It’s common this time of year for critics to compose their Top 10 lists regarding the year that is about to pass into history. Mister Boomer, his own biggest critic, wanted to get in on that annual custom, so here is his own Top 10 list. These are his favorite posts from the past year; because they injected a bit of fun into the boomer landscape, otherwise directly addressed the mission of misterboomer.com or just because he felt they were worth a re-read. He hopes you enjoy looking back at these tidbits with nostalgia and interest, whether they are an encore presentation or you’re seeing them for the first time. They are listed here in the chronological order in which they appeared in 2013:
Looking for Fun and Feelin’ Groovy
Mister B recalls purchasing his first pair of bell bottom pants in 1967 while trying to figure out how to remain fashionably relevant in the 21st century.
Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song
From his father singing in the supermarket in the 1960s to instantly remembering lyrics to 50-year-old songs while shopping in 2013, Mister Boomer takes a walk down a melodic aisle of memories.
Talking Animals Sold Cereal to Boomers
As a literally growing demographic, the Boomer Generation became a target for advertisers on TV. Since we were youngsters, that meant two things that we could sway our parents to buy us: toys and cereal. The latter was often advertised during the Saturday morning cartoon schedule. To appeal to us even more, the cereal marketers created cartoon characters to represent their products. Here is a overview of some of the grrreat cereal mascots that made us cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.
Boomers and the Singularity: One Was the Only Number
For most baby boomers, one wasn’t the loneliest number, it was the only number when it came to several things in their lives, including cars, TVs and ONE dinner time. Mister Boomer explored the “ones” in our early days in two parts; the second addressed telephones and bathrooms (Boomers and the Singularity: One Was the Only Number — Part 2).
Boomers Learned to Wait
We boomers learned at an early age that good things come to those who wait. Mister Boomer explores the differences between our days of anticipation and today’s on-demand lifestyle.
Boomers are Helping to Seal the Fate of the Envelope
There are many things that were necessities in our day that either have no use, or diminishing use, today. Among them is the number 10 envelope. Mister B recalls the heyday of this boomer-era workhorse that is now all but put to pasture.
Boomer-Era Dashboards: Testing Our Metal
Mister Boomer conjures up memories of metal dashboards on cars — stylish, utilitarian and scorching hot in the summer sun, not to mention the safety concerns.
Boomers Loved That Beatles Hairstyle
As soon as The Beatles landed in the U.S. in 1964, their moptop haircut made news. Here Mister Boomer relayed information on the origins of The Beatles’ haircut, and it’s cultural influence throughout the boomer years.
Boomers Gave the Peace Sign More Than a Chance
Not every boomer knew that what we called “the peace sign” was originally a symbol invented for an anti-nuclear organization. Mister B explores the history of the iconic symbol that still survives today.
Boomers Watched the Events Surrounding the Assassination of JFK
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There isn’t a boomer anywhere who doesn’t recall the events surrounding November 22, 1963. Mister Boomer adds his story to the narrative that permeates our generation.
We hope you’ve flashed back to some great memories while reading Mister Boomer’s musings this past year, and will remain a frequent visitor in the coming year.
Happy Holidays from Mister Boomer!