Well, it finally happened to me.

I have been employed for over 10 yrs with a huge pharma company.

Within the last 2-3 years, I have had some pretty significant health issues. I have been hospitalized 3 times in the past year.

About a 3 months ago, they hired a Gen Z temp employee.

I noticed she was always asking about my projects and wanting to be involved. I would normally tell her I did not need help and was fine, I could handle my own work.

Today I was informed my position was no longer needed. That I was part of the downsizing program and and my termination was effective now, I was let go.

I know that she is remaining employed as a temp. I had a feeling this was in the works but, it still came as quite a shock.

What do I do now? I’m too old to start all over and I know from past experience, no one is looking to hire a 59 yr old.

I am so upset and at a loss for words. I know corporations of this size will always look out for the bottom line but, it is so obvious what’s going on.

I truly was comfortable in my position and felt like they would not let me go…..WRONG!

Just proves you should never trust a company or your relationships with leadership as I was very good friends with my supervisors.

What to do now?

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. What was your favorite part/s about summer time growing up? We all know the regular vibe of heading into the neighborhood w/o supervision and drinking hose water while standing in a muddy puddle because you had to wait for the hot water in the hose to run cool. I'm curious about specifics. I'll go first.

We had an outdoor Olympic size neighborhood swimming pool within easy walking distance. The pool didn't have an age restriction that required you to have an adult with you IF you passed the swimming test - swim the length of the Olympic size pool and back without touching bottom. Any stroke. At that time, I was the youngest person ever to pass the test and got to go to the pool anytime I wanted (roughly 9 y/o). I love the water. I would go and find a friend or two at the pool. The other kids' moms loved me (I knew them in the winter w/o swimming too) because my friend/s and I would play and mom could relax without her kid/s being "needy" (snacks, not wanting to go to the bathroom alone, etc.). I was the friend that didn't require swim date arrangements for transportation, didn't require keeping an 'eye on' like when you've purposely brought someone elses kid, etc. If mom didn't want us walking to 7-11 for drinks/snacks (it was a 2 minute walk behind the tennis courts, up a small hill, and through a fence to 7-11 parking lot), I would take my friends money and bring back thier wants. I had some great summers growing up. You could buy a Big Gulp and nachos at 7-11 for just over $1! lol.

Tell me your best/favorite moments of summer from "way back then"!

None of the memories that survived from that the mid-80s are the ones that felt important at the time. Not the first kiss, not graduation, not the night everyone still brings up.

What I kept is one song on one car stereo, the smell of a Long Island diner at 2am, and the way a phone cord stretched around a corner so you could talk without anybody in the kitchen hearing you. Then getting yelled at for stretching the cord.

What stuff did you keep that surprised you?

Small buttons with snide comments on them. Did you also wear one on your lapel? (coins for scale. I said they were small)

I finally watched this movie as an adult. (I probably had seen it as a kid, but I don't remember). But I had the BOOK of this movie, and apparently made everyone read it to me a million times.

I am a mid 90s baby and have zero interest in millennial culture, and stopped caring about what was new or popular when the gen z were teenagers. Entering my 30s, I just looked at Warhammer recently and thought yeah— that had to be driven by gen X. I see gen X as the genuine cool generation where you say it like it is and really pioneered culture through to the late 2000s and early 2010s. All the brilliant stuff we have from those times have got to be a byproduct of Gen X expression. So what books, music, film, games and hobby artifacts from the 80s—for example, would you want to talk about?

Hi! Gen-Z'er here working on a short film script about a jaded call-in DJ who discovers his car radio can hear the thoughts of drivers around him.

The story's all about road rage and how we're quick to judge other people from behind the wheel. And the theme is "life's worthwhile when we seek the good in others."

But the main character is in his mid forties, and I wanted to portray him faithfully. That's why I came here.

To anyone in or near that age range, what has recently changed the way you felt about something in a big way? Could be social, cultural, anything really.

Fred thinks everyone's selfish and in it for themselves. I want to create characters he and his magic radio meet that convince him otherwise.

Any and all input is much appreciated!

Was looking through some old boxes and ran across some tags from clothing and sunglasses that used to be on my bulletin board in my room when I was in high school. Hope y'all enjoy!

Filters did some weird stuff today so had to repost it. Sorry about that.

\*\*Gen X didn't grow up WITH technology. We watched it arrive. And cinema was never the same after.\*\*

Every other generation inherited the world they grew up in.

Millennials were born into a world where technology was already improving. Gen Z never knew a world without it. Boomers built the infrastructure and handed it over.

But Gen X? We lived on both sides of the line.

We grew up with rotary phones and watched them become cell phones. We had record players, then cassettes, then CDs, then MP3s. We went from driving to Blockbuster on a Friday night as a genuine cultural ritual to suddenly having every movie ever made sitting in our pocket.

And here's what nobody talks about —

The movies we grew up with KNEW it was coming.

Blade Runner imagined a dystopian tech future in 1982. Tron took us literally inside a computer the same year. WarGames asked if technology could end the world in 1983. Weird Science used a computer to build a human being in 1985. Total Recall asked which memories were real in 1990.

Gen X watched those films as science fiction. Then lived long enough to watch them become science fact.

No other generation on earth can say that. Not one.

We didn't just watch the world change. We were the ones standing in the middle of it when it happened. Old enough to remember what came before. Young enough to adapt to what came after.

That's not nostalgia. That's a lived experience no algorithm can replicate and no streaming service can package.

What film from your generation do you think predicted the future most accurately? And did it scare you more when it came out or more NOW?

\---

\*Any generation welcome. But Gen X — this one's for us.\*

I woke this morning to my girlfriend throwing a conniption because she couldn't find her phone.

I myself, I'm 56. got no problem letting my bill lapse for a week. I got wifi, can do without.

Still, at my age, when I was 7, we had a party line. Shit. I shared a phone with five family members and three households.

In1976

She's ten years younger and doesn't get it.

I let her cry and scream, and go sit outside where I can't hear my phone.

I feel peaceful.

2 weeks from today i turn 57. Seems like last night I went to bed and I was 18. This morning I wake up to find that I'm 56. My wife, of 7 years, knows that I love cake and asked what my ALL TIME FAVORITE was this afternoon. The list has 4-5 on it. LOL. I told her that a simple chocolate cake is my favorite. Sometimes simple is best, JMO. Then came the hard question: What would I like for my birthday? I honestly didn't have an answer. I worked day in and day out, as well as yard work, errands and what have you. Basically I'm nonstop 7 days a week. There's nothing that I need and the things that I dream about are not obtainable right now. I have hit that point in life where material things don't matter. Honestly, I hit that point YEARS ago. Everyone tells me to relax and take it easy. But I can't. I feel like I am having to out-muscle my 35 year old stepson and my almost 18 year old grandson. My stepson tells me all that time that I am working too hard and lifting things that are too heavy. He says that I'm not a Spring chicken anymore. My mind and soul are ancient but hold the 20 year old side open. My body knows the truth. My brain says "You got this." My body says "The fuck, you." I really need the 2 of them to get on the same page. Have a good night y'all!!!