We’re Moving

Posted on November 8, 2012 by L Parker Brown

I started BBoomersnet.com in September 2010, because I found a serious lack of blogs for Baby Boomers in general, and specifically for African American Baby Boomers. Since then, I’ve discovered several blogs for Baby Boomers overall, although blogs for Black Baby Boomers still appear to be scarce. Since several of the topics I’ve covered on Bboomersnet have been on subjects that are not exclusively relevant to Baby Boomers, but are applicable to all generations, I have decided to discontinue Bboomersnet. But this is not the end. My readers who have an RSS fed to this site will be able to read all of the previously published posts from Bboomersnet, as well as new posts relative to Boomers, on my other blog:  http://www.Potpourri101.com. Search in the Baby Boomers’ category as well as by subject.  See you at http://www.Potpourri101.com

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Good English, Bad Grammar, and Lifelong Learning

Posted on July 8, 2012 by L Parker Brown

As loyal readers of this blog – all three of them – have reminded me, I haven’t posted anything here for nearly two months. While my sense of humor remains healthy, my excuses for inactivity on this site are lame. I could blame my failure to blog on the weather – too hot outside – but I can’t; because I work at home – under air conditioning – unless there is a power outage like the one that recently occurred. I cannot say that I lacked motivation and inspiration, because I didn’t and I don’t. Both qualities are fully functional, except upon occasion when they stall behind writer’s block. The honest explanation for my absence from this Boomers blog is that Continue reading →

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Putting A Different Spin on Paper or Plastic

Posted on May 26, 2012 by L Parker Brown

Boomers, remember when you were a child and began receiving a weekly allowance? I don’t know about you, but my poor pals and I felt rich on allowance day when our parents dropped a few shiny coins — or, in my case, a thin dime — in the palm of our hand. I’m not mad about the ten cents, because for a child growing up in those Father Knows Best days a dime went a long way. I could buy 20 two-for-a-penny cookies (Oatmeal, thank you.) or an equal amount of Jawbreakers and Squirrel Nuts, or a Three Musketeers bar.

Allowances have increased. Today’s youngsters expect Continue reading →

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Remembering the Multi-generational Chuck Brown

Posted on May 17, 2012 by L Parker Brown

Chuck Brown died yesterday. Brown, also called the “Godfather of Go Go,” was a Washington, DC legend and a 2010 Grammy Award nominee whose unique mix of funk, soul, jazz and Latin music transcended generations. Sometime during the 1970s, Brown’s style of music, as well as that of a few other local bands in the nation’s capital, came to be called go-go, and a popular line in some circles was – if you don’t know about Go-Go, then you don’t know DC.

Brown, as recognizable by his gold front tooth as for his style of music, was born in 1936. Although he was a Great Depression era baby, originally from Gaston, North Carolina, when he became a master of go-go in the DMV (District, Maryland and Virginia), he captured the hearts of many of the local teenaged offspring of Baby Boomer parents, and some of his tunes won the admiration of Boomer parents as well; even before the rest of the country knew who he was.

From the time my son was about 16, he was a fan of Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers, but because go-go music sometimes attracted a troublesome crowd, I tried to discourage his attendance at local go-go events.

My concern about the violence associated with go-go was expressed Continue reading →

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A Tribute to American Bandstand and Soul Train: Rock and Soul

Posted on May 2, 2012 by L Parker Brown

Many Boomers bemoaned the loss of  Dick Clark, the 82 years young, 30-year host of “American Bandstand” who died of a heart attack on April 18. Two months earlier on February 1, Don Cornelius, the original “soul man” and long-time host of the nationally syndicated “Soul Train” was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 75.  In spite of the fact that Clark was white and Cornelius black, their “rock and soul” music and dance programs attracted fans of all ages across racial lines and there is hardly a Boomer alive who does not remember them.

“American Bandstand“ became regular viewing at our home sometime in the late 1950s, when my dad – who loved to dance – discovered the show while switching channels in search of a Randolph Scott or John Wayne western. In a few weeks, I too had become a loyal ”Bandstand” fan. And years afterward, I looked forward annually to watching ”Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve.” As I was to learn, so too did many of my friends.

One New Year’s Eve, in the late 1970s, I was hosting a party in my apartment. My guests were dancing all over the place to a funky tune by Earth, Wind and Fire. At around 11:45 p.m. someone lowered the volume on the stereo (to the delight of my neighbors, I’m sure), and then switched on the television set. Everyone stopped dancing long enough to gather around the TV for the balldrop and countdown, and we all joined Dick Clark and the Times Squares revelers in a rousing “Happy New Year!”

In 1971, when ”Soul Train” rolled onto the airways, I climbed on board. Cornelius, the train’s metaphoric conductor and literal host had viewers nationwide trying to imitate the fancy dance moves of Damita Jo Freeman, Joe Chisum, Patricia Davis and other members of the “Soul Train Gang.” In its early days, as the kids today might say it – “Soul Train” rocked!

