Portland's Baby Boomers Social Club

Last Saturday night I stepped way outside the box and attended a singles dance sponsored by The Baby Boomers Social Club. It was a spur of the moment thing. I saw a tv new report on the dance and decided to go.

Getting there was easy. The Portland Red Lion is right on the MAX (rapid transit) rail line. Many of the boomers who grew up in Portland remember it as "Top of Cosmo", where in the 1960s and 70s it was the place to go for Prom Night or that special night on the town. The view is spectacular overlooking Portland city lights and the Towers of the Convention Center. It is a nightclub atmosphere offering music from the 50s to the 70s with a few 80s.

I got there early so that I could attend the dance class. For the past 45 years I have been telling myself that I cannot dance fast. There were two women for every man at the class. I knew I was going to be in for a fun evening.

After a short half hour lesson the games started. I found a spot to set at the end of a long table. Before long I was joined by Elizabeth, Arlene, Maureen and Evelyn. Like most boomers, they could dance and they took turns with me. It was a fast four hours and before I knew it I was on the train heading home.

The following is from their website http://www.babyboomerssocialclub.com. They say it better than I can.

“The Baby Boomer Generation was born 1946 to 1964. Boomers grew up in a time of change, music was changing, we ushered in rock n roll and we proved it was here to stay. There were many societal changes whereby we were called "The Me Generation, If It Feels Good Do it". Well, it still feels good to dance and the Baby Boomers Social Club is meeting that demand and making it happen for hundreds of Boomers. Music is good for our soul and dancing is good for our hearts. Most all health organizations tell us we all need to exercise more, what better way than meeting a group of your peers and dancing to the music you love. The Baby Boomers Social Club provides this form of recreation and entertainment.”As we get older, our children leave home, our parents or a spouse pass on, or we could be in a rut and need change. There is emptiness and we all deal with change differently. The Baby Boomers Social Club is here to help us get out of our comfort zones, go out and meet new and old friends, to establish new relationships to last our lifetime. The Baby Boomers Social Club provides an atmosphere where friendships can be cultivated and members feel they have an extended family. We want to grow into our old age and beyond "in our own way". As always, we are changing the definition of middle age and old age. We are not going to age quietly.

“Everyone has their own reasons for coming but many are saying, "We really needed a place like this", "we needed a place for our age group, our time and our music". Some have run into friends they had not seen for 25 years.

“We can be ourselves, aging rock n rollers out to have fun, dance and remember the good times. We are now making more good times. We have left our inhibitions, clicks and attitudes back in high school, now we just have fun.”.

Ladies in Red Hats

Have you noticed older women running around in red hats and purple outfits? They are members of an organization called The Red Hat Society. I went to their website (http://www.redhatsociety.com/) looking for information about the group. I found the following poem. I have reprinted it here is all the disclaimers. Thank you ladies, for brightening my day.

"Ode to the Red Hat Society"

by Sue Ellen Cooper
A poet put it very well. She said when she was older,

She wouldn't be so meek and mild. She threatened to get bolder.

She'd put a red hat on her head, and purple on her shoulder.

She'd make her life a warmer place, her golden years much golder.

We read that poem, all of us, and grasped what she is saying.

We do not need to sit and knit, although we all are graying.

We think about what we can do. Our plans we have been laying.

Instead of working all the time, we'll be out somewhere playing.

We take her colors to our hearts, and then we all go shopping

For purples clothes and hats of red, with giant brims a-flopping.

We're tired of working all the time, and staying home and mopping.

We order pies and chocolate fudge, and rich desserts with topping.

We crown ourselves as duchesses and countesses and queens.

We prove that playing dress-up isn't just for Halloween.

We drape ourselves in jewels, feathers, boas, and sateen.

We see ourselves on television and in magazines.

We laugh, we cry, we hug a lot. We keep each other strong.

When one of us goes out for fun, the rest all go along.

We gad about, we lunch and munch, in one big happy throng.

We've found the place where we fit in, the place we all belong.

We do own the rights to this poem, and we share it with our members freely. The "Ode to the Red Hat Society" may not be used on product for sale or in the promotion of product for sale except by express written permission from the Red Hat Society.A beautiful bookmark with this poem on it may be found on sale at the Red Hat Society Imperium.

Nancy, I miss you so

Nancy,
I miss you so!
I have become just
a shadow in the
chambers of my mind.
I have nothing
but old letters,
cards, emails
and memories
to keep me company.

There is a lonely
wind blowing
cold within me,
searching within a
heart made empty
Of song.

I am missing you
with a madness
that wrenches my
soul and renders
me incapable of
living in this
world of walks, sunsets,
full moons and
endless nights

Perspectives - an email story

This arrived by email this morning from a good friend. The author is unknown. It's too badpeople don't give credit where credit is due. I did a web search and checked the Urban Legend site (www.snopes.com) without success. I'm going to go ahead a reprint the story here. Enjoy.


One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Please pass this page on to friends and acquaintances to help them refresh their perspective and appreciation.

"Life is too short and friends are too few."