15/12/2021
I AM A FIRST-YEAR BABY BOOMER
My story is both unique and universal at the same time.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
When WW2 ended in 1945, that basically put over 10 million service personnel out of a job.
And when they came home from the war, they started their families and that spike in baby births continued for 18 years.
I was born in May, 1946, the first of the first-year boomers.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
My Dad, Voris "Bill" Orley, born in 1910, was from Indiana, and left strip coal mining in the late 1930's to seek employment in Detroit, MI, "where the good jobs were."
He found a job driving a truck delivering furniture and retired from the Teamsters in 1971. And no, he doesn't know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.
He always wanted to be a shop teacher, but college never happened. However, he loved his basement and garage workshops and was a handyman extraordinaire. It was from him that I developed my love for wood.
As a soldier in his haste to leave Alaska at the end of WW2, he damaged his vocal cords due to severe frost bite from walking untold miles over several days just to get faster transport home. He had a gravelly voice as a result. Some kids were afraid of him.
I only saw him cry twice in my life. Once, when we had stopped at a convenience store, he told me not to open the car door, and ran in to get something. I opened the door, and did not shut it properly. When he did a U-turn back onto the 4-lane road, I fell out of the car. I only scrapped my knee really bad, but when we got home he cried because I could have been run over by another car.
The second time he cried was when he dropped me off at college, 800 miles from home.
He passed away in 1999. Dad and Mom were married 57 years.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
My Mother, Ruby Louise, born in 1913, lived in rural Kentucky, and they were so poor, "they never even knew there was a Depression."
Her father was known as the only man within 100 miles that had nothing to do with moonshine: didn't drink it, didn't sell it, didn't make it, didn't transport it, and didn't grow any of the ingredients. His name was Christopher Columbus and they called him Lum.
She went through 8th grade at a one-room school house (the norm at the time in that area) and then was an assistant teacher for a few years after that.
During WW2 she worked at the famous Willow Run plant in Michigan that made B-24 bombers. She actually riveted bomber wings, so she was Ruby the Riveter.
When I was in junior high school, she went to work at Montgomery Ward in the electrical department. She never drove, so she took a bus to work. She was smart, knew everything about everything in that electrical department, and at the time of this incident, was making $2.50 per hour. It was Christmas and the store hired seasonal employees. A man, a teacher, was hired part time for her department. He knew absolutely nothing about anything electrical, and he was paid $1 more per hour than she was. My Mother was furious! It's for women like her that the women's rights movement of the 1960's was born, although she never recognized it.
Mom passed away in 2006, at the age of 92, after 9 years in a nursing home as the result of a closed head injury from an automobile accident. So sad for such a sweet woman.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
My parents were married in 1942; she was 28 and he was 32, first marriage for both.
In 1946, my parents purchased a brand new, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 874 sq. ft. house, with a basement and a garage, on a very small lot, for $6,000, on a street with the lovely name of Silvery Lane, in Dearborn Heights, MI.
My brother, born in 1948, just last year he said that "I never once thought our house was small or that I wished we had a bigger or better house." A house full of love is all that matters.
These were post-WW2 homes, all well-made and identical. Except that, as I noticed as a kid, each house had its own particular odor.
There were 15 houses on our side of the block, and 41 kids. This was a typical suburban Detroit area mix of Poles, Italians, Germans, and southerners like us. Most were blue collar workers and most moms were at home in the 1950's, but not everyone.
On Halloween, my Mom would typically give out over 500 Baby Ruth and Butterfingers and they are still my favorite candy bars today, plus a Reese Peanut Butter Cup. Ours was the chocolate and nut generation, and my children are the sweet and sour generation.
We played all the usual 1950's games and outdoor activities, but my favorite was riding my green 24" Schwinn bike that I received for my 7th birthday. Oh, the freedom and the speed! I still ride a two-wheeler even as an old woman today.
That's me in the Santa picture wearing the babushka, with my brother and parents, at Muirheads Department Store in 1955.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
When I was in 6th grade, my 8th grade neighbor taught me how to sew. My first project was a slim skirt, gray wool, lined, with a zipper, waistband, and kick pleat. Nothing like diving in head first! But what did I know? I just followed the printed instructions.
I was in Girl Scouts for 10 years, and ended up with a total of 25 years in Scouting when you add in my years as a leader and a professional Scout. Scouting was very important in my young life, as it gave me opportunities I would have never experienced otherwise.
Sometime in high school we had to write a 10-page term paper. Yikes! So, I chose to write on Greek mythology, and broke it down into half page summaries of 20 myths. Aha! I inadvertently learned that the secret to good organization is to divide things into manageable parts. And that is how I wrote my 616-page book, "Discovering Michigan County by County: Your A-Z Guide to Each of the 83 Counties in the Great Lakes State", one small, manageable part at a time.
My brother's name is Ken. I used to tell people that the Barbie and Ken dolls were named after us. Sometimes someone would even believe me.
There is nothing sweeter than the music of one's youth, and I was, and still am, a fan of Elvis, the Beatles, folk music, Motown, Doo-Wop, and early rock'n'roll, etc., but never, ever, country music. Well, once for 20 minutes when I was 13 I liked country music. Oh, and how could I forget the wonderful old-time hymns of the church; and I like the new praise music, too.