Cornelius fans can only wonder what demons led him to take his own life, but when yours truly thinks of the soul man’s last moments on this earth, I imagine him signing off with his signature catchphrase, “In parting, I wish you love, peace and soooul!”

It seems ironic that both Cornelius and Clark, two men who brought so much musical entertainment and joy to the Boomer generation would die within months of each other. They were a dynamic duo of rock and roll – and rock and soul — and they made us get up and dance.

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AARP Member? Best Buy Computer Help for $14/Month

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Kyle

AARP

[A Guest Contributor Post]

If you are an AARP member, BestBuy will provide you with technical support for $169 per year or around $14 per month.

Best Buy’s Geek Squad will offer AARP members advice and technical support by telephone, online and in Best Buy stores.

Note, that home tech visits are not included, but are discounted under this program.

People over age 50 represent a large and growing component of Geek Squad’s customer base. Richfield-based Best Buy said it has tailored the new service for older computer users, including specialized training for Geek Squad agents.

More on this story.

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A Never Ending Open Season on Black Males

Posted on March 22, 2012 by L Parker Brown

Did the Sanford, Florida police simply take George Zimmerman’s word for what happened to Trayvon Martin on February 26? No questions asked. No investigation. No lockup. Did they see a cut and dry case of  stand your ground – Black man down? End of story?  Thanks to a national outcry for justice, it is not going down like that.  

Like people throughout the country, I am hurt and fire-spitting angry over the unfortunate shooting of Trayvon Martin. I have one son and six young grandsons. They are all Black. That gives me a strong vested interest in the circumstances surrounding Trayvon’s senseless killing and the call for justice.

What mother of a Black male child cannot relate to this most recent tragedy and does not fear for her own offspring? Even those of us who have had “the talk” with our young, male children know that just warning them is never enough. Making our boys aware of the dangers of simply being a Black male, combined with the ongoing racial stereotyping and negative judgments against Blacks in general is a struggle that requires endless vigilance. Continue reading →

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The Winds of Change: A Boomer vs. Technology

Posted on February 5, 2012 by L Parker Brown

 ”If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your atittude.” 
                                                                                                                         Maya Angelou

Photo By Alexander Schaesis

Baby Boomers, do you remember your first time?  Not that first time. I’m talking about the first time you used a personal computer. Unlike infants today who are practically born with a computer mouse in their hand, many Boomers were full-fledged adults when we came face-to-face with the big kahuna.

My reluctant introduction to the PC occurred in 1985, when the nonprofit office where I was employed received a large box from our out-of-state headquarters. Inside the box was a used Apple Macintosh Computer. Like a second child receiving hand-me-down clothing from an older sibling, our branch office which did not have a computer got the cast-off while the main office bought newer models for their administrative staff.

I was the sole support staff in a small, two person office. Neither my manager nor I were computer literate and — typical of contented people confronted with sudden change — neither of us wanted anything to do with a PC. There was no manual inside the box containing our used computer, but it did arrive with something else; a two word dictate from the main office:  learn it. Continue reading →

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In Search of Black Baby Boomer Blogs

Posted on January 22, 2012 by L Parker Brown

As I have discovered, there is no shortage of Baby Boomer blogs. There are sentimental blogs that feature, among other things, entertaining stories about Boomers who were at Woodstock or who were among the screaming teenagers at the Beatles’ 1964 Carnegie Hall concert. And there are the forward-thinking bloggers who post practical information about travel, jobs, retirement and reconnecting with old friends on Facebook. Since photos of the bloggers or contributors often accompany their posts, when reading those web logs I occasionally ask myself:  Where are the blogs featuring BBBs’ (black Baby Boomers)? 

Collectively Baby Boomers have generational similarities, but by the same token different racial groups have unique and unshared experiences. It is a given that overall black people work at keeping folks out of their business; including those who work overtime trying to get into other folks’ business. But that is neither here nor there. Continue reading →

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One Life and Living It

Posted on January 7, 2012 by L Parker Brown

Some Boomers say that they rarely watch television, because there is nothing on it but bad news, grandstanding politicians and trashy sit-coms. It’s true. There is a whole lot of nothing on TV, but occasionally you will find an uplifting program.

That was my good fortune one evening when I tuned in a public broadcasting channel, WHUT. Howard University Television recently aired the delightful program Over 90 and Loving It. The show profiles people in their 90s and 100s who are not just existing – they are living life to the fullest. Unless you are a discontented Boomer who hopelessly bemoans the fact that you are aging, you will applaud and adore the spunky seniors in the broadcast.

There is the charming couple, Arnell and Ernest Rogers, previously a widow and widower. Their lovely church wedding, where they married each other at ages 91 and 93, is one of the more touching scenes in the program. 

While all of the stories are heartwarming, some are absolutely remarkable. Continue reading →

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