our legacy. And it is a good thing.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Voices of Reason
Every four years, October becomes a month of tension, anticipation and, yes, anger.
This month, as in election years past, the long, expensive and closely watched presidential campaign is coming to a close.
The stakes are always high and so are emotions.
In this age of the Internet and 24/7 news programming, the political climax can produce anxiety and a plethora of heated words. Not only from the candidates but from their supporters.
Baby Boomers have seen a lot of these political battles come and go. This is a time when we can use our experience, perspective and wisdom to be voices of reason in our homes, families and communities.
It is easy and in these days even commonplace and popular to criticize an opponent with venom. To not give them any benefit of doubt. To characterize them as the second coming of Genghis Khan.
Baby Boomers, we are older now and, hopefully, wiser. This is a time for us to soothe these escalating passions. To cool the rhetoric we have used for much of our lives.
When talking about the candidate or issue you support, speak calmly. Speak with intelligence. Speak with rationality. Admit their faults as you list their virtues.
When talking about a candidate or issue you oppose, speak reasonably. Speak with respect to the other side. Speak with compassion. Acknowledge the opposing view’s strengths while pointing out their weaknesses.
Most of all, be philosophical. People in younger generations can learn a lot from our experience and perspective, but they won’t listen if you are railing against their candidate or trumpeting the side you are on.
These are troubling times. A lot of people, younger ones in particular, are uneasy about the future. Some are downright scared.
Let them know that things will be OK. That we will work our way out of this. It might not be easy and it might take time, but things will shift back to a more normal cadence.
We were scarred by the assassination of President Kennedy, but we soldiered on. The year 1968 was a violent, upsetting, divisive time, but we survived it. The Watergate scandal shook the nation to its foundation, but we learned from it.
Now, more than ever, our country needs voices of reason. Baby Boomers are in a position this October to assume that role.
This month, as in election years past, the long, expensive and closely watched presidential campaign is coming to a close.
The stakes are always high and so are emotions.
In this age of the Internet and 24/7 news programming, the political climax can produce anxiety and a plethora of heated words. Not only from the candidates but from their supporters.
Baby Boomers have seen a lot of these political battles come and go. This is a time when we can use our experience, perspective and wisdom to be voices of reason in our homes, families and communities.
It is easy and in these days even commonplace and popular to criticize an opponent with venom. To not give them any benefit of doubt. To characterize them as the second coming of Genghis Khan.
Baby Boomers, we are older now and, hopefully, wiser. This is a time for us to soothe these escalating passions. To cool the rhetoric we have used for much of our lives.
When talking about the candidate or issue you support, speak calmly. Speak with intelligence. Speak with rationality. Admit their faults as you list their virtues.
When talking about a candidate or issue you oppose, speak reasonably. Speak with respect to the other side. Speak with compassion. Acknowledge the opposing view’s strengths while pointing out their weaknesses.
Most of all, be philosophical. People in younger generations can learn a lot from our experience and perspective, but they won’t listen if you are railing against their candidate or trumpeting the side you are on.
These are troubling times. A lot of people, younger ones in particular, are uneasy about the future. Some are downright scared.
Let them know that things will be OK. That we will work our way out of this. It might not be easy and it might take time, but things will shift back to a more normal cadence.
We were scarred by the assassination of President Kennedy, but we soldiered on. The year 1968 was a violent, upsetting, divisive time, but we survived it. The Watergate scandal shook the nation to its foundation, but we learned from it.
Now, more than ever, our country needs voices of reason. Baby Boomers are in a position this October to assume that role.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Golden Moments
The 2008 Summer Olympics have been more than just an entertaining athletic competition to watch.
The games, as they are every four years for me, are a renewal of faith and hope in the human race.
Michael Phelps, the winner of eight gold medals in swimming, has garnered the most attention. As well he should. He took the Olympics by storm and his close relationship with his mother and his low-key, humble approach to life are traits to emulate. You can hear the youngsters at summer swim lessons across the country saying they want to be like Michael Phelps.
However, there are many other admirable athletes at these games.
The United States women’s gymnastics team demonstrated impeccable grace after barely losing the gold medal. Shawn Johnson getting silver after silver in the individual events before finally grabbing a gold on the balance beam.
Dara Torres, the 41-year-old American swimmer, who nabbed a couple silver medals. She not only showed everyone how to bust an age barrier, she also exhibited the sportsmanship and perspective a veteran athlete can deliver.
Lolo Jones, the hurdler who was homeless for part of her childhood, racing to the front of the rankings with her smooth style. Then, after hitting the final two hurdles in the finals and finishing seventh, making no excuses and uttering no complaints about her disappointment. Truly, a class act.
The admiration isn’t limited to the U.S. athletes. There are dozens of foreign Olympians who deserve recognition from the Chinese divers to the Jamacian sprinters to the African distance runners.
It is not only exciting to watch these top-notch athletes perform. It is heart-warming to observe all these young citizens of the world who are so dedicated, who have worked so hard and who perform under such intense pressure.
Those of us who are older should relish watching the elite of the younger generations, especially those who conduct themselves with pride, honor and humility.
That wonderment shouldn’t be contained to the Olympics either. Members of the Baby Boom generation should gather pleasure from observing talented young people in music, the arts, computer technology, entrepreneurship, military service and political action.
We can advise those younger than us. That is a worthy task. We have seen more and experienced more than them. We can help lead them down the path of life.
However, while we do that, let us also take a moment to soak in their talent, their fresh approach, their youthfulness and their energy.
It is something an older generation can easily do and it brings enjoyment to people of all ages.
The games, as they are every four years for me, are a renewal of faith and hope in the human race.
Michael Phelps, the winner of eight gold medals in swimming, has garnered the most attention. As well he should. He took the Olympics by storm and his close relationship with his mother and his low-key, humble approach to life are traits to emulate. You can hear the youngsters at summer swim lessons across the country saying they want to be like Michael Phelps.
However, there are many other admirable athletes at these games.
The United States women’s gymnastics team demonstrated impeccable grace after barely losing the gold medal. Shawn Johnson getting silver after silver in the individual events before finally grabbing a gold on the balance beam.
Dara Torres, the 41-year-old American swimmer, who nabbed a couple silver medals. She not only showed everyone how to bust an age barrier, she also exhibited the sportsmanship and perspective a veteran athlete can deliver.
Lolo Jones, the hurdler who was homeless for part of her childhood, racing to the front of the rankings with her smooth style. Then, after hitting the final two hurdles in the finals and finishing seventh, making no excuses and uttering no complaints about her disappointment. Truly, a class act.
The admiration isn’t limited to the U.S. athletes. There are dozens of foreign Olympians who deserve recognition from the Chinese divers to the Jamacian sprinters to the African distance runners.
It is not only exciting to watch these top-notch athletes perform. It is heart-warming to observe all these young citizens of the world who are so dedicated, who have worked so hard and who perform under such intense pressure.
Those of us who are older should relish watching the elite of the younger generations, especially those who conduct themselves with pride, honor and humility.
That wonderment shouldn’t be contained to the Olympics either. Members of the Baby Boom generation should gather pleasure from observing talented young people in music, the arts, computer technology, entrepreneurship, military service and political action.
We can advise those younger than us. That is a worthy task. We have seen more and experienced more than them. We can help lead them down the path of life.
However, while we do that, let us also take a moment to soak in their talent, their fresh approach, their youthfulness and their energy.
It is something an older generation can easily do and it brings enjoyment to people of all ages.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Get On Line!