Undoubtedly, though, the biggest influence of my teenage years was my involvement with the youth group at my church. Such godly, unselfish leaders set a fine example of how to serve Christ with whatever talent you have. Every Saturday night we would meet in someone's home for games, devotions, fellowship and food. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
I graduated from high school in 1964, the official last year of the baby boomer babies.
The cost of my first-year of private college, including room, board, tuition, books, allowance, clothes, travel expense to an out state college, etc., was $1,000.
My Dad was making $3.50 per hour at that time, so that's $7,000 per year for a 40-hour work week. Therefore, my college expense was 14% of his income.
Now compare that to today's college expense and the income of a typical blue-collar worker.
(Additional note: when my husband started college in the mid 1970's, tuition at the local community college was $5 per credit hour and $10 at the state university.)
I'm from Michigan. I saw my first sunset on Lake Michigan when I was a junior in college. Prior to that, I had visited a Great Lake only once. Our family didn't have much disposable income and Dad worked Saturdays, so we didn't do much or go many places.
I, like many of my friends, studied to be a teacher. Because, at that time, all that we knew about jobs for women were either teachers, nurses, secretaries, beauticians, waitresses or store clerks.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have studied for a business degree with an emphasis in travel planning. My skill is organizing, organizing anything. Just ask me, I'll get 'er done.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
I met my husband, John, in July of 1969, because he was to be the Best Man in a wedding and I was to be the Maid of Honor.
Being from the Detroit area, I had never even heard of Dutchmen. VanderMolen means 'from the mill,' like in windmill. At the time, he was in the Air Force in Florida and I lived in Michigan.
When we married in January of 1970, we had known each other for 6 months and had actually seen each other for only 30 days!
I made my own wedding dress of white velvet and feathers, made two of the four bridesmaid dresses, and made all three junior bridesmaid dresses for John's nieces.
And, here it is 52 years later, the nieces are getting ready to retire and he and I are still married and still love each other. He's the best! Kindness and respect go a long way in a relationship.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
Our children, a son and two daughters, were all born in the 1970's and are all in their 40's today. They have given us 8 grandchildren and we love them all, even including those in-laws!
Being together with them is the highlight of our year since both girls and their families live out of state.
I loved being a mom to my children. There is no greater joy, or responsibility.
My philosophy was to enjoy each and every age and adventure. I never looked back to what they once were, and I didn't look forward to what may be ahead. I just enjoyed the present and lived it to the fullest. And I still try to do that.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
This year I am 75 years old.
I have never been hospitalized except for the birth of my children.
I hate to exercise and am a bit overweight. No surprise there!
Just like my Dad, I have a "bad stomach" and control it with meds and Tums.
Sometimes my knees and my neck bother me, but it is no big deal.
I have problems with my eyes reading books, but I love audio books.
My favorite author is John Grisham, my favorite book series is Three Pines by Louise Penny, and I love any film documentary by Ken Burns.
Since late elementary school, I have suffered from 4S - Select Sound Sensitivity Syndrome. My biggest issue was/is repetitive small noises, especially gum chewing. I used to tell my students that if I could hear it, see it, or smell it, they couldn't keep it. It truly has affected by entire life as I could not allow myself to be in a situation where I could not control gum chewing of other people.
I have never turned on daytime TV (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) since 1970. That's right, no Ophra, no Dr. Phil, no game shows or soap operas, no 24-hour news cycle, and, thank goodness, no talk shows.
I mute all adds on TV and don't watch "reality" shows.
I haven't worn a bra in over 40 years.
I haven't owned a dress in decades.
My clothing style is a black silhouette with a colorful top, and shades of teal and peach are my favorite colors.
And, I will never, ever, understand the appeal of buying new jeans with holes in them.
I have traveled to 47 states and over 30 foreign countries.
I am still very active in my church and community and hate it when I have "nothing to do."
I describe myself as a "professional volunteer."
Although I use a computer and an iPad, I refuse to get a smart phone because I don't want my world reduced to a 3"x3" portal. If someone calls, just leave a message, thank you.
I designed our home and we had it built. My design guideline was "hide dirt and be easy to clean." And it worked. I like a clean house but I don't want it yelling at me when it needs cleaning.
I have over 125 wood decorator items throughout my house, some very unusual, some from our travels, and some of which I have made myself. I love and collect wood bowls.
My personal mantra for today's troubled society is "personal responsibility." Do what is right, make decisions that won't get you in trouble or lead to discord, tell the truth and don't exaggerate, and don't blame society and everyone else for your problems and bad choices.
● I am a first-year baby boomer.
I have begun to think about my funeral. It is inevitable, you know.
I am not afraid of what happens after death, because, as a Christian through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, I know where I am going.
But the process of death can be concerning. Nothing long and drawn out, thank you, but short and relatively painless would be my choice.
I have some chin hairs. I have told my daughters that when I get to the point that I can't shave my own chin, or at least make sure that someone else is doing it, then that is when I have passed the reality checkpoint and they need not be concerned about keeping me alive.
I hope my legacy will be a life well lived honoring Christ, including through my spiritual gift, Christian generosity, on many levels for individuals and organizations alike.
You're invited to my funeral, you know. Watch the local media for my obituary. We'll all celebrate God's goodness together and sing "Victory in Jesus."
And my spiritual gift will continue. Hmmm? Stay tuned...
Barbara J. (Mitchell) VanderMolen,
Dearborn Heights, Kalamazoo, & Charlotte, MI
2021
