A first

~ MaryG

I’ve mentioned (about 100 times) that I’m turning 60 this year. And so are all my friends from high school and college. We were all born in 1965–the first official year of GenX, which is usually labeled as people born from 1965 to 1980. Personally, I don’t really think 1980 belongs with us. I think GenX should be 1964-1979. We’ll take Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris (both born in 1964) and the millennials can have book-banning Ron DeSantis (born 1980), but I digress…

That’s right, the coolest generation is turning 60.

One of the coolest members of GenX—actor/writer Pamela Adlon (b. 1966)—sets her daughter straight in “Better Things”

Travel seems to be a top priority for people turning 60, but my friend Susan is doing something different for her birthday this weekend. She’s going on a silent retreat. This is a first. I’ve not heard of anyone else spending a weekend in silence for their milestone birthday. I like it though. It’s unexpected and exactly what she wants. Maybe she will have some sort of A-Ha moment that she will share with us when she gets back.

Cheryl Strayed (born in 1968) from her bestselling memoir “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.”

15 thoughts on “A first”

  1. I’m not quite sure why Gen X is the forgotten generation. We are such a cool generation. We bridged the gap from analog to digital, feet planted in both. We’re independent, we had to be because of the era we lived in. We don’t need people to hold our hands or pat us on the head telling us we did a good job. And we don’t complain (too much) and just get shit done. I read a WSJ article that totally excluded Gen X in the conversation. Every other generation was represented. I was so perplexed I emailed the writer to ask why? His response was lackluster and lacked any merit. But that’s OK. We’re fine flying solo. That’s just how it is and par for the course on how we grew up. We are a latchkey generation and used to be on our own. It’s an annoyance at best. For some reason, the final scene of the Breakfast Club just came to mind. See? We had great movies, too!

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    1. I’m not sure I could stay silent for a whole weekend, but I love it for her. She’s a hospice nurse in her daily life. There must be so much to process. I’m looking forward to her great insights.

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  3. ❤ I've done silent days, but would love to indulge in a weekend or week! Marvelous way to mark the milestone and recharge for the decades ahead.

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    1. Yes! I could totally see you doing this Stephanie – and sharing some beautiful wisdom with us afterwards ❤️

      Also, I’ve been thinking of you a lot! Are you in Seattle yet? Sending positive vibes.

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      1. Thanks so much for saying that! 3 weeks to go!

        What I didn’t know before all this, is that every item on the to-do list would have three or four other items embedded in it! It’s hard to settle my mind, or have over-spill energy enough to write posts, but I’m sure at some point I’ll find myself sharing again. 🙂

        And how about you? Are you still looking into new work?

        Oh, and I’m pretty relieved about the Pope selection. 🙂

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      2. Moving across the country is HUGE! I totally understand your energy is needed for all the many tasks at hand.

        I have an interview next week for something that looks interesting, but I may hold off on pursuing anything else until fall. Summer is just so great here.

        I wasn’t too invested in the conclave other than the pageantry and intrigue of it all. (But I loved how MAGA was so triggered when he didn’t speak ENGLISH from the balcony.)

        Enjoy your last few weeks in the Sunshine State. I’m sure they’ll be a few things you miss (like sun!) It’s been raining here for a week.

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      3. Makes perfect sense to enjoy the gorgeousness there as much as possible! May the best possible scenario play out for you. ❤

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  4. Welcome to the sixties club, Mary, when your special day comes. I love this idea and the quote by Cheryl Strayed. Her story inspired me in many ways. One being that my husband and I hope to hike on the PCT this year. Not a through hike, but one to check off the bucket list. Happy Mother’s Day! 🌷

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    1. Thank you Lauren. I really liked “Wild” too. We did some big hikes back before kids, but those days are definitely over. It’s great that you and your husband still get out there on the trail. Any trail! Hope you had a nice Mother’s Day. It finally stopped raining here, which was fantastic. 😊

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  5. LOL I would like to trade DeSatan, in general. Anywho, 73 here. I tell everyone that all of the generations just kinda forget us. In some ways, I think we’d rather be ignored. I mean, we’re used to it. On the other hand, yeah…we’re absolutely not Boomers, and we’re not Xennials (or however you spell it) 🙄

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