Senator John McCain admitted the other day he doesn’t know how to log into a computer and get on the Internet. His aides, in fact, need to call up web pages for him.
Is this really a big deal? I would argue it is.
The Internet is an integral part of American society now. It is a major social network as well as a popular information source. It also drives a significant portion of our economy. And its role is only going to get bigger.
If the Arizona senator wants to be president of the United States, he needs to get hooked into the electronic age. I don’t care how old you are, if you are not familiar with the Internet, you shouldn’t be running the country.
This holds true for Baby Boomers as we enter our retirement years. Our generation seems to know its way around the Internet. There are plenty of web pages devoted to Baby Boomers and virtually everyone I know in my age group sends e-mails. This is a good thing.
I would encourage Boomers to continue this trend. We’ve always been a curious generation that likes to keep up the latest technology. It is vital we do so when it comes to computers.
I wouldn’t expect my peers to know as much about electronic gadgets as the younger generations. They grew up with these devices and are going to be more familiar with them. But we should know the basics and be able to at least understand the significance of them.
This came to mind the other day when I was invited by a colleague in the television news business to join a group she had formed on Facebook. I’ve never had an interest in this electronic social network. Nonetheless, I thought it would be a good idea to at least find out what this world was all about. So, I signed up. I understand now what “friends” are in this community. I know how to write on someone’s “wall.” I can edit my profile, including the attachment of a few photos. I don’t plan to spend a lot of time on Facebook, but now I have some vague notion what it is.
Baby Boomers should explore sites like these as well as be aware of how podcasts and webcasts work. This is the future and if we want to be part of it, we need to get with it.
And we should do so not begrudgingly. Because it’s something we have to do to keep up.
We should do it with an open mind and with a fascination as well as an appreciation of what the younger generations are doing. We would have certainly appreciated that attitude when we were young.
Is this really a big deal? I would argue it is.
The Internet is an integral part of American society now. It is a major social network as well as a popular information source. It also drives a significant portion of our economy. And its role is only going to get bigger.
If the Arizona senator wants to be president of the United States, he needs to get hooked into the electronic age. I don’t care how old you are, if you are not familiar with the Internet, you shouldn’t be running the country.
This holds true for Baby Boomers as we enter our retirement years. Our generation seems to know its way around the Internet. There are plenty of web pages devoted to Baby Boomers and virtually everyone I know in my age group sends e-mails. This is a good thing.
I would encourage Boomers to continue this trend. We’ve always been a curious generation that likes to keep up the latest technology. It is vital we do so when it comes to computers.
I wouldn’t expect my peers to know as much about electronic gadgets as the younger generations. They grew up with these devices and are going to be more familiar with them. But we should know the basics and be able to at least understand the significance of them.
This came to mind the other day when I was invited by a colleague in the television news business to join a group she had formed on Facebook. I’ve never had an interest in this electronic social network. Nonetheless, I thought it would be a good idea to at least find out what this world was all about. So, I signed up. I understand now what “friends” are in this community. I know how to write on someone’s “wall.” I can edit my profile, including the attachment of a few photos. I don’t plan to spend a lot of time on Facebook, but now I have some vague notion what it is.
Baby Boomers should explore sites like these as well as be aware of how podcasts and webcasts work. This is the future and if we want to be part of it, we need to get with it.
And we should do so not begrudgingly. Because it’s something we have to do to keep up.
We should do it with an open mind and with a fascination as well as an appreciation of what the younger generations are doing. We would have certainly appreciated that attitude when we were young.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Taking Nothing For Granted
There are a lot of things in life we take for granted. That includes life itself.
That became startlingly apparent to me on a sunny Monday in Lake Tahoe.
We were at that California mountain resort for my niece’s wedding. Two days after her ceremony on a calm, breezy morning, I decided to go for a swim in the lake. It was the same swim I had done the Thursday before with my daughter’s boyfriend, so I didn’t think much of it.
I walked into the calm Tahoe waters with my triathlon shorts on. There is a 75-yard shelf of shallow water before you reach the darker depths. A nice transition to get used to the lake. When I reached waist-level water, I dove in and started my methodical swim. The water was colder than a few days before. That was a warning sign, one I did not heed.
I headed toward a buoy 100 or more yards out. That and back is 200 yards, maybe a little more. Not a long swim for me.
I reached the buoy effortlessly enough, touched it and headed back. However, trouble struck quickly.
Ten yards into my return voyage, both quadriceps cramped, probably from the cold water. My legs became weights instead of limbs to help power my swim. I looked down. The lake bottom was 30 feet below me. I glanced around for a safe haven. There was none. No nearby boats. No dock. No side of the pool. No lifeguard. Nothing.
A thought passed quickly through my mind. I could drown out here and no one would know. I never felt so alone in all my life.
I realized I needed to take action. I harkened back to a Red Cross first aid class from 20 years ago. They had talked about water safety. The instructor had told us if we ever got into trouble in deep water to seek help immediately. You have to give people time to get to you. If you wait until you’re going under, it’s too late. That instructor also said when you call for assistance to yell and wave your arm. Make sure people hear and see you.
So, I waved my arm above my head and shouted “Help!” twice. People on the far-away shore stood up and looked out. Good, I thought, they’ve spotted me.
I began a slow, easy breaststroke away from the buoy, using almost exclusively my arms. I saw someone run into the water. I noticed someone else racing toward a rowboat. OK, I thought, people are headed my way.
I told myself to concentrate. Walls went up inside my head. Thoughts of drowning were blocked. Thoughts of my family sitting back at the cabin were kept out. Spasms of panic were quelled. My life did not flash before my eyes.
Focus on what you need to do, I told myself. You must continue to swim. My arms kept moving in a fluid motion as my legs provided minimal assistance. I felt my calves tighten a bit. I ignored it. Focus, I repeated.
I looked ahead. One younger man was wading out onto the shelf. Another was quickly paddling a rowboat. He was having trouble traveling in a straight line, but his zigzag pattern was at least directed toward me.
Swim, I told myself. Swim toward the people who are trying to help you.
My legs began to loosen a little, but I hardly noticed. I had dug deep into my past where in college cross country races you kept running even when you were dog tired.
I looked around again. The boat wasn’t much closer. But the other man was standing in chest deep water, not that far away. He was beckoning to me with his arms and saying. “You only have to get this far, buddy. You only have to get this far.”
I was almost there. The cramps subsided. I swam the final strokes to the shelf. I was never so happy to feel my feet touch sand. The boat turned back toward the dock. The man who beckoned walked with me to the shore.
It almost seemed ridiculous. I didn’t need anybody to pull me to my feet. I didn’t need oxygen. I wasn’t even that tired. How could I have been fighting for my life a mere two minutes ago?
On the beach, I saw the man in the rowboat walk back toward his cabin. I waved at him in appreciation. I didn’t get to thank him properly. I have no idea who he was or if that was even his rowboat.
The other man let me sit in his hot tub for a brief spell just to be sure I was OK. I didn’t really need it. I thanked him again and walked home. All I know is his name is Bill and even though he isn’t a good swimmer he ventured into the cold waters of Lake Tahoe to see what he could do when he saw someone in distress.
A lot of thoughts have passed since that brief but intense episode. Among them, no more swimming alone in open water and swims in lakes and oceans will be done near the shore. No more out and back courses.
My sister-in-law says her near-drowning in Hawaii more than 30 years ago was a life-changing event. It’s too early to tell if my experience will have the same lasting effect. I do feel an inner calm I didn’t have before. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next traffic jam caused by Caltrans road work to see if that’s a permanent change.
