New Seniors » Memory Lane

Is nostalgia an escape to the past?

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:50:03 +0000

Enjoying thoughts of times gone by does focus on what was rather than what is. However, most people don’t live in the past, so an occasional trip back to the “good old days” is a pleasurable diversion. This mental process may also provide a valuable perspective on how to more effectively deal with the problems we all face today.

Now that summer is here most New Seniors will, no doubt, have some favorite recollections of their youth. From playing with friends and neighbors to get-a-way cabins by the lake or cottages by the ocean to going to camp or being involved in local activities the time was full but we always wanted to have more things to occupy our time. Over the years, the reality of youthful impetuousness and the desire to be constantly entertained has given way to an appreciation, maybe a yearning, for those easier softer times.

Younger people may look at nostalgia as an older person’s day dream. This may be because the young are not far enough away from life’s events for people, places and things to have a lasting impact or meaning on them. Another reason that the past is significant is when the product, service or circumstance no longer exists. And, the older you get the more things disappear and the more attractive those memories become.

In due time the Gen X, Y and whatever other generational groups come along will find their own moments of nostalgia. These may be the quiet days before the Internet was invented, remembering their first cell phone, what was “in” prior to body piercing and tattoos becoming popular, or how enjoyable life was before the great recession. Time will reveal what is worth remembering for today’s younger people when they become tomorrow’s older people.

New Seniors who were born in the ‘30s through the mid-‘40s are considered pre-boomers. While the depression is not stored in their memory banks, WWII is. They remember the war years and the ultimate victories. The coming on the scene of television, 45rpm records, the Korean Conflict, 3-D movies, moving to the suburbs, and the birth of rock and roll were all important events in the lives of pre-boomers.

Boomers did not start arriving until 1946, but they took what their older brothers and sisters had and expanded on it. They experienced Vietnam with its protests, civil rights and the women’s movements, plus a whole lot more. They are turning 65 at the rate of 4 million individuals per year and will continue to do so through 2030 until all 76 million of them have attained New Senior status.

What will be nostalgic in the minds of boomers as they continue the aging process? Will it be the historic events such as those mentioned above, those that are frivolous in nature like or strictly personal situations that can be conjured up anytime they want to take a break from the stress and strain of modern life? Whatever the reason remembering the good times can’t be a bad thing.

Nobody made sacrifices like the Greatest Generation

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:55:57 +0000

Over the most recent Memorial Day weekend, several movie networks paid tribute to those who served in the armed forces during WWII. Watching these films made me realize how much they sacrificed in order for us to remain free. Maybe we can take a page from their book and apply it to overcoming the continuing financial crisis facing the country.

These men and women, many not even out of high school and having just gone through a decade-long depression, put the safety of their family, friends and community ahead of themselves. They came from rich and poor families, educated and nearly illiterate ones, some were famers others city dwellers. The make up was as diverse as America itself.

Everyone was part of the war effort. Besides those fighting the war, defense work was a priority at home. Rationing of food, gas and luxuries was commonplace. Even the children were involved with paper and scrape metal drives plus selling War Bonds in conjunction with the schools. Virtually all families had someone in the armed services and every community suffered when one of theirs was lost in the war.

World War II was fought by every American in some way. That’s why New Seniors and those older remember it so vividly to this day, nearly 70 years later. Sadly, the people who lead us to victory are leaving us at an increasing rate. The Greatest Generation is big in its accomplishments, but their ranks are becoming smaller. We already miss their wisdom, and the courage they displayed is remembered in stories rather than in news reports as it once was.

Before it’s too late, we should talk to these true American heroes and find out why they did the unselfish things they did without asking for praise or reward. This is something New Seniors are well equipped to do. In fact, it is our responsibility to honor these patriots and get the word out to the rest of the population, starting with the aging Baby Boomer who benefited so much from what these folks did. Tell them to get over Viet Nam, when the only thing many of them did was to complain rather than serve. If they can’t do that, the future of America looks bleak, indeed.

Then, pass the word on to the Gen X and Y groups who never had to sacrifice anything until recently when jobs became scarce, cars and homes were reposed and their credit cards got maxed out. This are the generations that have not paid their dues but seem unwilling to pay more for services they intend to use in the future. They don’t realize that unless we all help finance Social Security and Health Care there won’t be any programs to aid them.

