Baby Boomer

By Anthony Martin

The author reflects upon his Fascination with growing up in post war America. Recalling Fond memories of the black and white cartoons of the day and then to marvel at the first new color television the family would own. Running outside after school to play until the sun went down. Having fun between the rows of the many new homes then under construction and watching communities grow amid the rise of the giant retail stores.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638143345

Anthony Martin

Anthony Martin has been in the helping field for over 34 years. He is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration on Christian Counseling and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. He is certified in Leadership, Personal, and Marital Life Coaching from Light University in Forest, VA. He serves as overseer of church and leadership development at Grace Christian Ministries in Columbia, MD.

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Baby Boomer

Anthony Martin

ISBN 978-1-63814-333-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63814-335-2 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63814-334-5 (Digital)

Copyright © 2021 Anthony Martin

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Baby Boomer

God bless the baby boom… It has been quite a ride!

To Mom

She knew the right people

Did well in school

Her friends all moved on

Success as a rule

She met him one night

Out on the town

Gave love a whirl

They were history bound

The children soon came

One after another

She did all that she could

There was no finer mother

Her man would stay out

For years on the town

Fighting and drinking

Could not settle down

In her secondhand clothes

She began to cry

Paying the bills just impossible

She said her goodbye

As I sit sometimes and think about the old days, it seems as though a lot of my life was surrounded by dysfunction. When I attempt to burrow through the mess, I do find there were times of joy when I had been able to grasp for my place in the sun. My very early memories are good ones of family life and some degree of normalcy. There were toys under the Christmas tree, and I had two older brothers to play with.

My parents were average kids who survived World War II. They met soon afterward and fell in love. My dad was a handsome young sailor in his custom-fit uniform, who stood about five feet ten inches tall. Olive skin, dark eyes, and jet-black hair—his strong body was cut lean, and he would fist fight at the drop of a hat. My mom was a thin, striking-good looker, about medium height with fair skin, and big blue eyes. She kept her natural auburn hair an average length with the ends in a reverse curl for a popular look in the day. Together they caught the end of the Big Band Era and enjoyed going out drinking, dancing, and having fun.

Their wedding was in 1948, and my parents would move into an apartment on the fourth floor of a building without an elevator. I recall some of the stories, like my mom having to walk the stairs with arms full coming home from the grocer.

Well soon after, my parents’ first child would arrive, and the first boy was born in 1951. Now my mom would have to tote a newborn and all the necessities. To everyone’s surprise, another baby boy would come along in 1952, which would mean even more supplies and a stroller.

My mom began to save her pennies for a down payment on a home in the country. The year before I was born, my parents located a home builder who was starting a new home development on old farm land. All my dad had to do was put down a ten-dollar deposit to secure a handpicked parcel of land for a modest three-bedroom, one-story home. At this point in time, the total cost for a finished house came a penny less than ten thousand dollars! When the house was complete, my parents packed up their belongings and moved to the country. They brought with them two small boys, and my mom was pregnant with me.

Well, there was much to be done. A lawn had to be planted, and perhaps a tree or two. I came along in 1955, and my sister in 1958. Two more girls would join the family. One is 1960, and the baby in 1962. My dad worked very hard, and our lawn grew well yet would fall short of being the best around. My dad spent long hours in the building industry and would enjoy his time off in one of the many local taverns. Of course, Mom would keep busy with the children as new supermarkets and schools were being built all around us.

As we grew older, we really tried to make the family scene work. At times in years to come, the children would run the home, pitching in together, doing the domestic chores as best we could. Our parents would find themselves