The “Lunch Bunch” at Garden Spot Village is the brainchild of Jim, the former undertaker you have heard both Bob Fell and I speak so highly of. The group was originally designed so those residents who were single could socialize together and explore different types of dining in different cities. It does not surprise me that Jim formed a single’s group here of which the majority was WOMEN.

As the rest of the community discovered the fun “Lunch Bunch” was having, some of the married couples decided it was unfair that this group should cater only to singles, and in an uprising, boldly barnstormed the club, never to be left back at the ranch again. So, the “Lunch Bunch” is now an eclectic mix of younger and older, single and married, and not mostly women.  Each month, they visit a different dining establishment by bus (no repeats allowed – even if the food was amazing!).

The highlight of my day was meeting the adorable Lucy and Warren. They are a German couple who were acquaintances in Germany and eventually moved to the United States in their twenties to pursue careers in New York City. They married here. The most obvious thing about Warren was that he worshipped Lucy. He stroked her hair, put his arm around her, laughed with her, playfully teased and told stories and proclaimed that she was “the best.” And Lucy loved it. She also went out of her way to make sure that she was introduced to me and seemed to have a genuine interest and care for the people around her. They smiled often and said that sometimes they do speak in German to one another to keep from forgetting it. When the food was served, Lucy got chicken parmesan which was unfortunately very overcooked—one of the downsides to eating with a group of 30. She struggled to cut the meat and eventually surrendered the majority of it to her husband for carving and consumption.  They spoke dreamily of their days growing up in the city and eventually raising a family in Long Island. Lucy said they used to drive up to see the grandchildren play sports—“my grandchildren are involved in everything! We used to go see them, but now they must come see us.” Fortunately, the grandchildren are on traveling soccer teams so they are able to work a few trips a year in around Garden Spot Village.

Best thing learned today:

You can still be totally in love with someone at 90. TOTALLY IN LOVE. Hopelessly, with abandon, eternally, physically, emotionally, spiritually in love.

The generations in retirement communities are mostly a mix of those that went through the Depression, WW II and the Korean War.

I am learning to love that time in our country and love a little less this time in our country. So many have told me they are happy they were a part of that time… they are glad they’re not in the main stream now. But it’s not because of what this time is as much as what the past time was… it was a time of struggle, a time of sacrifice and a time of loss… but it was also a time that solidified a country and its people and defined the generations that went through it.

Universally they are thankful for the defining moments in their life… seeing the good that came out of the bad… the sweet that came after the sour.

The Depression taught them to be frugal and plan ahead, as well as how to share. WW II taught them how to sacrifice for something bigger than themselves and how to rally together. And while I have to admit that I never gave much thought to the Korean War (except that it didn’t look that bad from the MASH reruns I saw)… it was a war where more than 36,000 people died and it was only five years after WW II. This taught them never to take anything… even peace… for granted.

I am left feeling mildly envious of the strength of character they possess… the sense of purpose and their common bonds. I am also left wondering about us Baby Boomers… what defines us…

Yes, you can say Vietnam… but what did Vietnam teach us? Skepticism? The power of the individual? Both worthy things… but not the basis of a generation. Looking back… I think our legacy is that of skeptical individualists… we don’t trust or join, we look out for ourselves and our own… we get our share and more if we can.

No… we are not evil and wrong, and the older generations aren’t perfect and pristine… but doesn’t it make you think about your life going forward?

It makes me think about what we’re going to be like as we age… what will define us… what will drive us… and what does that mean for the marketplace who is trying to please us?