And, last but not least, what about the politicians? They are not being asked to sacrifice their personal money. We just want them to have the courage to make the right decisions, without regard to party lines. Government programs must be fixed so people can start earning money in order to pay for the changes that will ensure funds are ready when needed and the United States can collectively have the courage and wherewithal to remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The sounds of summer

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:15:03 +0000

If you stop for a moment or two and focus on the carefree days of youth when school was finished and there was nothing to do but play all day long, those wonderful sounds of summer may come to mind. I grew up in the city, so my memories may be different than yours; but the following thoughts are meant to take us back to those easier softer times.

The birds chirping in the nearby tree was a great way to wake up – sure beats the jarring ring of the Baby Ben windup clock back then or the more recent buzz of the digital alarm. Even in the city, were tree were in short supply, birds perched themselves on wires or window sills to let us know morning had arrived.

New Seniors, like me, will remember the hucksters making their way up the streets and alleys at different times of the day. The fruit and vegetable purveyors came to my neighborhood several mornings each week while the fish merchants came by with their catch of the day on selected afternoons.

For the most part older kids, those that were allowed to cross the busy streets, went to the park or the playground after breakfast and attending to any required chores, because the summer heat and humidity in my hometown of Philadelphia did not reach the highpoints until later in the day. The sounds around home were usually young children playing on the sidewalks or in backyards. Other than that mornings were normally quiet.

The crack of the baseball bat was frequently heard anywhere you could play what was then America’s pastime. Have you listened to the sound of a baseball being hit by an aluminum bat, which the kids all use today? It’s more a ping than the crack you get from real wood and certainly not as memorable.

Lawnmowers could be heard most afternoons, because no one seemed to agree on the best day of the week to cut the small plots of grass that were part of city homes. Later on, the bells of the ice cream truck let kids know it was time to ask mom for some change in order to have a treat – a far less annoying sound than the snack trucks of today that play the same tune over and over. Those who bought something usually sat lined up on the curb or on the front steps to eat these fast-melting ice cream novelties.

Everyone was home just before dinner, and we played on the street or sidewalk until mom called us to eat. Then one by one we stopped what we were doing and then reappeared as quickly as possible to pick up where we left off.

Sometimes we went to the playground to watch a twilight baseball game. Otherwise, we stayed in the neighborhood and had fun until the street lights went on. If we weren’t home in five minutes, the dads let us know it was time when they called us by name.

Times were gentler then, and the sounds were part of growing up. We didn’t think much about them in those days, but now it is enjoyable to remember the sounds of summer.

What are we teaching our grandkids?

a NewSeniors contributor — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:14:33 +0000

Are schools so worried about being politically correct that they forget about the basics? Do philosophical agendas trump sound education standards? How can we continue to spend so much on an educational system that achieves such poor results? Have we forgotten to prepare students for a successful life?

These and many more questions must be answered, with all honesty, if our grandchildren hope to have an education approaching the kind received by New Seniors and Baby Boomers. In an effort to “make things equal” we have actually found a way to dumb-down the typical classroom agenda with bi-lingual teaching or slowing down the educational process so the poorer students can keep pace. Such actions have proved to hurt the majority of students rather than leveling the playing field to accommodate a few.

There was a time, not too long ago, when schools recognized the fact that while we are all created equal we do not all possess the same interests or skills. Some were gifted with the ability to excel in science and math. Others did better in language and the arts. While mechanical and vocational courses attracted those that preferred to work with their hands. This is akin to the fact that some students play football, some play in the marching band and some sit in the stands and cheer.

Somewhere along the line, we accepted the notion that anyone who graduated from high school was a candidate for college, even though the child may not have wanted to or would succeed if they did. This concept was part the desire that equal opportunities exist all, which came out of the civil rights and women’s rights movements of the 1960s.

Today there are more women enrolled in our universities than there are men, and diversity, some say, has resulted in good students being passed over so quotas can be met. And, the community colleges are much like an extension of high school rather than effectively serving as a gateway to the four-year institutions of higher learning.

In the meantime, the elementary school students are being taught gender diversity, revisionist history and in some instances being philosophically brainwashed instead of teachers following the proven methods that helped New Seniors and older Boomers get what was once the world’s best overall education.

With Washington, DC trying to take control of education and the teacher’s unions not willing to budge on tenure, seniority and benefits all we can expect is higher costs and poorer test scores. For now, local school districts do have something to say about what happens in the classrooms. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all of us who had the privilege of a good public education to be a voice for the children in our communities.

A good education is vital to the future of our grandchildren and the entire nation. But they will miss out on this if the schools don’t get back to educating rather than bending to the whims of every political action group.

