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BBHQ Boomer Essays: |
| Our Boomer-In-Charge here at BBHQ, Hershel Chicowitz, writes frequently about current events... from a boomer perspective. He is sometimes funny, sometimes provocative, sometimes a little of each. We hope you get a kick out of our Boomer Essays. |
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My father died when I was 17... a senior in high school. I remember going
through what I guess is the normal grieving process. It was devastating.
I don't believe you ever "get over" the death of a parent, or a sibling,
or a child. I don't believe in "closure." I think you just move on. So, I moved on. I still have vivid memories of him. But it took me about 20 years... 20 years to get angry at him. My dad was a surgeon; he was also a smoker. He contracted rheumatic fever as a child; it probably weakened his heart. He had suffered two prior heart attacks. He did not exercise. He paid no attention to stress. He smoked. And he died of a heart attack at age 57.
I am angry at him... because he left a wife and two children who needed him. And he left hundreds of patients whom he could have treated. He knew better. He knew what to do; but he had other priorities. Don't get me wrong... my father was a perfectionist; he was brilliant. He was a wonderful father and a great role model. He is a part of my life... every day of my life. But he did not take care of himself. And I am still angry at him... 30 years after his death.
I don't care; I am still angry at him.
And my high school classmate Mike Fernberg. And Yul Brenner. And Princess Diana. And Rod Serling. And Humphrey Bogart. And Judy Garland. And there are, of course, many others. You could probably add many names to this list... people with great and valuable talents who allowed their lives to slip away, merely because they did not take care of themselves.
So, my message and my plea for you today is to take care of yourself. Because if you smoke or misuse drugs, or if you drive carelessly, or neglect your diabetes... or if you do any of dozens of other foolish things that lead to your premature death... well, I will not be angry at you. I don't know you from Adam. But you have friends and relatives who do. And after they have grieved, they will be angry at you. They deserve better than that. You owe them more than that.
You have been blessed with health and longevity to have lived this long. Do not waste the precious gift of life. There is a reason why you are still alive and healthy today. Do something. Do something good. Take care of yourself. Start now. Life is short. Take care of yourself. You still have work to do. Please... take care of yourself.
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Exploring My Roots: A Chicowitz History
Membership details here.
Terrific boomer memorabilia!!
Remember this?
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If you like what we're doing here at BBHQ, please help us by buying stuff through our link to Amazon.com:
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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