I thought about all that when I went running the following morning on the beach of Lake Tahoe. I thought about the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who skirt death on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. What must that be like?
At the end of the run, I looked into the sun. I felt its warm rays hit my face. I realized I had been given access again to the next 10,000 days. Days to write. Days to joke with co-workers. Days to spend with my wife in our cozy empty nest. Days to watch my two adult daughters grow and prosper. Days to play hide-and-seek with my grandson.
Days I might have lost.
That became startlingly apparent to me on a sunny Monday in Lake Tahoe.
We were at that California mountain resort for my niece’s wedding. Two days after her ceremony on a calm, breezy morning, I decided to go for a swim in the lake. It was the same swim I had done the Thursday before with my daughter’s boyfriend, so I didn’t think much of it.
I walked into the calm Tahoe waters with my triathlon shorts on. There is a 75-yard shelf of shallow water before you reach the darker depths. A nice transition to get used to the lake. When I reached waist-level water, I dove in and started my methodical swim. The water was colder than a few days before. That was a warning sign, one I did not heed.
I headed toward a buoy 100 or more yards out. That and back is 200 yards, maybe a little more. Not a long swim for me.
I reached the buoy effortlessly enough, touched it and headed back. However, trouble struck quickly.
Ten yards into my return voyage, both quadriceps cramped, probably from the cold water. My legs became weights instead of limbs to help power my swim. I looked down. The lake bottom was 30 feet below me. I glanced around for a safe haven. There was none. No nearby boats. No dock. No side of the pool. No lifeguard. Nothing.
A thought passed quickly through my mind. I could drown out here and no one would know. I never felt so alone in all my life.
I realized I needed to take action. I harkened back to a Red Cross first aid class from 20 years ago. They had talked about water safety. The instructor had told us if we ever got into trouble in deep water to seek help immediately. You have to give people time to get to you. If you wait until you’re going under, it’s too late. That instructor also said when you call for assistance to yell and wave your arm. Make sure people hear and see you.
So, I waved my arm above my head and shouted “Help!” twice. People on the far-away shore stood up and looked out. Good, I thought, they’ve spotted me.
I began a slow, easy breaststroke away from the buoy, using almost exclusively my arms. I saw someone run into the water. I noticed someone else racing toward a rowboat. OK, I thought, people are headed my way.
I told myself to concentrate. Walls went up inside my head. Thoughts of drowning were blocked. Thoughts of my family sitting back at the cabin were kept out. Spasms of panic were quelled. My life did not flash before my eyes.
Focus on what you need to do, I told myself. You must continue to swim. My arms kept moving in a fluid motion as my legs provided minimal assistance. I felt my calves tighten a bit. I ignored it. Focus, I repeated.
I looked ahead. One younger man was wading out onto the shelf. Another was quickly paddling a rowboat. He was having trouble traveling in a straight line, but his zigzag pattern was at least directed toward me.
Swim, I told myself. Swim toward the people who are trying to help you.
My legs began to loosen a little, but I hardly noticed. I had dug deep into my past where in college cross country races you kept running even when you were dog tired.
I looked around again. The boat wasn’t much closer. But the other man was standing in chest deep water, not that far away. He was beckoning to me with his arms and saying. “You only have to get this far, buddy. You only have to get this far.”
I was almost there. The cramps subsided. I swam the final strokes to the shelf. I was never so happy to feel my feet touch sand. The boat turned back toward the dock. The man who beckoned walked with me to the shore.
It almost seemed ridiculous. I didn’t need anybody to pull me to my feet. I didn’t need oxygen. I wasn’t even that tired. How could I have been fighting for my life a mere two minutes ago?
On the beach, I saw the man in the rowboat walk back toward his cabin. I waved at him in appreciation. I didn’t get to thank him properly. I have no idea who he was or if that was even his rowboat.
The other man let me sit in his hot tub for a brief spell just to be sure I was OK. I didn’t really need it. I thanked him again and walked home. All I know is his name is Bill and even though he isn’t a good swimmer he ventured into the cold waters of Lake Tahoe to see what he could do when he saw someone in distress.
A lot of thoughts have passed since that brief but intense episode. Among them, no more swimming alone in open water and swims in lakes and oceans will be done near the shore. No more out and back courses.
My sister-in-law says her near-drowning in Hawaii more than 30 years ago was a life-changing event. It’s too early to tell if my experience will have the same lasting effect. I do feel an inner calm I didn’t have before. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next traffic jam caused by Caltrans road work to see if that’s a permanent change.
I thought about all that when I went running the following morning on the beach of Lake Tahoe. I thought about the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who skirt death on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. What must that be like?
At the end of the run, I looked into the sun. I felt its warm rays hit my face. I realized I had been given access again to the next 10,000 days. Days to write. Days to joke with co-workers. Days to spend with my wife in our cozy empty nest. Days to watch my two adult daughters grow and prosper. Days to play hide-and-seek with my grandson.
Days I might have lost.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Another Generation of Wounded Soldiers
The headline in the July/August edition of the AARP magazine says it all.
“Who’ll Care For Our Wounded Vets?”
An excellent question. I have an answer.
How about the Baby Boom generation?
There are now more than 30,000 injured soldiers who have come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That doesn’t even count the estimated 300,000 troops who will suffer from mental health issues the next few years.
The 30,000 are young men and women who have lost limbs, suffered head injuries and sustained other permanent injuries. There are a number of reasons for this high casualty rate.
The insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan have become experts at planting improvised explosive devices. These are roadside bombs with enough force to knock lumbering tanks onto their sides. In addition, U.S. soldiers are equipped with body armor, high-tech helmets and other equipment that allows them to survive attacks that would have killed men and women in other conflicts. That’s the positive side. The negative side is many of these young troops are returning home with injuries that make it difficult for them to lead a normal life.
The AARP article states that many of the most seriously injured soldiers are being cared for by their parents. In some cases, this has become nearly a full-time job.
As a society, we must take care of all our soldiers who are returning from the battlefront. Whether you were for or against the invasion of Iraq, it’s not right to send young people into a war zone and then not help them when they come back.
This is where the Baby Boom generation can lend a mighty helping hand. Those of us in our late 40s, 50s and early 60s can honor the service of the younger generations now fighting in an unpopular war. We can do so by volunteering in groups that aid these veterans, donating money and other items to worthy causes and even directly helping a family with a wounded vet.
I am in the process of forming a non-profit organization, Boomer Action (boomeraction.org). The overall goal is to encourage Baby Boomers to volunteer and mentor. Our first project will be to convince 30,000 Baby Boomers to sponsor each of the 30,000 injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.
This would not only provide a tremendous benefit for society, it would give Baby Boomers a chance to redeem themselves after the shoddy way we treated Vietnam War veterans when they returned home. A double bonus.
If we can find the time and inspiration to take on such a task, when someone in the future asks the question, “Who will take care of our wounded vets?” We can say, “We will.”
“Who’ll Care For Our Wounded Vets?”
An excellent question. I have an answer.
How about the Baby Boom generation?
There are now more than 30,000 injured soldiers who have come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That doesn’t even count the estimated 300,000 troops who will suffer from mental health issues the next few years.
The 30,000 are young men and women who have lost limbs, suffered head injuries and sustained other permanent injuries. There are a number of reasons for this high casualty rate.
The insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan have become experts at planting improvised explosive devices. These are roadside bombs with enough force to knock lumbering tanks onto their sides. In addition, U.S. soldiers are equipped with body armor, high-tech helmets and other equipment that allows them to survive attacks that would have killed men and women in other conflicts. That’s the positive side. The negative side is many of these young troops are returning home with injuries that make it difficult for them to lead a normal life.
The AARP article states that many of the most seriously injured soldiers are being cared for by their parents. In some cases, this has become nearly a full-time job.
As a society, we must take care of all our soldiers who are returning from the battlefront. Whether you were for or against the invasion of Iraq, it’s not right to send young people into a war zone and then not help them when they come back.
This is where the Baby Boom generation can lend a mighty helping hand. Those of us in our late 40s, 50s and early 60s can honor the service of the younger generations now fighting in an unpopular war. We can do so by volunteering in groups that aid these veterans, donating money and other items to worthy causes and even directly helping a family with a wounded vet.
I am in the process of forming a non-profit organization, Boomer Action (boomeraction.org). The overall goal is to encourage Baby Boomers to volunteer and mentor. Our first project will be to convince 30,000 Baby Boomers to sponsor each of the 30,000 injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.
This would not only provide a tremendous benefit for society, it would give Baby Boomers a chance to redeem themselves after the shoddy way we treated Vietnam War veterans when they returned home. A double bonus.
If we can find the time and inspiration to take on such a task, when someone in the future asks the question, “Who will take care of our wounded vets?” We can say, “We will.”
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Back To School
The nation’s community college system is encouraging Baby Boomers to go back to school.
The Association of Community Colleges is launching a 3-year demonstration program at 10 community colleges across the country to attract students over the age of 50.
The “Plus 50 Initiative” is being funded by a $3.2 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
The organizers say the project is recognizing one of the largest generational shifts in our nation’s history as Baby Boomers approach retirement and want to remain active.
In a story on prnewswire.com, AACC President George R. Boggs is quoted as saying, “The baby boomer generation wants to stay active in retirement and holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that society cannot afford to see leave the talent pool.”
Chaffey Community College in Los Angeles, is starting a new program for Baby Boom volunteers to mentor and tutor under-prepared students.
Clover Park Technical College in Washington, will offer an environmental science program along with a volunteer on-site project for Baby Boomers.
Joliet Junior College in Illinois will start up a work-force skills program for over-50 students who are seeking new careers in health care and education.
This is a great opportunity not only for Baby Boomers but for the community college system as well. It’s a chance for the Baby Boom generation to remain active and expand their horizons. It’s the type of activity Baby Boomers should leap toward. We are not approaching retirement like previous generations and this type of program allows us to pursue goals as we slowly step out of the Monday-Friday working world.
In return, the community college system receives the insight and experience of an aging generation. We should gladly provide these institutions with the help they are requesting and take advantage of the program they are offering.
Seems like a wise choice all the way around.
The Association of Community Colleges is launching a 3-year demonstration program at 10 community colleges across the country to attract students over the age of 50.
The “Plus 50 Initiative” is being funded by a $3.2 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
The organizers say the project is recognizing one of the largest generational shifts in our nation’s history as Baby Boomers approach retirement and want to remain active.
In a story on prnewswire.com, AACC President George R. Boggs is quoted as saying, “The baby boomer generation wants to stay active in retirement and holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that society cannot afford to see leave the talent pool.”
Chaffey Community College in Los Angeles, is starting a new program for Baby Boom volunteers to mentor and tutor under-prepared students.
Clover Park Technical College in Washington, will offer an environmental science program along with a volunteer on-site project for Baby Boomers.
Joliet Junior College in Illinois will start up a work-force skills program for over-50 students who are seeking new careers in health care and education.
This is a great opportunity not only for Baby Boomers but for the community college system as well. It’s a chance for the Baby Boom generation to remain active and expand their horizons. It’s the type of activity Baby Boomers should leap toward. We are not approaching retirement like previous generations and this type of program allows us to pursue goals as we slowly step out of the Monday-Friday working world.
In return, the community college system receives the insight and experience of an aging generation. We should gladly provide these institutions with the help they are requesting and take advantage of the program they are offering.
Seems like a wise choice all the way around.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
There Ought To Be Blood
It only takes an hour. And you only have to do it three times a year.
But it can make a big difference.
Donating blood is one of the simplest and most vital volunteer efforts you can put forth.
The problem is… not many people do it.
Blood centers across the country have been reporting shortages for years now. At certain times, our country’s supply of donated blood has dropped to 2 or 3 days. That means if nobody donated blood for 72 hours, our nation would run out of that precious commodity.
Donated blood is used in surgeries when people lose blood during an operation. It’s used when seriously ill patients need a transfusion. And it’s used when infants need an infusion before they are fully developed.
It’s estimated somebody in our country needs blood every 2 seconds. One out of every seven people who enter a hospital will need blood. One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives.
Yet, most people do not take the single hour required to provide this critical liquid.
To donate, you simply need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be healthy and be free of contagious diseases.
Only 37 percent of the population of the United States meets that criteria. That makes blood donors a special and important breed.
In addition, blood centers estimate they only need 25 percent of the population to donate to keep a viable supply on hand. However, less than 10 percent of the population actually does.
This, once again, is where Baby Boomers can make a difference. Our 78-million member generation can reverse this trend. As a group, if we decide to increase the number of blood donors that would provide blood centers with the infusion they so desperately need.
Blood center officials say if donations increased even 1 percent, that would eliminate most of the nationwide shortages.
So, come on. Many Boomers are retired or semi-retired. Many remember the activist days of the 1960s where we were told to think of the community as a whole before thinking individual wants and needs.
We can use our time and our credo from the past to fix this problem. If we can replenish our nation’s blood supply, it would set a sterling example for the rest of our nation. Perhaps it would carry over into other issues.
So, give an hour and give a pint. It can make a difference.
But it can make a big difference.
Donating blood is one of the simplest and most vital volunteer efforts you can put forth.
The problem is… not many people do it.
Blood centers across the country have been reporting shortages for years now. At certain times, our country’s supply of donated blood has dropped to 2 or 3 days. That means if nobody donated blood for 72 hours, our nation would run out of that precious commodity.
Donated blood is used in surgeries when people lose blood during an operation. It’s used when seriously ill patients need a transfusion. And it’s used when infants need an infusion before they are fully developed.
It’s estimated somebody in our country needs blood every 2 seconds. One out of every seven people who enter a hospital will need blood. One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives.
Yet, most people do not take the single hour required to provide this critical liquid.
To donate, you simply need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be healthy and be free of contagious diseases.
Only 37 percent of the population of the United States meets that criteria. That makes blood donors a special and important breed.
In addition, blood centers estimate they only need 25 percent of the population to donate to keep a viable supply on hand. However, less than 10 percent of the population actually does.
This, once again, is where Baby Boomers can make a difference. Our 78-million member generation can reverse this trend. As a group, if we decide to increase the number of blood donors that would provide blood centers with the infusion they so desperately need.
Blood center officials say if donations increased even 1 percent, that would eliminate most of the nationwide shortages.
So, come on. Many Boomers are retired or semi-retired. Many remember the activist days of the 1960s where we were told to think of the community as a whole before thinking individual wants and needs.
We can use our time and our credo from the past to fix this problem. If we can replenish our nation’s blood supply, it would set a sterling example for the rest of our nation. Perhaps it would carry over into other issues.
So, give an hour and give a pint. It can make a difference.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Boomers Crowd Into The Web
Baby Boomers don’t like to be left out. They don’t like falling behind the curve.
