The Sunday paper featured a full-page ad celebrating seniors. I was like, wow, how’d they get my name?
Upon further reflection, I realized they meant graduating seniors. Not older folks like us. Bummer.
Don’t get me wrong. I love young people and can’t imagine how hard this year has been for them. Hell, yes, celebrate their achievements! No generational warfare from me.
While some may find retirees disposable, we make important contributions to the economy – contributions that help support everyone. Even without a job, we still pay income tax on the money we withdraw from our IRAs. If we own a home, we pay property taxes and fees associated with funding schools and other community assets. Even on a fixed-income, many of us support local food banks and other charitable causes.
Not to mention the many contributions retirees make by volunteering, sharing their knowledge, connecting with their families or just being cool, interesting people.
The economy needs us, but we need the economy to thrive, too. Not just for us, but also for all the young people who have miles to go in their journeys through life. I support careful re-opening as we learn to manage the risks associated with COVID-19. A vibrant economy is good for all of us, but that doesn’t mean older people have to be first ones in the pool.
Dale and I have loosened up a bit on grocery store visits – quick trips with masks and social distancing. Plenty of hand-washing afterward. I’m playing golf – outdoors wearing a mask when I use the restroom or anticipate a close encounter. No chit-chat. Plenty of hand-washing afterward.
No mass gatherings, no travel, no restaurants.
Some people have asked why I wear a mask. I have a new response that is working well. I say, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m at higher risk than many.” I’m not even sure that’s true, but it stops almost everyone. Only one person asked why, and I said medical history. No more questions after that.
This article by Erin Bromage, Ph.D, of UMass Dartmouth, has been out there since May, but I keep returning to read it. Dale and I found it very helpful as we learn to navigate our new reality.
In Japan, where I lived for 10 years, there is an artistic trope of a circle made with the swish of an ink brush. One end of the circle meets the other at its “furthest” point. I think of this when I hear those who think we should let grandma die for the economy one minute, and in the next, hear their supposed opponents dug in on how boomers are the heartless ones to blame for [your remonstrance here].
As what the world deems a boomer, I’m getting very tired of the constant sweeping slurs by people with significant followings on the internet, etc., who are not old enough to have actually seen me there marching and acting on behalf of the causes they think only came to light the day they had their own realizations. It is discouraging that writers who seem to be on the same side of most things as me (looking at Xeni Jardin and Molly Jong-Fast) indulge in casual ageism that defies all understanding of history. What they think they invented stands in fact on the shoulders of those who went before them and turtles all the way down. All categories are artificial to me, especially generational ones. But I get it, I know, I do it too. (Take my shocking rude millennial nephew grafted to his cell phone.) However, not everyone or even most of the people in some named category is part of some monolith who are all OK to dismiss and insult. Even if Twitter only allows you a finite number of characters thus “forcing” you to generalize.
As a stage 4 cancer survivor, and most recently the gray haired poster girl (really) for my food bank’s campaign to get more sustaining donors like me, I challenge any Xeni’s to look and learn how fierce is my love for my life, my number of years in it, or for some number of fellow boomers who’ve been doing the work since before the rest of you got here.
Thank you, Maru, for sharing such poignant words. I didn’t do this topic justice, but I love it when readers fill in the gaps.
Many “boomer” bloggers received SPAM comments from “someone” named Amanda, who writes vile things about boomers, how we should die, etc. Usually the SPAM filter catches them, but sometimes one gets through. I can’t imagine who or what is behind all that.
Home owners aren’t the only ones who pay property taxes. We renters also pay property taxes – through the landlord.
Excellent point, Jean. Thank you!!
I loved this post – so funny to learn it was graduating seniors! I was ready to move to your town where they venerated seniors. Maru’s response really resonates with me. I heard a young woman being interviewed on public radio say, in the context of the recent protests, that nothing has changed since the civil rights marches. What??!?! I will not bore this audience by reciting the enormous changes that resulted from our generation’s work, but let’s agree they are many. I try not to fall into the trap of generational stuff, but I did find her comment insulting. So I was glad to hear both of your perspectives this morning, and I will be thinking about both perspectives as I go about my day. Thanks.
It is painful to hear some of the criticism, especially when we worked hard to make changes and lived through trying times ourselves. Every generation has its burdens, and we need to respect that … stand on their shoulders and try to do better.