General
It has recently come to my attention that we, baby boomers, are being blamed for the entire recession. Many Generation X and Y bloggers, out there, are placing the blame for the current economic plight squarely on our shoulders. You know what? I think they are correct.
It is being said that “our” mismanagement of the economy as a whole, our overspending, over indulgence and our general selfishness is what caused the mess in which we currently find ourselves, economically. Well, I believe they have the right idea, but for the wrong reasons. I don’t blame them for thinking the way they do, given the way they were raised.
Baby boomers, as a generation, were the first to treat our children with “respect”. We never yelled or – God Forbid! – spanked our children for doing wrong, lest we risk upsetting their “delicate emotional development” and their self-esteem. We made sure (or tried very hard) to make sure they had whatever they desired, so that they would not feel deprived, as we did. Our mantra was always, “give my children what I never had’, at all costs and even if it was to our detriment or that of our own futures. Our fondest desire was to raise children who valued themselves and could look at themselves in the mirror and like what they saw. Well, fellow baby boomers, I’m happy to report that we’ve succeeded!
- Remember that big, gas-guzzling SUV you bought so that you could cart your kids and ALL their friends to basketball games, roller skating parties and countless piano lessons? Yes, the current gas crisis in the middle east is your fault.
- Remember when you borrowed from your 401K so that Janey could have braces, so as not to make her feel “different” or self-concious and further risk lowering her precious self-esteem? Yes, it’s your fault you now cannot afford to retire.
- Remember when you made the decision not to have too many children, so as not to further divide the attention and monetary output being lavished on your current children? Yes, the social security crisis is your fault.
So you see, fellow baby boomers, they are correct. We, as a generation, produced the most self-absorbed generation in history. They are now blaming US for the recession. They now believe we should just retire (or, some say, die!) and “get out of their way” so that they can have the jobs we so desperately cling to. They claim they could fix this mess “we’ve” created if we would just allow them the opportunity to use the high-priced educations we, ourselves, sacrificed vacations, new furniture or bigger homes, for. They claim they would marry, buy homes and have children if we would just sit down and STFU. Isn’t it comforting to know that we can now look forward to having our children looking out for us in our old age?
Ready for some halloween fun? Now through November 5th, only, you can search some of Ancestry.com’s creepiest collections for free.
Probably one of the most interesting collections is the Salem Witches Collection. This collection includes records of those who were formally accused and charged with witchcraft in New England from 1647-1697 and actually went to trial in a town court proceeding. The available records show the year the accused stood trial, a first and last name, the town or village where the trial took place and the outcome of the trial (confession, acquittal, execution, escape, etc.) Perhaps one or more of your distant ancestors was accused of being a witch! Wouldn’t it be fun to find out?
The offer also includes free access to the cemetery and gravestone collections and a collection of 74,000 headstone photos, some with multiple names, of people who died from the early 19th century through the present.
The collections can be found at Ancestry.com’s Halloween offer page.
Happy Hunting!
This Halloween marks the 83rd anniversary of the death of master illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini. On Sunday October 31st, 1926, Houdini died of peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix, in room 401, Corridor D, in the old John R. Wing of Grace Hospital in Detroit. He was just 52 years old.
Born Erik Weisz in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, 1874, Harry’s family moved to Appleton, Wisconsin when he was 4 years old. Throughout his life, Houdini would claim Appleton as his birthplace so that he would be more readily accepted as an American. He ran away from home at the age of twelve, performing magic as “Eric the Great” with circuses and side shows.He then rejoined his family in New York at age 13. Later, after reading a biography of French illusionist, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, Harry changed his last name, adding an “i” to the name of his idol and became one of the most famous performers in American history.
In addition to his well publicized career as a magician and escape artist, Houdini was also a well known crusader against fake mediums. He had developed an intense interest in the spirit world following the death of his beloved mother and tried several times to contact her in the great beyond. Having been bilked, himself, Houdini would frequently attend seances in disguise just to expose the charlatans and prevent them from taking the money of grieving survivors.
Several days before his death, in Montreal, Houdini had been struck repeatedly in the abdomen by a student, challenging Harry’s claims that he could withstand any blow to the abdomen. The punches were unexpected and caught Harry off guard. In pain, Harry gamely made the long train ride to Detroit, calling for a doctor, upon his arrival. He was taken to Grace Hospital where he was found to have a ruptured appendix. There is much speculation about whether the blows to the abdomen may have caused Houdini’s appendix to rupture, thereby, causing his death, but medical wisdom belies this claim. In any event, the student was never investigated and, reportedly, disappeared into obscurity shortly after the incident.
Seances are held each year on Halloween and have been held each year, since his death in 1926, in an attempt to contact Houdini. He had always vowed that, if there were any way possible, he would return to his wife Bess and had set up a code with her so that she would recognize his spirit when it materialized. Bess attended these seances faithfully for 10 years following the magician’s death, then she gave up. To this day, though, the faithful still gather in a location which had a significant connection to Houdini’s life, in an attempt to raise his spirit. The seance was once held at the site of the magician’s death: room 401, Corridor D, Grace Hospital, Detroit.
