This Week with The Chicowitz: 06/28/99

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This Week with The Chicowitz
Everybody's Got a Story!

Each week our Boomer-In-Charge, Hershel Chicowitz, has something to say about life, society, or what's going on... from the perspective of a baby boomer. This is what's on his mind the week of June 28:

We get letters... we get lots and lots of letters..... Perhaps one of the biggest kicks we get out of BBHQ comes from the stories we receive from other boomers. (And some of them... from you single women.... whew!!) Our "When I Was a Kid..." page offers short, verbal "pictures" of what it was like... when boomers were kids.

But in this case, a picture cannot tell a story. Only a story can tell a story. The boomer years was a fabulous time to grow up. We all have terrific experiences and wonderful stories to tell. Indeed, many of the boomers who write to us say they would like some day to put their stories on paper, but....

But what?

My father died when I was a teenager; my mother, over a decade ago. There is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I knew more about them, what they felt and believed, how they delt with issues when they were my age. Not a single day.

Last Christmas, my sister gave me a diary that my dad kept during the war. He made an entry nearly every day between Saturday, June 10, 1942 and Thursday, January 4, 1945. The real surprising part is that my mother and sister had this diary in their possession for over 30 years... and I never knew about it. But that's another story. Anyway, it is a wonderful memoir of the war as my father lived it, and a priceless piece of our family history.

There is a small problem with the translation, however. My father was a doctor; and you know what they say about their handwriting. My father got an A in every class in medical school, including doctors' penmanship. Apparently my sister and my mom tried for 30 years to read it, and never got past page three. If you can make sense out of any of this, please let me know; I have 142 other pages I desperately need help with.

Dad's diary

I note that on Wednesday, he played nine holes of golf, and shot a 50. Obviously, preparing for civilain life as a doctor.

Anyway, we all tend to procrastinate. My mother (that's her, over there on the right) never did get her story down on paper. And it is a shame, 'cause she had much to tell.
So my admonition to you this week is to please don't let your kids and grandkids say the same thing fifty years from now. They may not care today, they will want to know some day; believe me, they will.
My mom

What did you think about the Vietnam War?
Did you go to Woodstock? What was it like?
Why did you wear those crazy clothes?
What do you remember about President Kennedy?
Where were you when you heard Kennedy had been assassinated?
Were you popular in school?
When did you get your first transistor radio?
What was your first boyfriend like?
How did you meet dad?
Was the disco really popular?
Did you think that school was a drag?
Did you ever have a black and white TV?
Did you really leave your door unlocked at night?
Did you really walk 5 miles to school every day in 3 feet of snow?
Why were the Beatles so popular? And Elvis?
What were the songs like back then? What did they make you think of?
What did you do for fun when you were a teenager?
What was it like when President Nixon resigned?

And if you still have the luxury... please, please, do the same for your parents! They, too, have endearing stories to tell. Tom Brokaw's book, "The Greatest Generation," contains touching stories of ordinary and not-so-ordinary people during the war. I'm sure your parents' stories are just as compelling. But if they never record it, nobody will ever know.
What are you waiting for?

So what do you think?

If you want a reply from us, include your name and e-mail address:
Name:
E-mail:

If you want to write more, we're open to offerings from other boomers. If you have something to say of interest to boomers, write it as well as you can in 700-900 words, and send it to us. We can't guarantee we'll publish it, but we'll surely consider it.

For more of Hershel's essays, check the BBHQ Archives or the Boomer Essays.

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?

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.

Click here for more information, or here to visit the BBHQ Library.

This Week with The Chicowitz Everybody's Got a Story!

This Week with The Chicowitz
Everybody's Got a Story!