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An Ode to Baby Boomers
By: Dianne Hahn / Back in the Days
Ah, the Baby Boomer generation. An era of
peace signs, bell bottoms, colorful polyester
outfits, disco fever, and Lava Lamps
We were raised without the internet, but you didn’t miss what you
didn’t know. Remember these quirky things?
No smart phones with voice assistance in sight, we had to deal with
rotary phones. And don’t be in a hurry… it took a minute to dial the
corrects digits with your index finger, then curse under your breath
when the rotary dial got stuck at number 9. Let’s not forget the tangled
cords we had to contend with, either!
Our minds were blown when color TV first made its appearance.
Suddenly, the world was filled with rainbows, and our favorite
characters on screen looked
totally different in color!
However, we were still
adjusting those rabbit ear
antennae to catch the best
reception, and it was like
trying to find a needle in a
haystack. “Just a little to the
left…no, wait, go back…
oh you had it there! Okay,
freeze!”
Who could forget vinyl
records? The struggle was
real: dusting them off,
carefully placing the needle
without scratching the
surface, and trying to avoid
the wrath of our parents
when we accidentally
scratched their precious collection.
But hey, we had some memorable tunes like “Staying Alive” and
“Bohemian Rhapsody” that would get anyone grooving - even those
with two left feet! So cool!
As teenagers, our social life revolved around good old-fashioned
face-to-face interactions. No swiping left or right.
We actually had to approach someone and start a conversation.
It was exciting, small talk with sweaty palms and no emojis to hide
behind! We still prefer to talk more than text.
Remember the fashion trends? Lots of flair pants, platform shoes,
and hairstyles that defy the laws of gravity. We owned it with style! Or
we thought we did!
Growing up a Baby Boomer, we navigated through life with
determination and an upbeat attitude. So, to all my fellow Baby
Boomers out there, let’s raise a toast to our colorful past and embrace
the ever-changing present.
Peace and love, my friends!
A former schoolteacher, Dianne Sebis Hahn writes for children too.
Presently, Dianne has eight books available on Amazon.com.
September 2023
You Gotta Laugh
By: Bill Caserta / Bill’s Blurbs
“Baker’s Dozen” Commandments for Seniors
A 1. It’s okay to talk to yourself. There are
times when you need expert advice.
2. “In Style” are any clothes that still fit you.
3. You don’t need “anger management.” You
need people to stop pissing you off.
4. Your people skills are just fine. It’s your tolerance for idiots that
needs work.
5. The biggest lie you tell yourself: “I don’t need to write that down.
I’ll remember it.”
6. “On time” is when you get there.
7. Even duct tape can’t fix stupid, but it sure does muffle the sound.
8. It would be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for 10
minutes, then come out wrinkle free and 3 sizes smaller.
9. Lately you’ve noticed people your age are so much older than you.
10. Growing old should have taken longer.
11. Aging might have slowed you down, but it hasn’t shut you up.
12. “One for the road” means peeing before you leave the house.
And bonus commandment: You still have not learned to act
your age…and hope you never will.
*Are You Ready For Some Football? In honor of Publisher
Dan’s long time devotion to his New York Giants (but for other football
fans, just fill in your favorite team) I ask you to consider the following:
Q: What do the NY Giants and possums have in common? A: Both
play dead at home and get killed on the road!
Q: What did the NY Giants and the late Billy Graham have in
common? A: They both can make 60,000 people stand up and yell
“Jesus Christ!”
Q: What is the difference between a NY Giants’ fan (like Dan) and a
baby? A: The baby will stop whining after a while.
And my favorite: All of the Seven Dwarfs were marching through
the forest one day when they fell in a deep, dark ravine. Snow White,
who was following behind, peered over the edge of the steep chasm and
called out to her fallen comrades.
From the depths of the dark hole a voice returned, “The New York
Giants are Super Bowl contenders.” Snow White thought to herself,
“Thank God! At least Dopey survived!”