I'm a liberal pagan living in West, Texas. Yes. That West, Texas.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

this is us

 They call us "The Elderly"

We were born in the 40-50-60’s.
We grew up in the 50-60-70's.
We studied in the 60-70-80's.
We were dating in the 70-80-90's.
We got married and discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.
We venture into the 80-90’s.
We stabilize in the 2000’s.
We got wiser in the 2010’s.
And we are going firmly through and beyond 2020.
Turns out we've lived through EIGHT different decades...
TWO different centuries...
TWO different millennia...
We have gone from the telephone with an operator for long–distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world.
We have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music, from handwritten letters to email and Whats App.
From live matches on the radio to black and white TV, color TV, and then to 3D HD TV.
We went to the Video store and now we watch Netflix.
We got to know the first computers, punch cards, floppy disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.
We wore shorts throughout our childhood and then long trousers, Oxfords, flares, shell suits & blue jeans.
We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, swine flu, and now COVID-19.
We rode skates, tricycles, bicycles, mopeds, and petrol or diesel cars and now we drive hybrids or electric.
Yes, we've been through a lot but what a great life we've had!
They could describe us as "essentials," people who were born in that world of the fifties, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.
We've kind of "Seen-It-All"!
Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.
It is our generation that has literally adapted to "CHANGE."
A big round of applause to all the members of a very special generation, which will be UNIQUE!
–Author unknown
– Artist the amazing Lisa Aisato
Keep on keeping on!
All reactions:
6

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

👴

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Here's to us!

Rad said...

I LOVE THIS!!!!!

Leanna said...

I was such a daredevil when I was a kid, all the way up into my 20s. I never thought I'd live this long. I figured I'd die before 30. Now look at me 69 and broken down with repaired parts. If I can get through the pain I think I can make it another 40 years or so. We have lived through some strange shit and it's getting stranger by the minute. Whatever happens now I'll toast it with a glass of champagne and wait for the next strange shit that comes along.

Jerri said...

Wow. We ARE amazing! Especially powerful time frame. The diseases we avoided is important as is our flexibility and adaptability. I feel very proud…and pleased…that we lived when we did. I would not trade a moment - well, these last few there could be an exception. The adventures we’ve experienced that have shaped us are unparalleled.
No wonder I’m tired but filled with pride and unwilling to put up with bullshit. We’ve waded through bullshit and it’s just made us wiser…and tougher.
Here’s to us! 👏👏👏💪

Mr. Shife said...

A big round of applause indeed. Thank you.

JiEL said...

AMEN sure from me, born in 1950 known as a «baby boomer» who is consider by those younger «X Y Z etc.» generations as a spoiled generation.

BUT all those youngsters are ignorant of all we've been through so THEY can live in such a technicological and open minded world.

Anonymous said...

Yes , I’ve been thinking on this subject for a while. I used to reference people who lived through horse & steam to the moon landings , but we all are living in such changing times. In the 70’s it was referred to as future shock. Here’s hoping we make it through as a species. Our technology is advancing fast than us.

The Blog Fodder said...

Technology is one thing, history is something else. I used to walk my dogs through a cemetery a few blocks from our home. I'd see the odd grave stone of a woman (always a woman) who was born c 1905 and died c 1995. If you know the history of Ukraine, you can imagine what she saw in her life time.

River said...

Having been born in the fifties I'm proud to be included in this group.

Richard said...

I remember some of those old timers who told me about the first time they saw an automobile. This part of United States was pretty remote.
I miss them. They weren't cavemen. They had the telegraph, if it happened anywhere in the world that had telegraph you could hear about it the next day. They did have a different sound in their speech. I really admired them.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...they left out the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation, members of which are still living and have seen more change than those born in the 1940s and on

Ole phat Stu said...

My granny was a Teenager when the Wright brothers first flew and lived to see men on the Moon. Progress!!!

Anonymous said...

Just a quick thank you for your blog. Always check it to see the latest funny memes. Know your efforts are appreciated!

SickoRicko said...

Excellent! Thank you for posting this.

Upriverdavid said...

I'm glad to still be here. Kinda scary when I look back.
What an adventure!
Thanks for your blog.