Such is the case on the Internet. Baby Boomers have embraced the World Wide Web. And, like everything else we do, we are making our presence felt.
There is no shortage of web pages dedicated to the Baby Boom generation from lifestyle to politics to trivia to careers to retirement.
Here’s a sampling.
Babyboomers.com… Boy, the folks at The Boomer Initiative who secured the rights to this site must be happy. I’m sure there are groups that would pay a handsome price to have this Internet address. The Boomer Initiative used to be the American Association of Baby Boomers. It’s a non-profit organization that focuses on the challenges facing this 78 million member generation. The site includes a conference center, a newsroom and a place to check to see what happened the year you were born.
Boomertowne.com is a flashy, hip site for Baby Boomers. It’s like an electronic city where you can walk by health counseling centers, dating services, travel agencies, newsstands and trivia shops. You can also check out blogs, discussion boards and videos.
Boomj.com is put together nicely. It’s a site dedicated to Boomers’ lifestyle and social networking. There’s a place to shop for some of the more popular Boomer items, a place to study high-interest political items, a place to preview movies as well as look at blogs and member profiles.
Aginghipsters.com is one of the funkier web sites. It discusses trends, research and allows comments on everything from music to health to humor to current events. One recent entry is an interview with Don Brewster of Grand Funk Railroad. In it, he notes “oldies” are now defined as “classic rock.”
Boomercapsule.com is a nostalgic web page with some vintage video. It also includes a blog page and a place to look up items in an on-line encyclopedia. The home page features June Christy singing, “It’s been a long, long time.” Pleasant.
Boomernet.com is listed as the “surfing center” for this generation. It has a marketplace, a “brain power” section with games and a place to watch “Boomer classic” television shows. You can also read reviews of book, music, movies and theater. Easy to follow page.
Turningpointtv.com is one of several on-line broadcast stations for Baby Boomers. Its videos cover travel, retirement, relationships, health, fitness and other topics.
Finallymagazine.com is on on-line publication for people over the age of 45. It contains articles on aging, beauty, care givers, prescription drugs, pets, retirements and other subjects of interest to the Baby Boom generation.
Greenseniors.org is one of the many issue-oriented sites out there. It is focused on environmental issues and what people in the older years can do about them. Full of facts, links and news items.
The Boomer Chronicles is found on thegeminiweb.com. It’s one of many personal sites where the author writes about what is important to them and allows readers to comment back.
As you can see, no shortage of material on the ‘Net. Move over, webmasters. The Baby Boomers are moving in.
Such is the case on the Internet. Baby Boomers have embraced the World Wide Web. And, like everything else we do, we are making our presence felt.
There is no shortage of web pages dedicated to the Baby Boom generation from lifestyle to politics to trivia to careers to retirement.
Here’s a sampling.
Babyboomers.com… Boy, the folks at The Boomer Initiative who secured the rights to this site must be happy. I’m sure there are groups that would pay a handsome price to have this Internet address. The Boomer Initiative used to be the American Association of Baby Boomers. It’s a non-profit organization that focuses on the challenges facing this 78 million member generation. The site includes a conference center, a newsroom and a place to check to see what happened the year you were born.
Boomertowne.com is a flashy, hip site for Baby Boomers. It’s like an electronic city where you can walk by health counseling centers, dating services, travel agencies, newsstands and trivia shops. You can also check out blogs, discussion boards and videos.
Boomj.com is put together nicely. It’s a site dedicated to Boomers’ lifestyle and social networking. There’s a place to shop for some of the more popular Boomer items, a place to study high-interest political items, a place to preview movies as well as look at blogs and member profiles.
Aginghipsters.com is one of the funkier web sites. It discusses trends, research and allows comments on everything from music to health to humor to current events. One recent entry is an interview with Don Brewster of Grand Funk Railroad. In it, he notes “oldies” are now defined as “classic rock.”
Boomercapsule.com is a nostalgic web page with some vintage video. It also includes a blog page and a place to look up items in an on-line encyclopedia. The home page features June Christy singing, “It’s been a long, long time.” Pleasant.
Boomernet.com is listed as the “surfing center” for this generation. It has a marketplace, a “brain power” section with games and a place to watch “Boomer classic” television shows. You can also read reviews of book, music, movies and theater. Easy to follow page.
Turningpointtv.com is one of several on-line broadcast stations for Baby Boomers. Its videos cover travel, retirement, relationships, health, fitness and other topics.
Finallymagazine.com is on on-line publication for people over the age of 45. It contains articles on aging, beauty, care givers, prescription drugs, pets, retirements and other subjects of interest to the Baby Boom generation.
Greenseniors.org is one of the many issue-oriented sites out there. It is focused on environmental issues and what people in the older years can do about them. Full of facts, links and news items.
The Boomer Chronicles is found on thegeminiweb.com. It’s one of many personal sites where the author writes about what is important to them and allows readers to comment back.
As you can see, no shortage of material on the ‘Net. Move over, webmasters. The Baby Boomers are moving in.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Boomers Wanted
It’s nice to be wanted and Baby Boomers are near the top of the most desirable list. At least in five states, when it comes to our experience and knowledge.
This week, Civic Ventures released a policy paper commending five states for their efforts to engage people over the age of 50 in meaningful work and community service.
Civic Venture noted that California officials are trying to match Baby Boomers’ desire to serve with specific labor shortages, such as the demand for math and science teachers. The state’s eServices office has even created a database for retired job seekers to use their skills and interests.
In Arizona, a coalition of groups has formed to push the Mature Workforce Initiative to launch new programs, such as a “mature worker friendly” environment at businesses.
In Maryland, there is the Baby Boomer Initiative Act, which spurred the creation of the Boomer Initiative Council. That organization develops strategies to keep the post-World War Two generation engaged in their communities.
The states of New York and Massachusetts are also lauded for their efforts in the Civic Ventures paper.
What these government and non-profit officials have latched onto is something I have noticed in our generation. A desire to give back to our communities as well as to improve our society by volunteering.
As I’ve noted in previous columns, many Baby Boomers are closing in on retirement. Many have raised their children and are looking for ways to spend their new-found leisure hours.
Baby Boomers have apparently discovered volunteering to be a worthy calling. In 2006, the United States’ volunteer rate hit a 30-year high, increasing 32 percent from 1989 to 2005. The Baby Boom generation is leading the way. More than 30 percent of our generation between the ages of 46 and 57 are doing some volunteer work, the highest percentage among any age group.
This is a trend that could have major impacts in our society. There are 78 million Baby Boomers in this country. If a healthy percentage of them decide to volunteer, think of the difference it could make in schools, clinics, health-care facilities, environmental causes and other services.
We were an activist force in the 1960s when it came to the Vietnam War, Civil Rights and women’s rights. Perhaps we can be the same kind of dynamic force in our older years.
This week, Civic Ventures released a policy paper commending five states for their efforts to engage people over the age of 50 in meaningful work and community service.
Civic Venture noted that California officials are trying to match Baby Boomers’ desire to serve with specific labor shortages, such as the demand for math and science teachers. The state’s eServices office has even created a database for retired job seekers to use their skills and interests.
In Arizona, a coalition of groups has formed to push the Mature Workforce Initiative to launch new programs, such as a “mature worker friendly” environment at businesses.
In Maryland, there is the Baby Boomer Initiative Act, which spurred the creation of the Boomer Initiative Council. That organization develops strategies to keep the post-World War Two generation engaged in their communities.
