Trends for grown-ups

Susan Swartz
Despite Boomer evidence to the contrary, some people, mostly
marketing specialists, still contend that after youth, people
become stuck. They cling to the familiar. They don’t change
toothpastes or cereal. They avoid anything new. But that is so last
century, back before the likes of Facebook, iPhones, Twitter and
…let me add, Zumba.
Earlier this year came the report that women age 55 and over
make up the fastest growing user population on Facebook which made
people like me want to give a high-five for being so “in.” Or did
our joining mean Facebook was fading? Oh no. Boomers on board.
Trend over. But, Facebook still thrives, as a homey blend of young
people and aging groupies, kind of like a Bruce Springsteen
audience.
It took me a while to sign up. Posting about your everyday life
and aimless thoughts seemed so self-absorbed. But who was I
kidding. I’m a columnist and a blogger. I’m already self-absorbed.
Okay, but I’m holding the line at Tweeting although I just read
that Twitter, too, is being taken over by grown-ups.
For me joining Facebook was like going to a high school reunion,
hooking up with old friends and getting to see what they look like
after all these years. I’ve reconnected now with friends from high
school and college days but my big score is finding a grade school
friend from Hamden, Conn. who remembers stories about my family and
the name of my first dog. She and I have now moved off Facebook
into regular email so we can have more privacy. And we’ve even
advanced to talking on the telephone.
Facebook is also a way of staying connected to popular culture.
Not everyone thinks that is vital. Leave these new devices to the
young, they say. But even if you don’t invest time and money in the
latest trend or social networking gadget, don’t you want to be
aware of them? At least enough to get the references in New Yorker
cartoons.
Not everyone embraces Facebook. My friend Ellen adores reading
books on her Kindle computer but snubs Facebook. Plain old email is
just fine with her. She doesn’t even use her cell phone much.
One thing we’ve happily proven in all this is that technology is
our world too. You don’t have to have a young brain or know how to
type with your thumbs to play. If you can figure out how to reserve
a library book online, you can Facebook.
And if you ever did Jazzercise you can Zumba. I know that’s a
leap but trying out new moves is another way of keeping up. We
don’t want to be rhythmically challenged anymore than we want to be
technically locked out.
Just as with Facebook, I came late to Zumba, the workout craze
that combines Latin and African dance steps with good old aerobic
moves. But I like the idea of mambo in the morning and the music
alone makes you sweat. All body types and ages are welcome, at
least at my gym, although there are definite differences in skill
level.
The enthusiastic bodies in the front row are so sleek and agile
they could be dancing on a table top in Rio with roses in their
teeth. The rest of us are happy just to know our shimmy still
works.
Susan Swartz is an author and local journalist. You can also
read her at www.juicytomatoes.com and hear
her Another Voice commentary on KRCB-FM radio on Fridays. Email is
su***@ju***********.com.