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 ventured into the 80-90’s.

We stabilized 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, 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 "exennials," 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

 

Last One?? (I make no promises!)

What's the worst haircut you ever got?

I had really long hair until about 3^rd grade. I don’t know what was going through my mom’s mind when she took me to get a pixie cut. My face was NOT made for that kind of cut. I had no idea what was in store, I was just told I was going to get a haircut. NO CLUE! I had to take my glasses off for the cut, so I couldn’t really see that clearly in the mirror. The gal seemed to be taking an awfully long time to cut my hair. When she was done, it was ALL GONE!! I was devastated! I hated it! And the kids at school let me know just how awful I looked with my fat face and no hair.

What is the first nightmare you remember?

We were living with my grandparents in their apartment above their grocery store. I was between 2-3 years old. Looking back, this must have been when my Mom had had a miscarriage and was sleeping in my little bed and I was sleeping with my dad. I woke up in the middle of the night and THERE WAS A SWARM OF BEES ON MY PILLOW! I can still see it clearly in my minds’ eye. A black mass of bees. I was screaming and my grandma came in and took me into bed with her.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

Being in the house before we went to live with my grandparents. Not a whole lot of detail, but I was in my own room, sitting on the floor and playing. I also vaguely remember my dad putting down brick for a patio in the back yard.

Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?

From my earliest memory I had a blankie and a bunny. I could not sleep without them. When my mom had the miscarriage, I was taken to spend the night with my Aunt Bernice. No one thought to pack my blankie and bunny. When bed time came, my aunt had to call a couple of neighbors to see if they had a doll or something I could borrow.

I don’t recall how old I was when my blankie “disappeared” but I’ve always suspected my grandma decided I was too old for that and took it. Bunny I still have. Rather worn out, but still filled with love.

Longest road trip ever taken, and where did you go?

First one was when I was four and we moved from Missouri to California when my dad got a new job. My grandparents moved with us. I don’t remember much, but I do remember being parked on the side of the road for something and my baby brother had a big blowout in his diaper and the smell made me throw up all over the back seat.

Second trip was when my dad and I drove from Chico, CA to Concordia, Kansas. My Aunt Bernice had passed away and a lot of her stuff that went to us was stored at my Aunt LoLita’s place. LONG TRIP. I don’t know how many days it took but it seemed forever. I was in my late teens and had an eye infection and couldn’t wear my contacts. Light bothered my eyes so much and I couldn’t do any of the driving to spell my dad. He didn’t believe me and thought I was faking. Driving back was better because Aunt LoLita came with us for a visit.

More of the Same

What is your favorite animal (doesn't have to be a pet-type animal)?

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a certified card-carrying crazy cat lady. However, I’m also fond of dogs, rabbits, just about any furry cute critter. I also like frogs, turtles and most zoo animals. I just happen to prefer cats.

Favorite website(s)?

Bored Panda – Great place for just about any topic you can imagine. Stories, pictures etc. Every once in a while I will go there and run down the line of articles. I’ll bookmark the ones I want to look at later when I have nothing else to do.

Blogs – Personal ones, craft ones, travel ones. The craft ones usually lead to craft sites I visit regularly.

(I didn’t include Facebook, because that is pretty much a given any more.)

Totally unrealistic thing you’d like to do that will NEVER happen?

Believe it or not, I think it would be so cool to be a performance artist. I have no idea what it would entail, and I’d prefer to do it with someone, but there ya go…go figure.

If you could buy any car, money not an option, what would it be?

First of all, if money were no option, I would have a large estate with a HUGE multi-car garage since we’re just throwing this out for no reason, since I just want a car to get me from point A to point B in relative safety and comfort. But since we’re dreaming, here are my choices, and all of them would have to have automatic transmission. I’m way too old to learn any new dog tricks…

Metropolitan – Cute doesn’t begin to describe it. It would have to blue and white. I’d have a cute magnetic metal wind-up key that spins in the wind to put on the top. Then I could take it off to put it inside when parking.

Smart Car – They look like Christmas tree ornaments. This one has to be blue as well. At Christmas time, I’d have magnetic metal Christmas bows to put all over the car.

Mini Cooper – While there are some lovely blue ones, I think coopers should be red, with a white top. I think it looks more British that way. And they DO come in 4-door, Marvin!!

Isetta – AKA “The Urkel Car”. I had never seen an Isetta until I saw Steve Urkel drive one. I’d be happy with just about any color, but I chose this picture.

VW Beetle – AKA “Love Bug”. I LOVED Herbie and desperately wanted one of these, even though at the time I was nowhere near old enough to drive. But if Herbie wasn’t available, then it had to be a flower power car.