The Boomer Years: Reflections

By Judith Read

Beauty in life is found when shared.

A timeless collection of classic vignettes. Inspiring, memorable voices from 1960 to present day. From roller skates to the tech age. From growing pains to the wisdom of growing older, join Judith as she captures the vibrancy of those moments intrinsic to all of us.

" This was a delightful candy read.  I really enjoyed it."  Toni Kief, Author of the Mildred Unchained series

"I read The Boomer Years in one sitting. I cried over the story entitled Empath. I smiled through the stories of the teen years."  Janice J. Richardson, Author of Fading Expectations

"Well written and genuinely entertaining.  Highly recommended."  Colin Dewar, Author of The Pleistocene Plague

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judith Read
• Release date: Apr 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781999040505

Book preview

For my children, Jennifer, Courtney and Brynne,

and my grandchildren, James and Rylan.

In memory of my brother, Bruce Woodruff (1954-2017), bass

guitarist of the former Niagara band The Midnight Legend.

Gone too soon.

Introduction:

Why Reflections of Boomer Years

There's a lot of information available about Canadian baby boomers. I made my own foray through the Internet, library resources and media articles.

Starting with Statistics Canada, I learned that between 1946 and 1965, more than 8.2 million babies were born in Canada.This was unprecedented in Canadian history. Families of that era produced an average of 3.7 children. As of 2011, the census gives 1.9 as the average number of children per family. In 2011,the first Canadian boomers became senior citizens at age 65. According to a 2016 census, Canadian seniors now outnumber children for the first time since Confederation. There are now 5.9 seniors compared to 5.8 Canadians 14 years of age and under.

The Canadian Insurance Actuaries state that on average, a 60 year old male in 2013 will live another 27.3 years to see his 87th birthday, and a 60 year old female will live another 29.4 years to see her 90th! Baby boomers on average are living longer than their parents' generation. So why is this?

Today's boomers are largely an informed generation compared to their forebears. The Internet alone is a boon to easily accessible research. Through this and much other material related to aging issues, there is access to the latest medical advances, diagnostic interventions, new orthotics discoveries, health education, alternative therapies and much more. One can prepare questions before a visit to the doctor and often have a better understanding afterward. In addition, with the doctor's okay, baby boomers can be as active as they wish to be, regardless of age.

It is no longer a rare occurance to see a septuagenarian jogging, people of advanced ages playing league sports, or senior citizens signing up for yoga, zumba and other activity classes.

Just as there is no longer a mandatory retirement age, there is no age limit to being active. Today, more than ever, this is being demonstrated by boomers who are developing a new aging concept. Old ideas about aging gracefully and quietly accepting the limitations of the golden years are being challenged by the same generation that challenged cultural norms in the sixties. This emphasis on busy, vital lives has been documented as a boon to extended life spans.

It's interesting to note that boomers are a powerful consumer demographic. In keeping up with the times, they have affected industries such as travel and tourism, and automobiles. As longevity attitudes change, so too will new opportunities for boomers to connect with businesses for their own individual needs. More than ever, baby boomers have become educated consumers.

As activity, diet and exercise are being recognized for their contribution to healthy aging, so too is social connection. People who are engaged with others of similar interests develop friendships and support systems. Information is shared and networking can open up new worlds to many. Perhaps that's why the coffee shop gatherings of older friends is a common sight.

There's a new word that has been coined for the active, youthful boomer. Dr. David J. Demko, came up with the term 'zoomer' to describe the modern baby boomer. He has written a