The states of New York and Massachusetts are also lauded for their efforts in the Civic Ventures paper.
What these government and non-profit officials have latched onto is something I have noticed in our generation. A desire to give back to our communities as well as to improve our society by volunteering.
As I’ve noted in previous columns, many Baby Boomers are closing in on retirement. Many have raised their children and are looking for ways to spend their new-found leisure hours.
Baby Boomers have apparently discovered volunteering to be a worthy calling. In 2006, the United States’ volunteer rate hit a 30-year high, increasing 32 percent from 1989 to 2005. The Baby Boom generation is leading the way. More than 30 percent of our generation between the ages of 46 and 57 are doing some volunteer work, the highest percentage among any age group.
This is a trend that could have major impacts in our society. There are 78 million Baby Boomers in this country. If a healthy percentage of them decide to volunteer, think of the difference it could make in schools, clinics, health-care facilities, environmental causes and other services.
We were an activist force in the 1960s when it came to the Vietnam War, Civil Rights and women’s rights. Perhaps we can be the same kind of dynamic force in our older years.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sandwich Time
I was talking to my old college friend, Mark, when I was in Los Angeles the other week.
Mark moved back home two years ago after 25 years in Boston.
The primary reason was to take care of his 84-year-old widowed mother.
It’s not a full-time job. Mark still drives to work through the L.A. commute every morning and evening. He still gets his exercise in on most days. He goes out at night a couple times a week.
But taking care of his mother is an attention-consuming obligation. Mark lives in the house where he grew up in the Santa Clarita area. While juggling his personal obligations, Mark makes sure the housekeeper shows up when she’s supposed to. He checks in on the driver who comes almost every day to escort his mother on her errands and get her out of the house. He makes sure she takes her medication and doesn’t do anything to hurt herself.
On the morning we met for coffee, Mark phoned the driver to check in. He also talked with the housekeeper about doing some of the laundry his mother still insists on doing.
Mark told me he does a balancing act between taking care of his mother and still allowing her to maintain her self-respect. He has to take over her bills soon. She is losing track of those. But he noted he needs to gradually do so. He plans to have them work together on the bills at first before he assumes control.
It’s a situation many Baby Boomers are facing. A stage in our lives sociologists have labeled as “the sandwich.”
Many Baby Boomers have children in the 20s and 30s who still need some guidance and attention. At the same time, many also have parents who are in their 70s and 80s and need someone to take care of at least part of their lives.
In fact, the Pew Research Center estimates 71 percent of Baby Boomers have at least one parent still alive. They estimate one in eight Baby Boomers are taking care of an elderly parent and at least one child under 18. With people living longer, those statistics are bound to rise.
Over the next decade or two, Baby Boomers will be faced with decisions on rest homes, medical care and financial resources. They’ll need to decide if they should change jobs or move to another town to help their aging parents.
Money is another issue. The average cost for a nursing home is more than $6,000 a month. Assisted living facilities cost $3,000 monthly. Home health professionals run about $20 an hour.
It’s a challenge Baby Boomers will face as they themselves age. There is no doubt it takes a physical and mental toll on those who get sandwiched.
However, this is not a duty we should run from. Baby Boomers should embrace this challenge as something that needs to be done and done well.
It can be a shining achievement of our generation. We can take care of the folks who took care of us when we were younger. And we can set an example for the younger generations on how we should be treated when we hit our 70s and 80s.
My wife and I right now are watching over my 86-year-old mother-in-law and my 94-year-old grandmother. We also have a 59-year-old brother-in-law with Alzheimer’s disease.
It does stretch us thin sometimes. We both work full-time at demanding jobs. Our children are in their 20s and do need occasional assistance.
Yet, my wife and I realize this is a time when others need us. It is a time we can muster our energies and show the patience and caring we are capable of.
Some day we may need someone to take care of us. Hopefully, we will have shown them the way.
Mark moved back home two years ago after 25 years in Boston.
The primary reason was to take care of his 84-year-old widowed mother.
It’s not a full-time job. Mark still drives to work through the L.A. commute every morning and evening. He still gets his exercise in on most days. He goes out at night a couple times a week.
But taking care of his mother is an attention-consuming obligation. Mark lives in the house where he grew up in the Santa Clarita area. While juggling his personal obligations, Mark makes sure the housekeeper shows up when she’s supposed to. He checks in on the driver who comes almost every day to escort his mother on her errands and get her out of the house. He makes sure she takes her medication and doesn’t do anything to hurt herself.
On the morning we met for coffee, Mark phoned the driver to check in. He also talked with the housekeeper about doing some of the laundry his mother still insists on doing.
Mark told me he does a balancing act between taking care of his mother and still allowing her to maintain her self-respect. He has to take over her bills soon. She is losing track of those. But he noted he needs to gradually do so. He plans to have them work together on the bills at first before he assumes control.
It’s a situation many Baby Boomers are facing. A stage in our lives sociologists have labeled as “the sandwich.”
Many Baby Boomers have children in the 20s and 30s who still need some guidance and attention. At the same time, many also have parents who are in their 70s and 80s and need someone to take care of at least part of their lives.
In fact, the Pew Research Center estimates 71 percent of Baby Boomers have at least one parent still alive. They estimate one in eight Baby Boomers are taking care of an elderly parent and at least one child under 18. With people living longer, those statistics are bound to rise.
Over the next decade or two, Baby Boomers will be faced with decisions on rest homes, medical care and financial resources. They’ll need to decide if they should change jobs or move to another town to help their aging parents.
Money is another issue. The average cost for a nursing home is more than $6,000 a month. Assisted living facilities cost $3,000 monthly. Home health professionals run about $20 an hour.
It’s a challenge Baby Boomers will face as they themselves age. There is no doubt it takes a physical and mental toll on those who get sandwiched.
However, this is not a duty we should run from. Baby Boomers should embrace this challenge as something that needs to be done and done well.
It can be a shining achievement of our generation. We can take care of the folks who took care of us when we were younger. And we can set an example for the younger generations on how we should be treated when we hit our 70s and 80s.
My wife and I right now are watching over my 86-year-old mother-in-law and my 94-year-old grandmother. We also have a 59-year-old brother-in-law with Alzheimer’s disease.
It does stretch us thin sometimes. We both work full-time at demanding jobs. Our children are in their 20s and do need occasional assistance.
Yet, my wife and I realize this is a time when others need us. It is a time we can muster our energies and show the patience and caring we are capable of.
Some day we may need someone to take care of us. Hopefully, we will have shown them the way.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Green With Age
Baby Boomers are going gray as they age, but they are apparently also going green.
As the Baby Boom generation reaches its 50s and 60s, they are returning to a cause from their youth – the environment.
We were in our prime when the annual Earth Day celebration began in April 1970. We talked a lot about conservation, recycling and protecting our trees, water and air. We actually put programs in place and jump-started movements.
Now, it appears Boomers are returning to those ecological roots.
According to AARP magazine, a recent consumer survey found people over 55 are more likely than any other age group to conserve energy in their homes. The new wave of seniors is also using technology to get their point across.
One of the leaders is 64-year-old Joyce Emery. The Iowa grandmother of six co-founded an online community at “greenseniors.org.” The “Green Granny” dispenses advice on that page as well as points visitors to news stories and other organizations. On the web page on this day is an aerial shot of the Hawaiian Islands taken from space. The caption mentions how fragile the atmosphere above the lush paradise is and how action needs to be taken to preserve it.
Baby Boomers are apparently in partnership with the generation ahead of them, too.
Max Lindberg, 76, records podcasts from his Arizona home and broadcasts them from his web site, “thelindbergreport.org.” The show features interviews with other activists. On the page today is a podcast with Emery.
Robert Lane, 90, helped create the web site “grayisgreen.org.” On his page, he states the older generations exploited the Earth when they were younger and they now need to save it for their grandchildren. A “Pledge to the Planet” form is available.
The environmental crusade is one of many Baby Boomers can take up as they age. Many of us have raised our children. Some of us are retired or semi-retired. We have the time and experience now to make a difference.
It appears our generation is off to a good start. In December 2006, the Corporation for National and Community Service reported volunteering in the United States had reached a 30-year high, jumping 32 percent between 1989 and 2005. Baby Boomers are leading the charge. Almost 31 percent of Boomers between the ages of 46 and 57 are volunteering, the best percentage of any age
group in the country.
In addition, Boomers and other older Americans are putting in more time after they sign up. In 2006, the average volunteer over the age of 55 was donating 226 hours a year compared to 132 hours annually by volunteers aged 30 to 39. More than half of people over the age of 55 who don’t volunteer said they would help if they found the right opportunity.
“A lot of us were activists in the 60s,” says Barbara Rodgers, a veteran anchorwoman at KPIX-TV in San Francisco. “A lot of us were out there, really believing we could make the world a better place. A lot of us got disillusioned. A lot of us got tired. But I think we can be re-energized.”
“We have just as much opportunity to change the world today as we did in our youth,” says Mike Helle, an Oregon Boomer who is the father of two and grandfather of two more. “Our challenge is to turn our efforts of self-gratification to acts of helping others.”
President John Kennedy asked us to think about what we could do for our country. Perhaps it’s time to heed his call. A good place to start might be with the air we breathe and the water we drink.
As the Baby Boom generation reaches its 50s and 60s, they are returning to a cause from their youth – the environment.
We were in our prime when the annual Earth Day celebration began in April 1970. We talked a lot about conservation, recycling and protecting our trees, water and air. We actually put programs in place and jump-started movements.
Now, it appears Boomers are returning to those ecological roots.
According to AARP magazine, a recent consumer survey found people over 55 are more likely than any other age group to conserve energy in their homes. The new wave of seniors is also using technology to get their point across.
One of the leaders is 64-year-old Joyce Emery. The Iowa grandmother of six co-founded an online community at “greenseniors.org.” The “Green Granny” dispenses advice on that page as well as points visitors to news stories and other organizations. On the web page on this day is an aerial shot of the Hawaiian Islands taken from space. The caption mentions how fragile the atmosphere above the lush paradise is and how action needs to be taken to preserve it.
Baby Boomers are apparently in partnership with the generation ahead of them, too.
Max Lindberg, 76, records podcasts from his Arizona home and broadcasts them from his web site, “thelindbergreport.org.” The show features interviews with other activists. On the page today is a podcast with Emery.
Robert Lane, 90, helped create the web site “grayisgreen.org.” On his page, he states the older generations exploited the Earth when they were younger and they now need to save it for their grandchildren. A “Pledge to the Planet” form is available.
The environmental crusade is one of many Baby Boomers can take up as they age. Many of us have raised our children. Some of us are retired or semi-retired. We have the time and experience now to make a difference.
It appears our generation is off to a good start. In December 2006, the Corporation for National and Community Service reported volunteering in the United States had reached a 30-year high, jumping 32 percent between 1989 and 2005. Baby Boomers are leading the charge. Almost 31 percent of Boomers between the ages of 46 and 57 are volunteering, the best percentage of any age
group in the country.
In addition, Boomers and other older Americans are putting in more time after they sign up. In 2006, the average volunteer over the age of 55 was donating 226 hours a year compared to 132 hours annually by volunteers aged 30 to 39. More than half of people over the age of 55 who don’t volunteer said they would help if they found the right opportunity.
“A lot of us were activists in the 60s,” says Barbara Rodgers, a veteran anchorwoman at KPIX-TV in San Francisco. “A lot of us were out there, really believing we could make the world a better place. A lot of us got disillusioned. A lot of us got tired. But I think we can be re-energized.”
“We have just as much opportunity to change the world today as we did in our youth,” says Mike Helle, an Oregon Boomer who is the father of two and grandfather of two more. “Our challenge is to turn our efforts of self-gratification to acts of helping others.”
President John Kennedy asked us to think about what we could do for our country. Perhaps it’s time to heed his call. A good place to start might be with the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Barack and Bobby
After his thunderous victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, Senator Barack Obama told a cheering crowd of supporters that this presidential election was not about the past. It was about the future.
True enough. However, as I listen and watch this surging candidate, I can’t help but think about what has happening 40 years ago. It was 1968 and another senator in his mid-40s was running for the White House. He too was inspiring a nation torn by an unpopular war. He also was touching the hearts and minds of the nation’s youth.
His name was Bobby Kennedy. The younger brother of a slain president, Kennedy jumped into the race in the spring after President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek re-election. Kennedy railed against the Vietnam War. He spoke about the plight of the poor. He talked about how we could be a more humane nation. How we could be better. He sounded passionate, like he meant it. He was vibrant, convincing. An answer for voters, especially young ones, who were seeking a light in dark times.
Four decades later, Barack Obama appears to be re-creating that political magic. He has been critical of the Iraq war, from the beginning and with consistency. He talks about lifting up the poorest of our country. He inspires. He educates. He brings hope to people who want to shake off the past 16 years of division and turn a corner.
Kennedy’s speeches were unforgettable. Many of his words ring true today. His tone was dramatic yet healing. The night Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, Kennedy calmed an angry crowd in Indianapolis. At his older brother’s funeral in 1963, Kennedy said, “Some people see things as they are and ask why. I see things that aren’t and ask why not.”
Kennedy encouraged people to get involved, to fight for what they believe in. He once said, “We know that if one man’s rights are denied, the rights of all are endangered.”
He also spoke of the benefits to everyone of helping the less fortunate. He used to say in campaign speeches, “I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.”
Kennedy never realized his dream. He was gunned down in the kitchen of a hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, minutes after celebrating his victory in the California primary. It was an assassination the Baby Boom generation never got over.
He did leave some words for us to live by. Among them, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement. Every generation helps make its own future. This is the essential challenge of the present.”
Enter Barack Obama in 2008. He has ignited those who support him, giving rise to the promise that he can still achieve the goal Bobby Kennedy didn’t get to accomplish.
Obama is seen as the person who could unify our country, potentially create a bridge we can use to cross some wide gaps now tearing apart our nation.
The Illinois senator has the ability to bring together people of all colors and not only because he himself is of mixed race. He speaks to people across a wide spectrum. He convinces people of the need to advance the cause of those less fortunate. He inspires people to be better citizens. He galvanizes people to care about their government. He speaks of the politics of hope.
He has told audiences, “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
He talks of ideals larger than ourselves. Words that provoke thought.
“We gather to affirm the greatness of our nation,” he has said. “Not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over 200 years ago.”
Obama might also be the bridge we need to close the gulf that exists between generations. Although he is technically a Baby Boomer, born in 1961, Obama really straddles the Baby Boom generation and the generations that follow. He is someone people older and younger can admire. He might prove to be a conduit between age groups who seem to have lost touch with each other.
“The true test of the American ideal,” he has said, “is whether we’re able to recognize our failings and then rise together to meet the challenges of our time. Whether we allow ourselves to be shaped by events and history, or whether we act to shape them.”
