Boomers Become Pop(s)

Baby boomers who once drove America’s economy, defined its culture and ruled its politics don’t boom much anymore.

Oh, maybe an occasional pop, but that’s probably just a complaining back joint.

We’ve moved from “Don’t trust anyone over 30!” to “Don’t trust anyone under 30!” and now are heading towards “Sir, please count back from 30 by 3s.”

Our working memory isn’t measured in megabytes, but in inches of available space on the refrigerator door, where live the doctors’ appointments, pictures of grandchildren, grocery lists and anything that seems important to us.

Sometimes the importance of lists rises dramatically when we arrive at the grocery store and remember we forgot to take them. Sometimes not so much when we take the list and forget to go to the grocery store.

But some things still have their old allure. Travel, for instance. Not only do senior discounts make the airfare more affordable, but security concerns make it more enjoyable. When else is someone not a doctor going to pat our bottom or scope our bod?

And eating out remains a pleasure, again with substantial senior discounts.  After all, most of us bring our own first course in a little pill box.

Our music endures as well, although seeing the Rolling Stones totter through “Start Me Up!” or “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” has acquired a new poignancy. And it’s probably not the answer blowing in the wind when the crematory misadjusted its flue.

Our political leaders have been a mixed bag. Bill Clinton was a hands-on president – just ask Monica Lewinsky. George Bush was a hands-off president – just ask President Cheney. President Obama, meanwhile, isn’t part of the Boomers – he just follows behind that parade scoop and shovel in hand.

Still, given the chance, we’d do it all again – which is probably why the coming changes to health care address end-of-life issues.

The kids are worried that we might do it again!

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