Food packages are going retro

Don Potter: Editor-in-Chief — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:58:30 +0000

A number of major food marketers have re-introduced packages from the “good old days” in an effort to stand out from other products on supermarket shelves. And, it appears as if consumers are responding favorably by loading these items into their shopping carts. Is old-time packaging just a fad or a trend beginning to take hold?

Many of the brands we buy today are those we were first introduced to as kids. Mom was the families purchasing agent. During the ‘50s and ‘’60s most of us lived in homes with just one TV so family members were often exposed to commercials at the same time. As a result, everyone had some influence on what products to buy, but mom was the ultimate decision maker. Of course, if we joined her as she strolled the aisles of the local supermarket, there was a change to lobby for a cereal or snack food that was not included on the shopping list.

Studies over the years indicate that when people move out of their parents’ homes, they usually buy products their mothers used. This ranges from laundry brands, to paper goods, to household cleaning products. The same is true for food brands, although individual tastes come into play here as with personal care items. Once they are on their own, product usage is determined by personal satisfaction. However, new or improved products that are heavily advertised may receive trial, which could result in repeat purchases thereby replacing the old brand.

Retro packaging is a means to instantly differentiate a brand from all the others, and remind shoppers that this was a product they liked back when times were better. Such a strategy is fine for Boomers and New Seniors who combined represent the largest purchasing demographic in US history. But modern moms don’t remember the old packages – they had yet to be born. However, with the aid of advertising, they can be made to realize this is a bit of nostalgia they can enjoy, too.

Some of the brands that have dabbled in retro marketing include Doritos, Pepsi, Cheerios, Hostess Cup Cakes and Twinkies as well as Tide and Downy. Results for these products have been favorable. One notable brand that tried using elements from its original label design dating back to 1933 was Kraft’s Miracle Whip. Research told the company that younger consumers were not attracted to the look, so the company took its label in a new, more contemporary, direction.

Some products have not changed their look over the years, but these are usually specialty items. New products, often premium ones, may use old-style graphs and type to give them a distinct look and make the brand synonymous with old-fashioned quality.

The outside of the package may attract us to buy, but what’s inside is the reason we keep buying it. If food processors made a good tasting item with honest ingredients rather than a bunch of chemicals and preservatives or manufacturers offered a product that was as good as its advertising they might find this is the best way to create real brand loyalty.

Happy Birthday America

-NewSeniors Editorial — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:00:42 +0000

It’s been a long 235 years since a group of early American’s risked their livelihoods, their possessions and their very lives when the Founding Fathers signed The Declaration of Independence. These were our first heroes and we learned about their courage through American History lessons beginning in the elementary grades all the way through high school. They put everything on the line for freedom. Have we become so blasé that freedom no longer has the meaning it once had?

New Seniors (pre-boomers and the early baby boomers) are the ones who benefited most from the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation. It may seem strange to those younger than we are to consider being born during the Great Depression or WWII to be a good thing. But it was. We saw first hand, or soon came to understand, what incredible strength, faith and courage our parents and the others of their era had. They were patriots.

They, their parents or earlier ancestors, came to this country with a dream: the hope of building a new and better life. One were they could be free. And, one where their children would have endless opportunities to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These people left behind whatever they had and whomever they knew to come to America. They understood it would not be easy but believed it would be worth it.

Few arrived here with money or the possibility of work. They lucky ones had friends or relatives provide them with food and shelter. When jobs were found, the hours were long and the tasks difficult. Yet these new Americans were determined to make it and while doing so they made this country a better place for all of us. This makes them patriots.

It’s almost impossible for us to think of what they went through. Although stories passed down let us know it was no cake walk. What our patriot parents went through was a long arduous journey through the ‘30s and directly into fighting a War on two fronts in the early ‘40s. Many of us remember those war days, when people lived in both fear and faith for nearly five years. And we all benefited from their efforts as the country moved from 15 long years of darkness into the sunshine of post-war prosperity.

Those who carried the message of family tradition and the responsibility that goes with the freedoms enjoyed in this great country of ours are leaving us at an ever increasing rate. The pre-boomers are approaching old age as the boomers join us as New Seniors. In the meantime, we have work to do in order to help get the US back on track.

This Independence Day, let us commit ourselves to using what we learned and what we believe to reignite the feeling of patriotism within in our families, our friends and our communities. The true greatness of America began with the individual and became bigger, stronger and more beautiful as people worked together to make this the land of the free and the home of the brave. This may be the moment in history when we can do our part to let the American dream live on for our children and grand children. There is no better birthday gift we could give to the country that gave so much to us.

