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Archive for the 'Boomer Generation Stuff' Category

Nov 15 2009

Kennedy Assassination My Deepest Sorrow

Published by dougkueffler under Boomer Generation Stuff Edit This

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No event in my life as a member of the Baby Boomer Generation is so impregnated in my memory as the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy was my first real hero. More so than Eisenhower or MacArthur, who were my parents’ heroes. More so than Mantle or Mays. Kennedy was an icon for me and for all my classmates. His death not only shocked us; it nearly paralyzed us. Most of us teenagers had never experienced a loss so great. Many of us had no previous experience with death at all. It was a very scary, life-changing event.

I remember where I was at the moment I heard the news, of course: Sophomore year English Class. Mrs. Nelson, whom, up until the moment I saw her silently crying, standing in front of the class, was non-existent as a human being for me.
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jacqueline_kennedy_arlington_1963_jfk_funeral.jpgBobby, Jackie and Ted in the funeral procession. The photo of Jackie Kennedy was taken at Arlington National Cemetery.jack-bobby-ted-kennedy.jpg The three Kennedy’s destined for greatness, Jack, Robert, Edward, at Kennedy retreat in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Kennedy and the children were icons as well. We followed their every activity during the three days following the assassination. There was no school, at least for me. Honestly, I was so upset, I could not imagine the World even continuing to exist, much less worry about high school. It is possible that schools were closed. I can’t even remember. It did not matter.

All that mattered was being in front of the television set for every hour of the day that television broadcasting covered the events of the days through the funeral. Television was still mostly in its infancy in 1962. I think everything was still black and white. Our television might have been 19 inches. Still, for those of us who lived in rural Montana, it was our amazing window to the World. After November 22, 1963, a World that would NEVER be the same.
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Forty-seven years is a lifetime. All but Caroline are now deceased. Jackie, John-John, Bobby, Ethyl, Teddy. A dynasty is dead.

Note: The “Possibly-related Articles” below are links to other posts on Today.com blogs, and may or may not include other posts on Grugger’s Way.

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Sep 16 2009

Pancreatic Cancer Kills Patrick Swayze

Published by dougkueffler under Boomer Generation Stuff, Culture Edit This

patrick-swayze.jpgFew stories have so moved the American public during the past year than Patrick Swayze’s determined struggle for survival.

Most people recognized that his battle was futile in the long run; but his fight for life inspired us all. When faced with a terminal illness, his powerful, “never give up” attitude showed his mettle. His wife stood by him. To be strong and patient for another person during a lengthy battle with cancer takes a lot of mettle as well. She inspires me too. I wish her strength as she grieves in the months ahead.

At age 57, Patrick Swayze was just five years younger than I am. To realize our mortality is to come to terms with life itself. Our value system comes into question as we acknowledge that we must live our lives to the fullest extent possible; for, in the end, what we leave behind are the memories of ourselves that other people carry with them. Fond memories of our lives together, of times shared, of moments treasured; these are the best gifts that we leave to others.

I enjoyed Patrick Swayze’s movies. Point Break and Roadhouse are still fun to watch. Dirty Dancing was pretty cheezy but we still liked it. The concept behind Ghost was endearing. The pottery wheel scene with Demi Moore and Patrick tore my heart out and watered my eyes. I may have to buy a DVD of Ghost just to honor him.
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Note: The “Possibly-related Articles” below are links to other posts on Today.com blogs, and may or may not include other posts on Grugger’s Way.

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Sep 09 2009

Old Fashioned Guy

Published by dougkueffler under Boomer Generation Stuff, Humor too, Lifestyle Edit This

Yesterday, I reached 350 posts on this site. That is a lot of writing, drafting and proofing, as well as a lot of ranting, complaining and preaching.

Someone commented that my post on Labor Day camping made me sound like a grumpy old man. Yup.

I am, in many ways, old-fashioned, with habits and dislikes fairly common to people in their sixties, particularly men, I think. We seem less tolerant of other people’s quirks and habits than do women.

Women seem more compassionate, compromising and cooperative.

Men seem more confrontational, combative, and other “C” words, like crass and crabby.

I am debating whether or not to change my profile photos on various social networking sites to more accurately reflect my “true self.” At least as others sometimes see me, or I think that they do. Oh, that is confusing. Here are some possibilities:
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I guess any of these could represent my “True Self.” Umm, maybe not Clint. I am still waiting for him to accept my Facebook Friend Invite.

Note: the “Possibly-related Articles” that are hyper-linked below are from Today.com blogs, which may or may not include posts from Grugger’s Way.

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Aug 21 2009

What is my Date of Birth Again?

Published by dougkueffler under Boomer Generation Stuff, Family, Humor too Edit This

I was filling out a survey form online the other day and it asked for my age.

There was a pause….I had to think….what the hell? I know what year I was born–1947, that never changes. But my age in years is something I can hardly keep up with.

old-guy-sm.jpgIs it because my memory is going…going…? Or do the years just speed by so fast that I can’t keep track any longer. Or don’t I really care?

Ah, maybe that’s it! Who does it matter to anyway? Not me. Not my spouse (who HATES to be reminded of MY age because that…ah yes…reminds her of her own).

My kids are now ages 24 through 40. Five of them. They have various ideas of how old I am, ranging from 45 or so…to over 70! Oh, to have such perspective!

I wonder if my Mother has to think for a moment to recall her exact age. It is 82. I remember her age as well as my own….but again, it is because I remember her YEAR of birth….and that has never changed…not since she reached age 39. (Oh, she loved Jack Benny!)

A couple of years ago, the IRS would not accept my federal tax return because my DATE of birth, (the day, not the month or year) that the IRS had on file did not agree with the Social Security Administration. One had the 7th, the other had the 9th. Social Security had it WRONG! I had to make a trip down there with my original birth certificate to get it corrected. THEN I could file my taxes.

old-rocking-chair-sm.jpgI suppose this was good. I wouldn’t want to get into a big brouha with Social Security when the day comes that I want to Draw it. I will have no problem remembering my age THEN, you can be damn sure.

In the meantime, so long as I can guess within a year or two, I’m happy. My kids too. Most of them think I am pushing 50!

(The links to “possibly related posts” below do NOT link to other posts on my blog, but to other bloggers sites)

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