All cultures celebrate rites of passage marking coming of age and other significant life transitions…walkabouts and vision quests come to mind. Here in the U.S., we baby boomers have experienced a wealth of our own cultural ceremonies and celebrations — bar or bat mitzvahs, quinceañeras, Sweet Sixteens, graduations, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and retirement parties. Some rites of passage may be acknowledged more privately, like coming out and transitioning. Think back and pick one of your own rites of passage…did the experience bring about a noticeable shift in your way of looking at life? Was it what you expected, better, worse, or just different? How did it affect the rest of your life? Share your rites of passage stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

In the previous prompt we asked you to write about a rite of passage that marked a significant transition in your own life. Now we'd like you to think about the final rite of passage for a loved one, a friend, or an acquaintance. Think back . . . what type of ceremony was held, if any, for the person who died? Were you involved in the planning, one of the mourners, or even just a casual observer? What kind of final farewell do you want to have when your time is up? Share your final farewell stories forward. Start Writing

For most of our time on this planet, we have gone barefoot. Shoes evolved as utilitarian protection for our feet, but now they’re fashion statements, links to how we identify ourselves, and even status symbols. Did you wear penny loafers, with or without the pennies? Ever splurge on Air Jordans or Chuck Taylors? Maybe you're on a first name basis with Manolo or revel in revealing the red sole of a Louboutin? From clogs to Crocs, from sneakers to stilettos, think back ... about the memorable shoes in your life and the role they played. Tell us about a special pair, or entertain us with vignettes featuring some of your favorites. Share your shoes stories forward. Start Writing

We grew up in an analog world when computers took up a room and hardly affected our day-to-day lives. To communicate, we used typewriters and pens, and dialed a telephone and it just … rang. For entertainment, we listened to records. When traveling, we unfolded maps. To find information, we opened the encyclopedia. Think back … which pre-computer items or technologies do you miss? Which ones are you happy to see gone? Share your life before computers stories forward. Start Writing

As we head into the final ten days before the election, there’s a good chance many of us are adorned with buttons, pins, and badges. Boomers likely have collections of them, dating back decades, for various causes and candidates. Think back … What are some of your favorites? Why did you wear them? Were the candidates or causes successful? What were you saying about yourself by wearing them? Share your buttons, pins, and badges stories forward. Start Writing

Besides keeping ourselves physically fit, people of a certain age are now encouraged to exercise our brains to keep them healthy. While they might not eliminate all those dreaded senior moments, brain games such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku are supposed to help stave off cognitive decline. Think back … Do you remember the previous generation exercising their brains? If so, how? What brain games are you playing to stay sharp? Or do you knit or dance instead? Share your brain games stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Come late summer, many of us spend more time in the garden, especially this year. Think back ... Did your family have a garden when you were growing up? Flowers, vegetables, or both? Do you have a garden now? Have you grown your own food? How do you cope with critters and weeds? Do you visit public gardens or parks? How do you feel in the garden? Share your garden stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

We boomers have lost many things on our journey to this phase of life. Of course, possessions, but also jobs, relationships, opportunities, people we loved, and on occasion our way. But we have also recovered some of those lost relationships and possessions, started new relationships, and have found new opportunities, dreams, insights, and paths forward. Think back… What have been some of the losses in your life? What have you found despite or because of these losses? Share your lost and found stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

In the future, Andy Warhol (famously) predicted, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. Think back ... What's your claim to fame? Been on TV or in the news? If you've been famous, what was it like? If not, would you like to be? Have you had brushes with fame or the famous? Are today's celebrities "famous for being famous?" Share your fame stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

One person’s junk can be another person’s treasure, especially at a yard sale. Whether before a move or because of the urge to purge, many of us have cleaned out our possessions and sold them on the lawn or from the garage. And, we might have combed through other people’s items looking for that unappreciated gem. Think back … What have you sold or bought and why? Are you a yard sale junkie? Did you ever make an exceptional find? Share your yard sales stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories