Generations

I have discovered that I am a 75-year-old millennial. Until reading an article this morning, I had only heard the label millennial tossed in with the terms GenX and baby boomers. In passing, I thought of my grandson as a millennium baby because he was born near the turn of the century.

My husband and I had the pleasure of raising our grandson in our home. He is an only child, raised by a single mother, four doting adults, Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie, and a non-custodial but present dad. As he was growing up, I was very aware that he and I lived parallel but not intersecting lives. I was the wage earner, world-trotting member of the family, not a cookie-baking, rocking chair kind of granny. I had always felt in my gut that we didn’t quite bond but rather had mutual respect. When we shared a hug, it was more like a wink between us of accepted differences.

The decades have passed, I am now retired, and Randall is struggling with the social and economic climate of the twenty-first century. At their outward appearance, he is a typical Millennial. He has no traditional partner, no intention of starting a family anytime soon, is nearing his thirties, lives with roommates in a large city, has no secure career path, and, if he could afford it, would purchase an alternative energy vehicle. I began to understand these things when he and I spent a week caring for a disabled family member at Disney World. His first declaration to me as he met us in the airport was,” Grandma, I need you to know I smoke weed, have a job selling it, and am working on a degree in marijuana culture, cultivation, marketing, and management. I need you to know that.”

I replied, “Good, I am glad you have decided on a career goal. My concern with your indulging as a teen was the draconian laws that destroyed friends’ lives in the seventies and eighties. It wasn’t grass; it was the consequences I was trying to protect you from.” While conversing over the head of our disgruntled but loved family member, Randall and I caught up with each other’s lives after ten years of separation. We quickly discovered the bond I couldn’t put my finger on during his childhood. We discovered a shared life view nurtured and grown in different centuries.

· Neither of us buys lottery tickets or thinks Las Vegas is a vacation destination.

· We choose to do business with companies and stores that make charitable contributions and welcome policies towards diversity.

· We both love our mobile phones and computers.

· Neither of us chooses to eat fast food, and we love noodles.

· We don’t send postcards or snail mail

· He has never worn a business suit, and I have retired mine.

· We are both gamers on different platforms, same addition.

· College has never been in his plans, and he is unwilling to take on huge debts with no promise of career security. I never believed college was for everybody.

· He has a beard, and I no longer shave my legs.

· We are both vegan when possible and shun processed foods.

· We are both enrolled in online classes.

· Dry breakfast cereal is out.

· Neither of us rides a motorcycle but enjoys electric scooters.

· We are both drawn to big-city lifestyles

· Our reading materials have become increasingly digital or audiobooks.

· No golf, cows milk, beef, or cable TV for either of us.

· No expensive wine,

Zero-emission transportation is our preference.

· We chose to spend any extra cash on experiences rather than label clothing or fancy dining.

· He shares a rental with several friends, and I am finding that property taxes, insurance, and maintenance will soon force me from my home and into an apartment.

· Clothing is purchased for comfort, natural fibers, and from non-sweatshop companies. Neither of us owns an iron.

· No gym memberships or large, expensive exercise equipment.

· Music is an integral part of our lives.

· We drink coffee lots of coffee.

· We both save a percentage of our paycheck for a rainy day.

· We are both hardworking, but stable employment and advancement opportunities are no longer the norm.

· Brand loyalty and environmental concerns drive our spending choices.

· We are willing to pay for ad blockers.

· He dreams of opening his own business, and I dream of being a freelance writer. Employment choices are essential to us.

· The cost of medical care concerns both of us, and we are willing to explore non-traditional medical practices.

· Creativity and family are the centers of our lives.

· Randall and I both expect life to be a spiritual journey affecting us on a profound level.

As we split up at the airport to catch our separate flights home, Randall hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Grandma, you were a millennial before it was a thing.” I believe this Alice just recognized the face in the looking glass.

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