Did you know August 17 is Baby Boomer Recognition Day? Perhaps I noticed this dubious distinction because I have a milestone birthday in less than 30 days.
I remember when I turned 60, a fabulous friend of mine, gave me a book titled, Now You’re 60! by Brandon Crose. A notation in the keepsake refers to Boomers as America’s “T.V. Generation,” seeing the most dramatic changes in politics and culture of any generation. So true!
Of course, we remember a time before personal computers, the technology explosion with cell phones, and all the social media platforms. We’ll never forget the assassinations of J.F.K. or M.L.K. or the first human-crewed mission to the moon.
There’s even a website titled, Boomer’s Life devoted to the generation born between 1946 and 1965. The term baby boom refers to a noticeable increase in the birth rate. The post-World War II population increase described as “boom” by various newspaper reporters.
According to the U.S.Census Bureau, as of July 2008, the United States population includes 77.3 million Boomers.
Boomer’s Life says it’s one of the most popular sites on the web, sharing our music, our people, our interests, and our health concerns. I spied an article worth reading on Vitamin D and Rejuvenation. The article mentions emerging studies showing Vitamin D seems to be a significant contributor to determining how long we live.
I want to share some of my Black History growing up in Philadelphia. When we think of black history, there’s lots of documentation with stories of slavery, plantations, and oppression. But you rarely hear or read about Black working-class families taking trips to the beach or the mountains.
Most summers, my family took day trips to Atlantic City, New Jersey, more specifically, historic Chicken Bone Beach. This shore designated exclusively as the African American section during segregation. This part of the beach remained segregated until the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
When I was a little older, my paternal grandmother would rent a house in Atlantic City. We usually didn’t spend time on the beach but the world-famous Boardwalk. And seeing shows and riding the amusements at the Steel Pier. It’s worth noting the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the first Boardwalk in the United States, opened on June 26, 1870.
Since I’m going down Memory Lane, How about this? My mother signed me up for the Gimbel’s Department Store Charm School for teenage girls at their Cheltenham location. I attended classes on Saturday mornings even though I hated getting up early; however, all these years later, those lessons still serve me well.
I didn’t know August 17 is Baby Boomer recognition day; it’s an excellent segue gearing up for my milestone birthday. Don’t we love taking a nostalgic look back? I know I do.
As always, thank you for ready. Stop the spread, wear a mask, and social distance.
