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Rising drug abuse? Not nice. Perhaps not so surprising when you consider that boomers are the "sandwich generation": they have to look after their parents and because of the 2008 recession, they also often have to look after their grown-up children out of a job. Not to mention the sad fact that many have lost their job or their home. The pressure is often unbearable, drugs are an understandable reaction, even if they solve nothing and in fact make matters worse.
The boomer generation is also famous for its rebellious stance. But drugs need not be part of it. Author Marsha Robert's answer to the question how rebellious is a Baby Boomer, is quite simply... very rebellious, more than that, in her own words: "instinctively mutinous"! But that does not imply drug taking. Her kind of rebellion is not a depressing refuge into drugs, not at all.
It's a joyous "go for it", it's a "yes, you can".
She has written a whole book about it, you should check it out. Here's my review on Goodreads and Amazon (where you can buy the book):
Confessions of an Instinctively Mutinous Baby Boomer: And Her Parable of the Tomato Plant by Marsha RobertsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a highly inspirational read, told in a warm voice full of life and optimism. Indeed, the optimistic note is struck right from the start and keeps ringing throughout the book and through the recounting of the sadder and more tragic events, like the loss of the author's mother or the sudden death of her best friend. These are less "confessions" (in that sense the title is a little misleading) than a string of well-chosen parables (and here the sub-title is spot on). Those parables are really high points or events in the author's life that have held a particular meaning, more like allegories. In fact, she sees in the major events marking her life as a "baby boomer" allegories of a higher power, of God. This is a deeply religious book, one that will uplift you: recommended reading if you are going through difficult times of your own|
Out of each event, the author draws comfort and re-affirmation of the power of Almighty God. And manages to do so in a chatty voice, overflowing with love. You find yourself led into another world of strong faith and unshakable trust that in the end, no matter what happens, things will turn all right. The closing paragraphs tell it all, when the author writes: "I know that faith and love and joy are the keys to unlock the miracles God has already put in place for us. So I'm determined to be full of all three of them. It's my job." Indeed, Marsha Roberts has made it her job to be full of faith, love and joy and we, her readers (at least I am speaking for myself) are thankful to her for doing so and being the person she is. She concludes: "I can't see through the fog, but God can and that's good enough for me". That's a very powerful image...
On another level, I was fascinated by the so very American "can do" approach displayed in this book: nothing ever seems to get Ms. Roberts down and if she does go down on her knees, it's to pray, not to bend over. That's not part of her vocabulary nor even a possibility! She even managed to overcome the pain of getting her home foreclosed, losing it and having to relocate in record time - a devastating drama for most people. Remarkable dynamism and optimism, so very American and no doubt one of the reasons why the US is now slowly coming out of the 2008 Big Recession while Europe is still deep in it.
View all my reviews on Goodreads
Just one more word: Marsha's book is a perfect example of this rising new genre, Boomer Lit. Nine months ago,I created a group on Goodreads to discuss it and so far some 450 readers and writers joined it. To visit the group, click here.
To buy her book, you will find it on all major e-tailers, for Amazon, click here:
Happy reading and please let me know how you like her book!
(Source of picture: my own, when I visited the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; the sculpture on foreground is Jeff Koons)
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