Heard it on the X

Old photo

Sunday, I had my Orphan Call with my sister and two cousins. One topic that came up was the differences between generations for values, ideology and even thought process. During the conversation, my cousin said that the four of us are in “the last great generation left”. Do not confuse this with him saying we are the greatest generation, but the last great one. I agree with him.

Generation X are people born from 1965 to 1981. My sister and two cousins were all born during that time. So, what makes us the last great generation?

We played outside until the streetlight came on. Instead of receiving participation trophies, we had to drink from water hoses belonging to other people. We either placed in the top three or didn’t receive anything. We spoke our mind but had potential consequences for it. Never worried about being politically correct or offending others. We got offended but didn’t share that with the world. Conflicts (especially boys) might lead to a fistfight. Then it was over. Friends again. Our dad’s or uncles owned guns and were only used for hunting. If a gun was found in schools, it would be an enormous deal, and that kid was never seen again (in that school).

If any kid in the neighborhood screwed up, they could expect ‘the belt’ or switch when they got home. We all respected (and listened) to the adults. We didn’t know that our parents were being informed of any mischief we caused while biking.

There was no entitlement and often we had to do without. Say no to a kid these days and see what happens. If we wanted something, we either worked for it or we didn’t get it.

We socialized with people, regardless of their background. Despite our families’ financial situations, we’d get together, have food, and ride our bikes around the neighborhood.

My cousin mentioned a few things her daughter had said to her recently, including “your feelings are your feelings, and my feelings are my feelings.” The four of us on the call all agreed that if we had said that growing up the belt, dish towel, brush or whatever was in our parent’s reach would have been swung at us.

Our generation was the first generation to grow up on the internet, but the last generation to remember a time before it. We experienced the dot-com boom and bust, challenges of the global economy and the generation that came from the shadow of the cold war. We are the generation that has seen it all, and we are still standing.

Until next time,

Tim