With all the hype about we boomers being “the” fastest growing group of consumers, many sites have sprung up targeting our demographic. Here’s how it works: you put up a site, you get lots of traffic, advertisers take notice and buy space on your site. However, some site publishers have been a bit too hasty in their quest for our dollars and have created sites that do not even come close to speaking to who we are or how we look at life. My first encounter with one of these sites was with Eons. Eons is billed as a site for boomers but, back when I first signed on, they had lots of references to death, illness and advanced funeral planning! It was certainly depressing. They may have changed their focus by now but I have not been back, showing the importance of first impressions. However, from the moment I first signed on to Vibrant Nation, a community site for women 50+, I felt as if they were speaking to me and to who I really am. Here, I can talk about anything, from writing my first novel, to hang gliding, to cupcakes, to sex. This is a place that seems, quite obviously, to have been written by boomer women, rather than by some marketing guru who thinks he has found the pot of boomer gold. However, you will be surprised to learn that the site was actually founded by a 45 year old man! Nonetheless, Vibrant Nation makes me feel as if I belong there and that is what I was looking for all along. I encourage you to check it out and sign up. You’ll be so glad you did.
The baby boomer of today is a very different breed from any other generation in history. While we are entering our golden years, we are remaining active and pursuing adventure in untold numbers. Although we still have a great love of nostalgia, we also want to experience life “up close and personal”. Many resorts and travel destinations are recognizing this and responding with travel options tailored specifically for the baby boomer generation. “Glamping” (or glamorous camping) is one such option.
Three Lakes Resort in upstate Washington offers a travel package which includes two nights in a vintage 31-foot 1978 Airstream Sovereign camper, situated lakeside. The camper includes a full deck (which the resort terms “fluffing it vs. roughing it”), kitchenware, indoor and outdoor furnishings, bed linens, bath and body amenities, two coffee mugs complete with hot cocoa and even a harmonica for those nightly sing-alongs beside the campfire. The price is reasonable, too, at just $229 per night with the second consecutive night free. http://www.lakedale.com/
If you’re more of a maverick do-it-yourself-er, Silver Cottages, Inc. also offers these vintage Airstream trailers for rent, anywhere in the NW Washington area. http://www.silvercottages.com/
While Airstream camping may satisfy the yearning for nostalgia in all of us, Paws Up Resort in Montana brings new meaning to the term “glamping”. Tent City, a collection of six spacious, exquisitely appointed tents is one option available. Your canvas abode will include a huge rustic feather bed, fine linens, art on the walls and even electricity. Paws Up also offers a private bathhouse, a dining pavilion serving gourmet cuisine, a spa tent for indulgent massages and of course, a “glamping” butler at your service for the duration of your stay. True to their name, you can even bring Fido along. http://www.pawsup.com/
Senior Service America Inc.
Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) is a non-profit organization that provides civic engagement and employment opportunities for adults over the age of 55 who wish to re-enter the workforce.
SSAI is one of 18 national sponsors of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and one of six national sponsors of the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program.
Senior Community Service Employment Program
The Senior Community Service Employment Program began as part of the War on Poverty 40 years ago and was so successful that it became a national program under the Older Americans Act in 1973. It is referred to by its acronym – SCSEP (pronounced SEE-sep) – and operates in nearly every county in the nation. To participate in SCSEP, a person must be:
- Age 55 or older;
- Legally eligible to work in the United States;
- Living in a household with income no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
By law, SCSEP gives special attention to those who are any of the following:
- Are 65 years of age or older;
- Have a disability;
- Have limited English proficiency or low literacy skills;
- Reside in a rural area;
- Are a veteran;
- Have low employment prospects;
- Are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
SCSEP participants are paid minimum wage while they gain marketable job skills working part-time in non-profit and public organizations, including senior centers, schools, and libraries. The program provides a win-win for participants and their communities: Participants help community organizations extend their reach and capabilities, while developing their own job skills, self-confidence, and a restored sense of self-worth. In 2004, SCSEP participants across the nation contributed 46 million hours of service to their communities, and about 18,000 participants gained regular employment outside the program.
SSAI operates in the 16 states of AL, CA, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, MN, MS, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX and WI.
Ok, I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but in my defense, I’ve been moving. Seems to be a never-ending process but I’m finally getting settled in and back to the blog. Haven’t been doing much job hunting lately either, due partly to the move and partly to the fact that I’m getting very discouraged. NO phone calls, NO interviews, nothing, despite the hundreds of resumes I’ve sent. I keep toying with the idea of making the web, specifically writing for the web, my career. Toward that end, I’ve found a few sites that may help me (and you!) get started in the right direction. They are, in no particular order:
http://www.examiner.com/about_examiner/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/
These sites allow you to apply to be a writer and most will share the revenues with you based on your site traffic. Admittedly, this won’t be a lot of money at first, but may be a good source of exposure for your writing.
Too old to hire, yet, too young to retire, I’ve created this blog, both to chronicle my own journey across the bridge between employability and retirement; and to assist others who may be making the same journey. Finding oneself unemployed at 50 can be a frustrating situation due to difficulty in finding other employment and the daunting challenge of finding a way to sustain one’s finances in the meantime. I’ll search for ways to help us all bridge the gap between employability and retirement, exploring both job resources and entrepreneurship opportunities. If you have ideas or opportunities to share, feel free to drop me a line at jessica@boomersbridge.com !
