More About Boomerang

Why we wanted to do this site

Boomers are great believers in the power of change, and it seems there is a growing interest in “getting back to the basics,”in building community wherever we can. Salons, bridge groups, “knit and bitch sessions, community gardens, play groups for our kids, are all part of a what looks to be a growing movement – a movement for human connection.

Boomerang is devoted to building this connection, and while the focus is on boomers, we believe there is something for everyone, of any age, who is interested in building community and having fun.

Boomerang: Reconnecting with the best of Boomer Culture...

What is the best of boomer culture? Why do we love it so?

There are a few things I really like about the culture that I, as a baby boomer, grew up with. One thing was the style. I like the clothes, the typefaces used in magazines, the graphics, the TV shows, the cars and just the"feel" of things from the fifties and sixties.

I also liked the slower pace: eating dinners as a family, long drives out in the country as a means of entertainment, family picnics, bowling leagues. It seems to me that we spent more time just connecting with other people and less time plugged into a computer or television.

Maybe I'm being nostalgic, but I also think that because we spent more time with other people than with electronics, civility counted. Joe Dimaggio was lauded for his sportsmanlike conduct. On TV, at least, behavior was governed by a sense of fairness and what was "right." The "in your face attitude" and "end zone dance" had not yet been invented. "The bottom line" was not something you concerned yourself with at least once a week.

I also liked the way that we knew everyone in the neighborhood. I was as likely to get reprimanded by a neighbor as I was by my own parents. When my Mom was in the hospital for a pregnancy, I ate lunch at a neighbor's house. I had a second (and third) set of parents. There was a real sense of community and city neighborhoods thrived. Suburbs existed, but they were those rare enclaves around big cities like Chicago. Urban sprawl had not eaten up the countryside.

Being a part of a cultural revolution

And being a boomer for me also meant growing up for the most part during the '70s. I knew nothing about the antiwar movement of the late '60s, but I loved the peace sign and wore it when I could. I drew it in the dirt on the windows of cars I walked past, I doodled it in my notebook during class. I tie died clothing. I cut open my jeans and added material so that they would bell out more. I had older siblings so I had access to all the great music of the time: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Melanie, early Elton John.

There was a cultural revolution going on all around me: Earth Day was born, bras were burned, Bob Marley asked us to "Legalize it," and a true liberal became president. So, for me, what was best about growing up boomer was the style, the pace, the community, and the revolution. Let's celebrate those things together.

—Roxy Boomwinkle

What's it all about?

As Desi said to Lucy, we’ve got some “splanin’ to do.”

We’ve planned the site to be an online magazine with features and special focus sections as well as regular columns and departments. “Connecting” features articles and information on fun ways to connect and reconnect with each other—from block parties to the art of letter writing to how to start your own salon. We’ll explore things we can borrow from the past and discuss trends today that put a new twist on making connections.

“Confecting” is devoted to food and recipes. When talking to fellow boomers, we noticed that no memories evoked warmer feelings of comfort, community and home, than those of food. We will include recipes of favorite comfort foods from our past but, whenever possible, we will include reworked healthier versions of these favorites for those of us who want the flavor but would rather avoid the heavy fats and sugar.

“Reflecting” is a special area devoted to sharing memories. This section basically will be written by our readers. We will announce a topic two months prior to the edition in which it will appear to give folks the opportunity to send us emails and, if they like, digital photos based on the upcoming theme. We’ll be asking for 100 to 150 words maximum and reserve the right to edit things down so that we can include memories from as many people as possible. We hope that each month’s theme will offer an opportunity for discussion—conversation starters if you will—with our families, friends and coworkers.

“Boomer Culture” is devoted to all things Boomer including popular culture, trends, entertainment, style, politics and the fun and special "boomer stuff” that some find highly collectible today.

We include "Crafting" featuring information on how to make unique and fun "stuff" and "Granola Girl" with tips from our very own hippy dippy, environmentally sound lifestyle goddess, to round out our "back to basics" theme.

Since Boomerang is new, we’re still “feeling our way,” and we’re open to suggestions on how what you’d like to see and how we can improve the site. We look forward to sharing with you and building the Boomerang community. You can contact me (Betty Boom) at bettyboom@boominback.com or Roxy Boomwinkle at roxy@boominback.com.

—Betty Boom

And for more on Boomer culture check out our Fun Boomer Links page.

Trouble with the site? Contact webmaster@boominback.com