Late this month is my 28th birthday. A loose sketch of my life thereupon being born in 1988 works like this: 80’s baby, 90’s kid, 2000’s teen, 2010’s twenty-something, etc. The key word here, however, is “loose” (I turn 30 in 2018, turned 20 in 2008, and reached both adult “gateways” of 18 and 21 in 2006 and 2009, respectively).
An FM radio station in my metropolitan area (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), which I lovingly refer to as “Oldies 98” though it is no longer called that anymore, and for a very good reason: 1970s and 1980s music dominate (especially the former), with limited 1960s content and two special shows on Sundays entering 1950s territory. One of which, from 7-10am, is devoted to the King of Rock and Roll (Elvis Presley), the other a doo-wop show from 9 pm to midnight. (For those readers, e.g., Europeans, who do not observe “am” and “pm,” as far as I know, that would be 21:00 to 0:00). Otherwise, 1950s content is not in the domain of that station. Early 1990s music is on the rise as well, by the way. Before you know it you will see mid-to late 90s content.
TV commercials from the 1990s and before are always showing their age. What was new becomes old, and the old just gets older. I only have two years to go until I hit 30, considered a tough birthday by some. But for me, big deal. It’s a birthday, period. Just because it starts a decade in life doesn’t make it any more weighty than one’s 29th or 31st birthday. And birthdays are for celebrating, not mourning.
I must say I have much in common with the Boomers and Gen X generations. The Gen X-ers are coming of middle age, just as the Boomers are coming of old age. I like books (as the blog’s name suggests) more than websites, and if the latter, prefer to print them out. I prefer landlines over cell phones (especially if they have the classic “letter-based” numbers. I appreciate technology, but great wisdom and judgment must be in its use. Despite the fact Google and Wikipedia nearly killed the standard reference systems as you can find in a library. I still enjoy encyclopedias (especially Britannica, which is, alas, now only offered online for a premium; the print forms and even CD/DVD software are no longer manufactured. I get it free through my local community college). Yet again, Google has its purpose, and we must be content with the 21st century methods of research. But it also is the leader in pornography and other objectionable content, so wisdom is relevant there too. No doubt about it, I am a “conventional Millennial.”
Age aside, you may ask, does this make me less “youthful?” The question, though, is irrelevant, all of life is to glorify God. Youthful or not. I probably won’t get my bachelor’s till my early 30s, but who cares? It’s a “quality over quantity” issue. So it doesn’t matter how close to retirement I am; it’s about what you do, not how long you do it.
“Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, Life goes on, bra, La la, how the life goes on”
The Adventures of a Christian Bookworm 