Life is truly a work in progress

a NewSeniors contributor — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:46:42 +0000

Dreams, seeded with a dose of reality begrudgingly gained through life’s experiences, eventually lead to the establishment of goals that drove this man’s life throughout the years. Now, a few months away from my 75th birthday, I can step back and evaluate what I’ve accomplished and what is yet to be achieved.

In childhood the focus was to have fun. No one said this was my purpose, but early on I discovered that doing the things boys do was most enjoyable. These things almost always involved other kids such as playing ball, roughhousing and just hanging out together. These activities, even board games and cards, were all stimulating and usually had one common goal: to win.

As an only child I did things on my own like read, listen to the radio adventure series or later watch TV, practice various sports and, of course, do homework. But being part of a group and succeeding within that community and competing with other communities is what I liked best. The team was my family and my support group, yet I wanted to be the star that shined above all others and receive the attention that goes with it.

This self centered, selfish attitude, which I preferred to call ambition, was with me during the growing years to college and beyond. When I first got into the business world, my eye was not on my peers but on the presidency of the firm. Being number one was not just a goal, it became an obsession. I vowed to do whatever it took to reach the top.

Such a strong desire for money, power and recognition was profitable for the companies I worked for and the clients I served; but it did little for my relationships, both in and outside of business. For a guy who once thrived on belonging to a community and being part of a team this misplaced commitment left me rather lonely.

One would think that these empty feeling lead to a change of spirit. However, the result was to push harder and win no matter what the cost. I finally received a degree of success, but it wasn’t enough because chasing after more always meant I wanted more. After many years this realization finally sunk in, it caused me to rethink my life and the self-imposed goals I placed on myself, which were actually restrictions.

Admittedly, I wasn’t a particularly good husband, father or friend for my first 50 years or so but have gotten better in all these areas, I believe. The few business dealings I have now are meaningful, because I try to do what’s right and deliver real value to the other person or company. And, I get real joy from just being part of whatever community I am in and make whatever contributions I can without expectations.

When it’s all said and done, today I’m pretty much having the fun like I did as a kid. Now, however, there are no preconceptions of needing to be the best. I am more than satisfied to be together with others and participate in life’s activities. The big shift is with my goals. I no longer strive to do great things; I just want to do good things.

New Seniors can help solve America’s financial crisis

a NewSeniors contributor — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:23:11 +0000

Most people 65+ remember WWII or heard firsthand about what happened on the home front during those frightful years. While our troops are currently engaged in wars and unrest away from home, there is a battle going on right here in the United States. The battle to get the national debt under control affects not only us it impacts the future of our children, their children and beyond.

The government is spending money faster than it can be borrowed or printed. Social Security, which came in to being about the time many New Seniors were born, is broke. Medicare came on the scene when we were in our twenties or thirties. It never was properly funded and is a drain on the national budget. With the baby boomers starting to turn 65, think of trillions of dollars these entitlements will cost taxpayers.

Flashing back on the early ‘40s, shows a different scene than we find ourselves in today. Although the government was racking up lots of debt, people were confident it was the right thing to do and citizens put aside their differences to support a greater common need. Our fathers, uncles and cousins volunteered for military service or took defense jobs. Moms, aunts and neighbor women served too. They worked in plants, did Red Cross and other service work. America was committed.

Rationing was in place so we didn’t have meats, poultry and eggs even if our families could afford them. Gas was scarce and rationed as well. New cars were not being manufactured. Many other products such as kids’ sneakers, appliances and clothing were just not available. People volunteered to plant Victory Gardens and these provided a good portion of the vegetable consumed at home during the war years. We saved papers, tin cans and anything else that could be used for the war effort, which was probably the first time many Americans recycled.

To deal with the financial crisis we all face today, the spirit of patriotism we had back then must prevail once more. Forget about political labels and wanting to get what we want before anyone else and keep it until the bitter end. Don’t let politicians play the games they do just to get re-elected. New Seniors need to show the rest of the nation that we put our country and future generations first.

This is the time for us to let the politicians know that we are willing to do our fair share rather than wait for them legislate it. We should be willing to submit to some kind of sliding scale to reduce Social Security benefits according to our overall financial situation and pay more for Medicare on the same basis. All we ask in return is for the government to start spending responsibility and that other Americans make sacrifices too.

Let’s be among the first to tell our Congressional representatives that we are ready to volunteer in the fight against the national debt. This country has been good to many New Seniors. Those of us who have been so blessed might consider giving something back so future generations can have the same opportunities we had. Do you have a better idea?

Have we forgotten the meaning of Memorial Day?

