Ok Gen X: Thinking about the 70s and 80s

Last fall my teenage son started using the phrase “Ok Boomer” just about every day.

“Hey, don’t forget to take out the trash,” I’d say.

“Ok Boomer,” he replied.

“Time to go to church! Let’s get in the car,” I’d mention.

“Ok Boomer,” he replied.

Like most Gen Xers, I was offended by his reply.

I’m not a Boomer! I automatically raged in my head each time he’d say that, not that there’s anything wrong with being a Boomer. It’s just not me.

If one thing good came out of his use of that phrase, it was how it reminded me of all the things I used, did or loved in the 1970s and 1980s that make me 100% Generation X. Things like:

The phone book

Remember looking up your friend’s family in the book? Or something like the ice cream store to call and see if they were open?

You got a new phone book each year, too. I wonder what happened to all the old phone books in the 1970s because I don’t remember recycling back then. Yikes, earth, sorry!

A Groovy Afghan

Who DIDN’T have one of these blankets or know someone who did? I don’t think we had one in my house, maybe because I grew up in Southern California and it just wasn’t cold. But my husband who grew up in Maryland still has his blanket just like this.

Old School Beauty Products

Remember Bonnie Bell lip smackers? Or these little tins of lip lickers that smelled so good but got your fingers all messy?

And Love’s Baby Soft! I was sooo excited to get a bottle for my 13th birthday.

The Trapper Keeper

Last but not least is the pièce de résistance for middle school and high school students in the 80s: the Trapper Keeper.

True confession, I didn’t like these because flap because always broke so I did not use them.

BUT, I will still wave a Trapper Keeper along with my lip smackers, afghan and phone book in solidarity with my fellow Gen Xers.

OK Gen X!

Forever!

Want more Gen X fun? Check out my first post on That’s Inappropriate/Filter Free Parents about the Gen X phrases I use that go over my kids’ heads.