Boomer Randomness

Do you remember the significance of these three dates? December 7th, November 22nd and September 11th. Each of those dates are significant dates in American history. Each marks a day that impacts everyone today but also is more associated with a specific generation. December 7, 1941 is the date of the surprise attack by the Japanese Navy Air Service on the American military base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which directly led to the entry of the United States into World War II. That is 77 years ago next month. News of the attack is a memorable event for the many parents of boomers who often could recall where they were when they heard news of the attack. Do people who were alive that day make note of it on the anniversary each year?  Is that date any less significant if few people remember without a reminder?  November 22, 1963 is the day then President John Kennedy was assassinated in a celebratory motorcade in Dallas. That day is forever etched in the minds of many bo...

Several times during the past few months I’ve read about or encountered people who died too young.  An event promoter I knew in Maryland who had survived colon cancer died from complications related to diabetes and heart issues last month. Age 53.  A partly retired New Hampshire newscaster I met once when he lived in Virginia survived several health issues but had a heart attack while driving home from work and died either from that or the resulting car crash last week. Age 62.  I’m currently reading Michelle Obama’s new book. Her father lived with Multiple Sclerosis for around twenty years. In the 1980s he eventually had other issues possibly related to the MS and died. Age 55.  A few chapters earlier in the book, Michelle talked about a very good friend who exemplified ‘carpe diem’. She seemed to know she’d die young and wanted to experience as much life as she could while she could. She died at age 26.  All this reminded me that a former girlfrien...