Objective observation
People could rely on others to help when it was needed.
Born between 1924-1945 parents were hardworking, and so were their children. Actually, those were the days when children were supposed to be seen and not heard. After the war moms stayed at home, while dads worked.
If you were born between 1946-1964 you are considered a baby boomer child, and you had lots of peer company. WW11 ended in 1945, and when the soldiers returned the birth rate skyrocketed. 76 million babies were born during these years.
Women suddenly found themselves out of the jobs they had done during the war, back at home working, and they encouraged their girl children to become more educated and not stay at home. This was the start of career-women.
The latter stages of this generation are noted for the emergence of rock and roll, Elvis and the Beatles. Income was important, and there were first-generation divorces, that were beginning to be regarded as not shameful. TV was becoming popular. There were the beginnings of technology as we know it today. Children were changing. Wanting more.
We can define even more extreme changes in children of the X generation, also known as “latch key kids”. Very often divorced parents have a great response to brands, advertising, and expect to get what they want. Their emphasis is on their life, not on loyalty to others. Credit card debt is considered normal, staying at home for longer is too. There is no emphasis on working for a living. Late to marry. Quick to divorce. Many are single parents.
There’s the Y generation. Not called that because they ask why to find out answers. They are totally technologically advanced from an early age. They are referred to as technoholics, because they are absolutely dependent on IT.
We, the older generation love our great-grand, and grandchildren dearly. We wonder what lies in store for them as they enter this world of ours now. Wars are still being fought. Not what would have been considered a fair fight in our day.
We thought we’d go traveling--see the rest of the world, you know, after retirement. But that was before Covid 19. Thanks to technology and vaccines the whole world didn’t die, but millions did before it was somewhat controlled. Nevertheless, you still won’t find me in the supermarket without a mask. Overseas trips are not on my agenda, whether by air or sea. Crowds are no longer an option.
There is a small sense of guilt, knowing my granddaughter and great-granddaughter will not have the option of keeping away from continuing bearers of the pandemic.
Sometimes, just for an experience of sanity, I must go down to the ocean. I look at the swells and white caps on them at times. My gaze is always on the alert to see creatures in the water.
It is a habit for older folks like me to seek solitude, peace and the beauty of nature. That has to start in childhood. Once there seemed much more time for it. But now everyone is busy. All the time. It seems a shame somehow. But only for those of us who remember our leisure times of years ago. Long-term memory is the last to go.
We who bear wisdom received simply through living a long time need to leave a record of our childhood for those who follow us, and I don’t mean on social media!
Your life is important and memorable for others to know about. Please write it down.
It is actually brunvelsia latifolia. I grow it in the sunroom, although it could be outside in the summer and early fall. The flowers change in color from day to day. A whole bush is fragrant and spectacular.