Still hanging on for ride of my life
Birthday treats change over the years, but the Earth’s still turning, writes Ian Cole
THE baby boomer generation is presently facing some big birthday numbers, with people turning 60, 70 and soon enough, 80.
Way back as kids, we looked forward to birthdays which were on a par in excitement with Christmas and Cracker Night. A birthday party back in the 1950s and ’60s, was probably a gathering of kids from the neighbourhood.
The drinks were simply made-up blackcurrant cordial or other flavours because fizzy drinks were still a luxury, while the main food was slices of white bread with hundreds and thousands sprinkled on them.
I was later informed the correct terminology was nonpareils, but for me even today, they are still hundreds and thousands. The first birthday I really remember was being allowed to go on a merry-go-round or a carousel as a birthday treat. It must have been at the Hobart Show. I remember the man at the ticket-booth saying: “Listen sonny, hang onto your hat and enjoy the ride!”
Of course, later came all the 21st birthdays as friends and family turned that important number. I seem to remember it was often an awkward assortment of people with young friends having to mix with great uncles and aunts who seemed to be in compulsory attendance. They probably looked on us younger ones disapprovingly with regard to our manners, our demeanour our haircuts and certainly our taste in clothes. And then years passed and suddenly we were celebrating attaining 30 and 40 and more. Some celebrated quietly with close family while others celebrated more widely to include friends and colleagues. No matter, the baby-boomers feel as young as ever and are only pulled up now by the sudden loss of a good friend or the loss of good health.
So, what’s the goal? A century would be nice and to receive that telegram from the Queen. Well it’s probably an email these days but that might mean a few of us techno-dinosaurs might miss it. Anyway, reaching 100 is in the lap of the gods or more accurately in the lap of our DNA. In many instances it is the cards we are dealt at birth which will decide our future and then, to some extent, how we have played them.
It may be best to remember that in its simplest form, a birthday is just day one of a 365-day journey around the sun. So, at my age, I guess I’d better just hang on to my hat and enjoy the rest of the ride!
A CENTURY WOULD BE NICE AND TO RECEIVE THAT TELEGRAM FROM THE
QUEEN. WELL IT’S PROBABLY AN EMAIL THESE DAYS BUT THAT MIGHT MEAN A FEW OF US TECHNO-DINOSAURS MIGHT MISS IT