Baby Boomer Lament

By Jim Smith

2 min read

I was born in the 50s; came of age in the 60s; went to college and married in the 70s; raised my kids in the 80s; watched them graduate high school and leave for college in the 90s.

In the 2000s, I cared for my parents in their final years, walked my daughter down the aisle, watched my son marry, and was blessed with two grandchildren.

Then, I was given two more grandkids, settled into retirement, and got leukemia in the 2010s.

Now in the 2020s, I'm wondering what the hell I'm going to do when I grow up.

Yeah, I'm a Baby Boomer

We’re the generation of hippies, the Vietnam War, the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassinations, Kent State, Woodstock, the moon landing, Watergate, and a hundred other iconic moments.

But we also had some great music: Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Mommas and the Papas, The Doors, The Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Otis Redding, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and the Beatles.

And, of course, the queen of 60’s music, Janis Joplin.

So, for the younger members of this site who missed out on all that fun, I thought I’d pass along a little paraphrased version of one of her biggest hits.

A song about leukemia

Cancer’s a bummer but maybe this far-out tune will blow your mind. So put on your paisley shirt, Nehru jacket, or mini skirt, pull your Harpoon out of your dirty red bandana, and sing along to the tune of Mercedes Benz.

Oh Lord, don’t you know, I was feelin’ just fine
Maybe a cold, or a flu sometimes
But now I'm a-sittin' just bidin’ my time
Oh Lord, I remember I was feelin’ just fine

Oh Lord, soon I’ll have, no hair on me
That’d be okay if I looked like Connery
But it’s gonna be more like Mahatma Gandhi
Oh Lord don’t take my hair from me

Oh Lord, there’s lots you could’a sent down
A car, a TV, a night on the town
But ya sent the Big C, now problems abound
Oh Lord, there’s lots you could’a sent down

Oh Lord t’aint the chemo that worries me
But it’s got side effects, I guess we will see
I’ll stock up on blue pills and take one nightly
Oh Lord, I really don’t want ED

Oh Lord I guess it’s all part of your plan
I’ll do the best to do the best that I can
Til’ the show’s all done and the film’s in the can
Oh Lord I’ll do the best that I can
Oh Lord I’ll do the best that I can

I hope that groovy tune really did blow your mind. Life can be a bad trip, man, but it like doesn’t always have to be a bummer, ya know? After all…

I’m not tryin’ to cause a big s-s-sensation, just talkin’ ‘bout my g-g-generation.

Peace.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Blood-Cancer.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Deb Wesloh Moderator & Contributor
Love it! What a fun story and great song! Sometimes when you're living with cancer you need to add humor to make it through. You captured the essence of your generation well. Even though I was also a baby boomer, I was at the tail end of that generation, but I always was more into 60s music than the 70s. Hope you are doing well. Take care.
Connie Connely Contributor
I enjoyed reading this, Jim! I am a baby boomer too. I remember thinking as a child that our world would end. Remember duck-and-cover drills in school? Some preachers claimed that Jesus was coming before the year 2000. Well, the Cold War ended and Jesus wasn't ready for us yet, so we're still here. I have accepted my MDS as my next chapter of life.
1. Jim Smith Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention user-id="3639405" username="Connie Connely"/> Thank you, Connie. Yes, you and I grew up in interesting times, or chapters as you put it. Your positive outlook on your new "chapter" is inspiring. I wish you the best, fellow Boomer. Godspeed.
Susan Gonsalves Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention user-id="3644983" username="Jim Smith"/> Thank you for your song. We need all the cheering up we can get these days, right? My music is all that "classic rock," stuff from the late 70s and 8os. Those were the days of hair bands, power ballads and MTV. LOL. I can appreciate the 60s however and love the groovy vibe. Peace.
1. Jim Smith Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention user-id="3653135" username="Susan Gonsalves"/> I was in college in the seventies listening to James Taylor, Cat Steves, and all the great artists of that decade. Good music.
VinnieCent Moderator
<inline-mention user-id="3644983" username="Jim Smith"/> I looked up Mercedes Benz and listened to it on Spotify. I enjoyed this. You should drop an album of your own! Thanks for sharing and entertaining. With much love and gratitude, -Vinnie Cent
1. Jim Smith Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention user-id="3654196" username="VinnieCent"/> Man, it really makes me feel old when someone has to actually look up a song I know. Just wait, that'll happen to you too in time! Godspeed, Vinnie.
Ann Harper Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention user-id="3644983" username="Jim Smith"/> loved this. I'm a bit younger - a 60's baby, so I experienced a lot of what you talked about. Janis Joplin is one of my favorite singers - too bad she was gone so early. Did you rewrite the song? Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing and the words really fit!
1. Jim Smith Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention user-id="3637920" username="Ann Harper"/> Thanks, glad you liked it. Sometimes my brain bends in weird ways.
skikam1 Member
Loved your story! and your lyrics. Words to live by. In Jan 2018 I was diagnosed with ALL went through chemo and 6 months later had a stem cell transplant. This is a time when you rely on your doctors completely and don't feel like you have much control. I decided I did have a few things I could do to help. I would eat, though not hungry. I would drink the water they asked me to do. I would walk, though every part of me didn't want to. And enjoy, yes enjoy, the time I had. So much of your story and the time line fits my life. Yep baby boomer. I might be a little younger, but close enough. I too chose a song and added my own words just to keep me going. I would walk the halls of the 4th floor oncology ward then out to a garden on the same floor. My husband by my side sing all the way. The song was from the late 50's by Patsy Cline called "Walkin' After Midnight" and here are my words I'll go out walkin' after chemo Out in the garden Where it's healing for my soul I'll go out walkin' after chemo Healing for me And if I see a hummingbird flying I just can't stop from smiling The winds just keep whispering to me Just go out walkin' after chemo Healing for me I'm always walkin' after chemo Just keep on walkin' Let it lift your soul up high So go out walkin' after chemo Healing for me Parts of life can be that "bad trip" and cancer is a bummer! But the rest of it, is what you make of it. I chose to smile and sing. Thanks
1. Jim Smith Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention user-id="3653041" username="skikam1"/> Well, if you remember Patsy Cline then you can't be that much younger than me. I love how you've adapted that song to help you brave things through at the hospital. I think younger folks reading your comment should learn the melody and sing your words to it. It makes me happy to visualize you and your loving husband walking together and singing. I'm glad you chose to smile and sing as you took on your health challenges. Godspeed to you and your husband. He must be a special man.
2. skikam1 Member
 He is a very special man. And Godspeed to you and yours too.

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