Reflections: On Aging

Boomers and busters: Similarities and differences

If you can suggest that baby boomers were born in the first ten to fifteen years, after World War II, you might also suggest that those people born in the ten to fifteen years prior to and during World War II, are a unique group of people. I will refer to them in this article as the busters.

In the year 2008 AD, it is a reality that there are now almost seventy million baby boomers in North America. Many of the group that came before them, ie. the busters, are still alive and well. Sure, they are aging, but the boomers are too.

Aren't we all?

The baby boomers as a whole, were born in a time of post-war prosperity, coming into a world of celebration and elation. Many of the busters lived through a time of serious hardship and depression, coupled with anger, frustration, fear and suspicion.

The baby boomers can relate to a time of fathers, uncles and grandfathers returning home from the war. The busters were sending their husbands, sons, brothers, uncles and fathers off to war, with the understanding that many of them might never return. Thousands of them left and did not come back. Some were declared missing. Others were buried in foreign countries and still others came home in body bags or makeshift coffins.

The female baby boomers experienced, a relative new freedom, in terms of gender roles. This is still happening today, but these roles have been changing over the years. The females from the buster's generation were locked into specific male and female roles, at least until the majority of men were sent to war and almost every task became one that a woman was allowed or forced to do.

Relatively few boomers suffered as a result of war injuries, in comparison to the thousands of busters, who were injured or became disabled during World War II.

Many of the boomers have had families of their own, but much smaller than those of the busters. The busters had large families, with the expectation and understanding, that their children would be able to assist or support them, in their old age. Thus, many of the busters are well supported, while the boomers face a new crisis on their new horizon of aging. In terms of numbers, there are few boomers who will be assisted or supported, by their children as they grow older.

Aging is not something to fear by a boomer or a buster. Aging can be a wonderful experience and should be for everyone. There are many new issues that the boomers will have to face head on and others that the older busters of today, will have to contend with.

What does all of this mean? Time will tell the tale. Boom or bust?

This is a reflection on aging, comparing and contrasting the baby boomer generation with the buster generation, with respect to similarities and differences.