How Old Is Grandma?

Baby boomers are persons born between the years 1946-1964. More progress in our culture has occurred as a result of baby boomers than any time in world history. As we continue to grow older we will continue to look back and review all our accomplishments and the possibilities we missed. One thing for sure, we the baby boomer generation through hard work, faith and perseverance has made this country the most productive, wealthiest, and generous nation in the world. Although the economy is going through a troubling stage, I am confident we will rebound with more vitality than ever before. So before I start a little game of how old is grandma, I want to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Happy New Year.

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon. Your Grandfather and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother.

Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir'- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir.' We were before gay-rights,computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.

If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term "making out" referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. Gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, "grass" was mowed,"coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, and"rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,"chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store, and "software" wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.

No wonder people call us "old and confused"and say there is a generation gap..... and how old do you think I am??? I bet you have this old lady in mind... you are in for a shock! Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

This woman would be only 58 years old!

Baby Boomers visit me at The 60s Official Site, the largest 60s site on the web.

Also, launch of 70s Official Site will be today. Check it out. Programmed to be the largest 70s site on the web.

How True It Is

Another year has passed
And we're all a little older. Last summer felt hotter
And winter seems much colder.
I rack my brain for happy thoughts,
To put down on my pad,
But lots of things, That come to mind
Just make me kind of sad.
There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'.
We used to go to friends homes,
Baseball games and lunches.

Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,

And after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were gay.
Now we suffer body aches
An sleep the Night away.
We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.
We used to travel often
To places near and far.
Now we get backaches

From riding in the car.
We used to go out shopping
For new clothing at the Mall
But, now we never bother...
All the sizes are too small.
That, my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...
Before you're too darn old!!

Join the rest of us old time baby boomers at the 60s Official Site

How In The World Did We Survive?

I just finishing reading an interesting article about childhood obesity. In the article it was stated for the first time we may have a generation that will not live as long as the baby boomer generation which now has a life expectancy of 78. Statistically life expectancy has increased year after year but now it may decline. Amazing isn't it? Why do children today face this possibility of dying younger than their parents and grandparents? Illnesses from lack of exercise and overeating. One disease is Diabetes II, which was once common only in adults over the age of 40, now is being discovered in children younger than 12. The reason for this is obesity and lack of exercise. We baby boomers faced many difficulties ourselves but lack of exercise wasn't one of them. We didn't have the luxuries that today's kids have when we were growing up. How did we survive without these now "can't do without items" and all the you can't do that because it's not good for you.

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Play Station's, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

Unless we as parents and grandparents take it upon ourselves to insure our children of today become more active in sports or outdoor activities and not lying around the house on the computer or TV we may find many of us outliving our children. What a sad consequence that would be. They should be moving around doing something at a minimum of 60 minutes a day.

We survived but will our children survive on the road that many are on now?

Babyboomers site