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Born in 1954, I identify as a baby boomer. But what does that mean, really? Who exactly are we boomers? And how does the world see us? I decided to perform a quick Google search and find out.
I typed in the phrase “Boomers Are…”
Here’s what I got:
The most selfish generation ever.
Retiring.
Reluctant to retire.
Flocking to cities.
Evil.
Doomed.
More likely to succeed as entrepreneurs.
An important target market.
Broke.
Sensing that I didn’t yet have the complete picture, I decided to fine-tune my results by Google-searching a few more boomer-related questions and statements:
Boomers Need to…
Live to 100.
Get over yesterday.
Consider downsizing.
Worry about the health hazards they grew up with.
Consider the shingles vaccine.
Get tested for Hepatitis C.
Retire.
Die.
Why Do Boomers…
Plan to work longer?
Wear Blue Jeans?
Hate Millennials?
Have Hepatitis C?
Love baseball?
Baby Boomers…
Want to be young.
Want to look younger.
Suck.
All Baby Boomers…
Should be tested for Hepatitis C
Suck.
Boomers rarely…
Stop nurturing their children.
Baby Boomers enjoy…
Hair products.
Chocolate.
The ride
Baby Boomers can…
Be ignored.
Get pregnant.
Dance.
Afford to retire.
Baby Boomers remain…
In the workforce.
Skeptical of the establishment.
Relevant.
Baby Boomers never…
Say never.
Retire.
Grow up.
Had it so good.
So who are we? We can dance! We can retire! (Unless we’re broke.) We can move to the city and downsize! We never grew up but we nurture our kids. We’re not young, but we want to look young. And we really should get vaccinated for Hep C.
Is any of this accurate? Who knows? If you want to discuss it, you can find me at the ballpark. I’ll be the youthful-looking semi-retired 60-year-old offering the Millennial sitting next to me a chocolate-chip cookie and telling him to get over himself.
California painter Julia Kay thought her three-year Daily Portrait blog was just for her. But since then, it has meant much more, for her life, her art, and for her community (including us.)
As always, my children and husband have enriched my emotional education and taught me some things about Thanksgiving.
"Who's bringing breakfast tomorrow?" I asked. The tiny hesitation before her answer told me that my relief had been premature. I closed my eyes even before her words were out. "Uhm, Mama? I forgot to tell you..."
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What? Sounds like it was written by an angry selfish 20year old! I think our generation is more giving,unselfish and hard working than youth today.
Wonderful!
Geez the things people search for! Boomers are just like any other group of people trying to make it work. Some of them were really funny though! Thanks for sharing. I would have never thought to look that up myself lol.
Oh my goodness this is hilarious, except for the hepatitis c part, yikes.
I love the last group!
Okay, this is hilarious! Google is a fascinating look at what society is thinking. I once started typing in Who wrote … and the first entry was “Wrecking Ball” (really???) followed by the Bible. Like I said, fascinating.
It’s not easy following the “Greatest Generation.”
Gotta be brave.
Thanks, Roz!
Awesome post – start to finish but this got me.
Boomers Need to…Get over yesterday. Love it!
Ha! I am at the tail end of the Baby Boomer kite string. I think your last paragraph is the best! As for me? I am thankfully NOT pregnant and still wear blue jeans and imagine that I always will.
Great column, great ending. I love the idea of asking Google questions. I will use that in the future. Thanks.
I do:
Wear blue jeans. Love Baseball. Am not pregnant or working. Live for my grandkids. Never grew up. Yep. I’m right in there. I think. Better get tested for Hep C.
I’m delighted to be a boomer. But as one born in the very last year of the boom, I can’t relate to much of what supposedly defines boomers and often line up more so with Gen X.
This piece makes me think… and that’s a great thing. Thanks!
Oh, Roz, thank you so much! I sent the link to Nicole in case she missed reading this lovely piece.
Boomers have usually always perceived life as an unending series of possibilities. P.S. Just had a great breakfast and the sun is shining — I’m outta here!
LOVE this, Roz! Brilliant.
One of our perennially popular posts (holy alliteration, Batwoman!) is “Don’t Hate Us Because We’re Baby Boomers.” And when I say “popular” I mean “target for loonies who think boomers are all selfish, entitled, ignorant, and deserve to die ASAP, and don’t hesitate to write long screeds about it in our comments section.” Apparently we’re a controversial group. Who knew?
Very interesting and engaging piece, Roz! Boomers can be categorized as good or bad, selfish or unselfish, affluent or not affluent, etc. etc. In other words, boomers — like members of any other age group — are so diverse that they can’t really be categorized. 🙂
Some of these are hilarious and others? just plain scary!
Wowza. Who knew that Google could be a mind reader. Those are some pretty wild viewpoints. When you get to know people as individuals, they certainly defy many of these stereotypes. Thanks for mining the search engine in this (eye-popping) way. Whoa.
Not sure about the Hep C part, but I love being a boomer. I also detest being labeled. So I don’t care what Google says – we are all unique individuals and, like snowflakes, are different from one another. So I’ll see you at the ballpark, Roz. One question: can I bring my knitting along?
from monty p- “i’m not dead yet”