Boom On!
So we premiered a new section in the newspaper today. It’s called Booming and it’s targeted to the those of us at middle age, though it’s actually interesting enough to draw readership across the spectrum.
The feature story is about Missoula kayaker Doug Ammons, written by yours truly. Doug and I have been having a little series of talks about what it means to take part in adventure sports, what the sports themselves mean in terms of the larger flow of life. Doug has no shortage of thought-provoking opinions, and it will be worth your time to check him out in the Booming section. You can see the story on Doug here:http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_33eaa206-274f-11df-8948-001cc4c002e0.html
Missoula kayaker and whitewater philosopher Doug Ammons
I’ll also be writing a monthly column for the section, with an eye towards reflecting on the wilderness of middle age. In fact, Doug and I were just talking about parenting as the ultimate adventure sport, so there’s definitely room to purse that topic more fully.
I’m also taking suggestions from readers, and my mail box filled up this morning with inspirational stories of folks trying to make sense of the curveballs life has tossed them.
Personally, I think a section targeted toward Boomers is a bit strange. Are we really so different that we need our own section of the paper? Probably not. On the other hand, the section is dang good, so I’m encouraging you to check it out.
Michael Moore
Although I applaud your special section on the “Boomers,” I’ve been bemused with all the media attention to “The Greatest Generation,” the “Boomers,” the “GenXers,” etc. What about those of us born in a generation between “The Greatest” & the “Boomers”? What can our generation be called: “The Betweeners,” “Depression Kids,” what? (I was born in 1936.) How about “Boomer Parents”? We are the ones too young for WWII & in my case, too young for Korea. We were soldiers & sailors in peacetime, largely. I guess since we don’t have a national crisis like a war or huge numbers on our side, I guess maybe we can be known as “The Ozzie & Harriet” generation. Not too exciting. Yet, I do think my generation has contributed as much to this country as the previous & following generations. Maybe the “Unsung Generation.”
David, I think you’re right about the Unsung generation. Plus, I like the name. And yes, the whole Boomer thing has spun a little out of control of late. There a whole bunch of us, to be sure, but I don’t think there’s anything terribly special about us as a group. Fact is, just about everybody’s interesting andn worthwhile.