-NewSeniors Editorial — Mon, 30 May 2011 00:55:48 +0000

Wearing poppies, waving flags, parades, placing flags and wreaths at soldiers’ graves, twenty-one gun salutes followed by hot dogs and ice cream at the local American Legion were all part of the Memorial Day pre-boomers remember as kids. It was a solemn yet celebrative day because we remembered those who died serving our country and rejoiced in the freedom we enjoyed as a result of their sacrifices.

There are many versions of how this day of remembrance came to be. Dozens of cities in the United States lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. In fact, it was originally called Decoration Day – a time to place flowers and flags on the graves of America’s fallen heroes and honor their service.

Some say the day got its start before the end of the Civil War, when ladies in the South organized to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead. Others believe a group of former slaves exhumed the bodies from a mass grave in South Carolina filled with the bodies of Union soldiers, buried the remains in individual plots and planted flowers to decorate the cemetery. But Waterloo New York is considered to official home of the day’s first observance in 1866.

The tradition of honoring the military dead was renewed during WWI. It started in the United States with the wearing of poppies, inspired by the poem, “in Flanders Fields.” The poppies were sold and the proceeds used to benefit servicemen in need. This idea later caught on in Europe to benefit orphaned children and widows of servicemen who lost their lives. A few years later, the European effort petered out and the founder approached a US organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), to support the effort. In 1922 the VFW began selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

Although the term “Memorial Day” was first used in 1882, it did not become more popular than “Decoration Day” until after WWII. Memorial Day was declared a Federal Holiday in 1967. Over the years, the meaning and observance of the day has diminished. Poppies are still sold by veterans groups. Flags are displayed, but fewer than in the past. And the parades have all but vanished; however, there is a national parade each year in Washington, DC.

Now, Memorial Day, which has turned into a long weekend, marks the beginning of the summer season with cookouts and family activities taking the place of community events. Many have tried to return to the traditional roots of this day. To accomplish this, Americans must be re-educated about the history of Memorial Day and set it aside as a day of remembrance rather that just a day off from school or work.

Legislation has been introduced to Congress in an effort to return the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th instead of the last Monday in May. If you believe this is a tradition you would like to see restored, contact your elected representative and let them know you don’t want the meaning of Memorial Day forgotten.

The retiring of the shuttle Discovery is a historic but sad day in the space program

-NewSeniors Editorial — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:18:33 +0000

New Seniors well remember when the Russians launched the first satellite, Sputnik, back in the mid-‘50s. It signaled the beginning of the space age. We made some progress with manned space flights but we lagged behind the Soviets and were losing the race. It was President Kennedy’s promise that the United States would land a man on the moon in the next decade that inspired us to this great achievement.

The Discovery was an important part of America’s supremacy in space. But now, after flying 39 missions since 1984 and racking up nearly 149 million miles while spending a record total of a combined 365 days in space, this workhorse of NASA’s fleet is home safe and sound and for good. With the launch of the shuttle Endeavour followed by Atlantis this phase of our space program will end.

There has been much success with the program, but the tragedies will be remembered as well. Americans were shaken by the explosion that occurred seconds after launch of the Challenger shuttle in 1986. In 2003, we were again reminded that space travel is a risky business when Columbia burned up while entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Some of the most notable products and technical advances attributed to the space program are: scratch-resistant glasses, freeze-dried foods, athletic shoes, CAT scanners and MRIs, cool suits and cordless power tools to name a few. In addition, the Hubble telescope and the space station have the shuttle program to thank for their successes. Future efforts in space will likely produce similar technical and practical results.

Flight has come a long way since Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully faced the challenge of propelling a heavier-than-air machine through the air in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina back in December of 1903. The initial flight was over a distance of 120 feet and lasted just 12 seconds. The fourth and final flight of that historic day covered 852 feet and lasted 59 seconds.

The first flight showed that man could in fact fly and lit the fuse of imagination that continues to burn bright after more than a century. In WWI, the bi-planes played an important role. Following that airplanes had more utilitarian function. But it was WWII that set the stage for worldwide travel and shipping. Later, the jet revolutionized the importance of air travel by making it faster, easier and more comfortable.

Will the shuttle program act as the precursor to inter-planetary space travel? Will the inhabitants of earth take this for granted in the same way we accept jumping on a jetliner to go across the country in just a few hours as a perfectly natural thing to do? Or, will man’s ingenuity result in a breakthrough that takes us to the stars faster and safer than we could believe? Whatever happens, the world will continue to benefit from America’s successful space shuttle program.

And here she goes: