If, like me, you were born after the Baby Boom but before what the young people these days like to call "Gen X," you have probably always felt a little marginalized. I have no idea what it's like to be part of a demographic cohort that gets marketed to, politically pandered to, celebrated in endless first novels. We are the Lenny and Squiggy Generation, unnoticed, forgotten, unable to make time with two girls who work in a freakin' brewery, only occasionally slamming open the door of American culture and barking out, "Hello."
Not surprisingly, we're miserable, and getting moreso. According to a recent article in Slate, happiness steadily declines from age 16 to age 45, which means if you were born, like the New York Mets, in 1962, things look pretty bleak right now.
But buck up, my demographic brethren and sistren, for we have good times ahead. According to that same piece, based on something called The General Demographic Survey, overall happiness begins rising around age 45 then continues to do so into old age, so we're about to turn a corner here. And you know, things are even looking up for Lenny and Squiggy. Squiggy is now a scout for the Seattle Mariners, despite the fact that he has been battling multiple sclerosis for a couple of decades now (seriously). And Lenny recently played the Snow Miser in the live-action remake of The Year Without a Santa Claus. Let us use their example and vow to make something out of our pathetic lives.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Good stuff, but, uh, aren't you a little old to have a blog? I too am within the margin of error of the baby boom, but I do not have time for yesterday's pop culture marginalia. I plan to spend my forties creating a depth chart for my medicare prescription drug options, fanastazing about my friends' wives who get their kids into the best summer camps year after year, and catching a few A's games. Happiness at age 45? I'll settle for vaguely disappointed but without chronic pain.
Post a Comment