Welcome to The Feral Elder by Valerie Hershfield. Our goal is to exchange stories and reflections from those viewed as senior citizens. We avoid setting any specific age threshold. We aim for this space to spark a smile, encourage thought, or prompt a head slap with the realization that the same event occurred to you. Perhaps it will even inspire you to contribute your own stories. Reach me at feralelder.indepthnh@gmail.com

Who is Valerie Hershfield?

Born in California, I have resided in eight states across my eight decades, with the most active stretch being the 11 years spent in New Hampshire. There I applied my journalism training as a reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader, handling all manner of local stories from crime to community events. I balanced that role with work as an international tour guide, a bartender, a researcher for Judge Judy, and a volunteer emergency medical technician. Today I reside in rural northeast Iowa alongside two cats while serving part time as a museum guide and an instructor of English for non native speakers. Join me on this journey.

Welcome to what some might term the Sweetie Pie Senior feature. My daughter suggested the previous entries better fit a Grumpy Elder label instead. Still, even with the frustrations of growing older such as being overlooked or hearing odd remarks like you look fine for your age I feel grateful to reach 80.

Being older and courteous recently helped me avoid a speeding citation. A year earlier the same young officer issued only a warning after I failed to halt fully at a stop sign, showing mercy to this appreciative senior.

I belong to the first wave of baby boomers, a group often seen as the most fortunate and successful due to the economic boom after World War II. Home ownership stands out as one key advantage. The prior silent generation earned more than their parents, and data shows boomers earned roughly 27 percent more than theirs. The silent generation quietly launched the free love era, while we boomers expanded it boldly in the 1960s and 1970s.

Medicare deserves praise as a vital support I value greatly. Though unintended, our large cohort consumes it rapidly. We represent a sizable population with extended lifespans compared to earlier groups, another advantage for us. Smaller succeeding generations mean fewer workers contributing to the system, though that is not their doing.

The music stands out too. I respect current stars like Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny for their skill and energy, yet classic rock endures thanks to boomers sharing it onward. It resurfaces via television, films, and online platforms. As teens my close friend Elaine and I would dance in her room for hours while debating our favorites between Elvis and Ricky Nelson. Later I developed a strong admiration for Paul, the appealing Beatle.

Numerous volumes explore the rapid rise of the computer era and artificial intelligence. Though not opposed to progress, I recall a charm in lacking constant digital connections. Face to face interactions mattered more, and some privacy remained feasible. Bullies had to confront targets directly rather than through anonymous online reach.

Occasionally I enjoy playing the role of the old timer. Recently I told a teenage coworker that area codes once reflected city sizes such as 212 for New York so dialing went faster. She paused at the idea of dialing itself. I recall attempting quiet late night calls on our sole hallway phone to avoid my mother hearing, though success proved impossible.

Our youth featured more free play. While structured activities hold value, I recall riding Blackie the Wonder Horse at age 10 with friends from morning until dinner, encountering snakes and streams along the way. My mother remained unaware of the Boy Scout camp visits. Later I never permitted my own child such freedom. We avoided both overscheduled routines and constant screen attachment. Yes, I sound elderly and irritable.

Younger years also held dark chapters including the Vietnam War with battlefield deaths and home protests, plus the arrival of AIDS that brought physical and social harm. Yet civil rights and women's rights advanced meaningfully. I stand firmly in support of these causes, which fostered bonds among allies on every side. I avoid idealizing past struggles that persist today, yet we appear less divided than the harsh polarization now common. Might we restore harmless protests like bra burning?

Returning to the column name, feral suggests untamed freedom rather than domestication. I view this positively and believe a touch of wildness benefits any age. I appreciate the chance to live through remarkable eras. And perhaps I do appear well for my years.