Words like that have inspired Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John Kennedy. Today, in the New York Times, she endorsed Obama. She said he would be a president just like her father.
I’d like to echo that sentiment and put a twist on it.
Barack Obama could be the president Bobby Kennedy would have been.
True enough. However, as I listen and watch this surging candidate, I can’t help but think about what has happening 40 years ago. It was 1968 and another senator in his mid-40s was running for the White House. He too was inspiring a nation torn by an unpopular war. He also was touching the hearts and minds of the nation’s youth.
His name was Bobby Kennedy. The younger brother of a slain president, Kennedy jumped into the race in the spring after President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek re-election. Kennedy railed against the Vietnam War. He spoke about the plight of the poor. He talked about how we could be a more humane nation. How we could be better. He sounded passionate, like he meant it. He was vibrant, convincing. An answer for voters, especially young ones, who were seeking a light in dark times.
Four decades later, Barack Obama appears to be re-creating that political magic. He has been critical of the Iraq war, from the beginning and with consistency. He talks about lifting up the poorest of our country. He inspires. He educates. He brings hope to people who want to shake off the past 16 years of division and turn a corner.
Kennedy’s speeches were unforgettable. Many of his words ring true today. His tone was dramatic yet healing. The night Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, Kennedy calmed an angry crowd in Indianapolis. At his older brother’s funeral in 1963, Kennedy said, “Some people see things as they are and ask why. I see things that aren’t and ask why not.”
Kennedy encouraged people to get involved, to fight for what they believe in. He once said, “We know that if one man’s rights are denied, the rights of all are endangered.”
He also spoke of the benefits to everyone of helping the less fortunate. He used to say in campaign speeches, “I believe that, as long as there is plenty, poverty is evil.”
Kennedy never realized his dream. He was gunned down in the kitchen of a hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, minutes after celebrating his victory in the California primary. It was an assassination the Baby Boom generation never got over.
He did leave some words for us to live by. Among them, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement. Every generation helps make its own future. This is the essential challenge of the present.”
Enter Barack Obama in 2008. He has ignited those who support him, giving rise to the promise that he can still achieve the goal Bobby Kennedy didn’t get to accomplish.
Obama is seen as the person who could unify our country, potentially create a bridge we can use to cross some wide gaps now tearing apart our nation.
The Illinois senator has the ability to bring together people of all colors and not only because he himself is of mixed race. He speaks to people across a wide spectrum. He convinces people of the need to advance the cause of those less fortunate. He inspires people to be better citizens. He galvanizes people to care about their government. He speaks of the politics of hope.
He has told audiences, “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
He talks of ideals larger than ourselves. Words that provoke thought.
“We gather to affirm the greatness of our nation,” he has said. “Not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over 200 years ago.”
Obama might also be the bridge we need to close the gulf that exists between generations. Although he is technically a Baby Boomer, born in 1961, Obama really straddles the Baby Boom generation and the generations that follow. He is someone people older and younger can admire. He might prove to be a conduit between age groups who seem to have lost touch with each other.
“The true test of the American ideal,” he has said, “is whether we’re able to recognize our failings and then rise together to meet the challenges of our time. Whether we allow ourselves to be shaped by events and history, or whether we act to shape them.”
Words like that have inspired Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John Kennedy. Today, in the New York Times, she endorsed Obama. She said he would be a president just like her father.
I’d like to echo that sentiment and put a twist on it.
Barack Obama could be the president Bobby Kennedy would have been.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Life Is Good
As 2008 dawns, it might be a good time to remember three simple words.
Life is good.
Ten letters. A trio of words that when adopted as a mantra can change the way one looks at life in a myriad of situations.
I adopted it in 2007. A sort of spin-off from the popular book, “The Secret.”
The adage helped me glide through many events that in the past might have derailed me.
It’s a philosophy I’d like to see the Baby Boomers adopt as a generation.
Our world and our culture have a lot of negative aspects to them. It’s easy to focus on the things that are going wrong. There are plenty of them, both on the societal stage and in our personal lives.
These problems shouldn’t be ignored. Solutions should be sought. But we should seek them with our mantra in mind.
If our 78-million person generation can personify this attitude, it could lead to a sweeping change of heart in our country.
Life is good.
We can use this philosophy in all aspects of life. Let’s start with the basics.
As the new year unfolds, let’s be thankful we live on a planet that is a perfect 90 million miles from its sun. Earth’s axis is tilted at a convenient 23 degrees, giving us four seasons and an average temperature worldwide of 57 livable degrees. Our sphere is 71 percent water and 29 percent land. A perfect mix to let animal and plant life flourish. Prehistoric people used to hold festivals in late December to celebrate the winter solstice. The fact the days would be getting longer. Warmth was on the way. We can do the same thing in a more modern way. Humans have developed into a remarkable species that uses its intelligence and adaptability to make life relatively easy for itself. Conveniences, medicine, electricity, transportation.
Yes, life is good.
We can be thankful for our health, if we are lucky enough to have it. We can take comfort in our family and friends. We can take pride in our work and be grateful we have a job, even if we are looking for a new one. It’s an attitude that allows one to keep other things in perspective. To try to overcome obstacles without letting them overwhelm us.
Life is good.
We can celebrate our fortune by setting a good example. By staying in good physical shape. By reading more. By being polite. By being thoughtful. By offering guidance to those younger than us.
We can start a groundswell in this country. A changing of our outlook. All with three simple words. Life is good.
The sultry actress Mae West once said, “You only have one life to live, but if you do it right, once should be enough.”
Life is good.
Ten letters. A trio of words that when adopted as a mantra can change the way one looks at life in a myriad of situations.
I adopted it in 2007. A sort of spin-off from the popular book, “The Secret.”
The adage helped me glide through many events that in the past might have derailed me.
It’s a philosophy I’d like to see the Baby Boomers adopt as a generation.
Our world and our culture have a lot of negative aspects to them. It’s easy to focus on the things that are going wrong. There are plenty of them, both on the societal stage and in our personal lives.
These problems shouldn’t be ignored. Solutions should be sought. But we should seek them with our mantra in mind.
If our 78-million person generation can personify this attitude, it could lead to a sweeping change of heart in our country.
Life is good.
We can use this philosophy in all aspects of life. Let’s start with the basics.
As the new year unfolds, let’s be thankful we live on a planet that is a perfect 90 million miles from its sun. Earth’s axis is tilted at a convenient 23 degrees, giving us four seasons and an average temperature worldwide of 57 livable degrees. Our sphere is 71 percent water and 29 percent land. A perfect mix to let animal and plant life flourish. Prehistoric people used to hold festivals in late December to celebrate the winter solstice. The fact the days would be getting longer. Warmth was on the way. We can do the same thing in a more modern way. Humans have developed into a remarkable species that uses its intelligence and adaptability to make life relatively easy for itself. Conveniences, medicine, electricity, transportation.
Yes, life is good.
We can be thankful for our health, if we are lucky enough to have it. We can take comfort in our family and friends. We can take pride in our work and be grateful we have a job, even if we are looking for a new one. It’s an attitude that allows one to keep other things in perspective. To try to overcome obstacles without letting them overwhelm us.
Life is good.
We can celebrate our fortune by setting a good example. By staying in good physical shape. By reading more. By being polite. By being thoughtful. By offering guidance to those younger than us.
We can start a groundswell in this country. A changing of our outlook. All with three simple words. Life is good.
The sultry actress Mae West once said, “You only have one life to live, but if you do it right, once should be enough.”
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