WALKING WITH COFFEE: A Boomer talks with a Millennial

Boomer – R.J. Cirillo

Millennial – Heather Corbo (hospital pharmacist living in Gowanus)

We are at Absolut Coffee on Atlantic Avenue near Hoyt Street, sitting with coffee in ceramic cups.

R.J.- “Growing up as a Boomer we always stopped and, like we are doing now, had our coffee. I see more people now, especially your generation, walking with their coffee in hand.”

Heather- “Yes, I think like with the kind of “hustle culture”, as they call it, people have lost the ability to slow down, so sitting with coffee for a lot of people feels like a waste of time. Also, we’ve forgotten how to just sit and be alone with our thoughts, and not be bored.  To just sit and enjoy something without being tied to technology or talking on the phone with someone. I think it’s always “GO GO GO” so people love their coffee, and they need the jolt of energy, but instead of taking the moment to enjoy it, and be present in that moment, they are trying to get to their next “Thing.”

R.J.- “It’s interesting that you mention being tied to technology, as I look around this coffee shop, every person here, mostly sitting alone, is on a machine is on a machine, in their own universe, headphones on staring into their phone or a laptop.

Heather- “I moved to New York in 2019, six months before Covid, and working in a hospital never left. I think the pandemic made people retreat even further into their devices and technology.

R.J.- “The term “Boomer has become sort of a put down, ya think?”

Heather- “I actually really enjoy talking with I guess…the Boomer generation.  I think their stories are better.”

R.J.- “Really?”

Heather- “Yes, because you guys had to capture all your memories a little better, not having this piece of technology in your hand recording everything for you. Like there’s a woman on my block, her name’s Lorainne. She’s 80 years old and lived on the block for most of her life.  The stories she tells are so vivid and real, and like if I had a chance to hang out with someone my age or Lorainne…. I’d pick Lorainne every time.  She’s just so fun to talk to.”

R.J.- “You know that’s a very unique perspective, I’ve spoken to a bunch of people your age and never heard that…. admirable I think.”

Heather- “Well I guess millennials and boomers don’t get many chances to connect. I moved to the block, and she was there.”

R.J.- “K, next question:  I graduated high school in 1969, went to Hunter College at a cost of $250 per semester.  How do you relate to that.

Heather- “My first year I was a songwriting major in Nashville and that was kind of paid for and not too expensive. I soon realized Taylor Swift had that one covered. To my parents’ great happiness, I switched to chemistry. The undergrad wasn’t too bad, but to get my doctorate in Pharmacy school I had to take out some heavy loans, and what you’re not ready for is the amazing amount of interest which starts building the moment you walk in the door.  So I’m doing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, but still it’s a lot of  years working in a specific field to pay off loans. Luckily I like my job.  But it affects other things, like you could never buy a house because you have large monthly payments already.  Most of my friends have significant amounts of student debt.”

R.J.- “OK, how about rents, I moved out when I was 18, got a one bedroom apartment in Flatbush for $90.

Heather- “OMG! It’s insane here now. I live with my fiancé, so we split the rent I think a lot of my generation, even if they are making what seems like a good salary, are still living paycheck to paycheck.

R.J.- “OK politics, when I was a kid, the president was JFK. He was 35.  Now for you, your choices for president are old Boomers, on both sides.  Can they understand and represent you?

Heather- “I think it’s difficult to feel connected when they’re so much older, but I also think they have a team behind them.  But politics today is such a touchy subject, the divide is so great, friends stop being friends.

R.J.- “Did that happen to you?”

Heather- “I definitely lost friends when covid was happening. I was working in a covid ICU and had people I know thinking it wasn’t real., So I lost a few there.”

R.J.- “How does disease become political?”

Heather- “That’s what I don’t understand either.”

R.J.- “Social media, how do you deal with that?”

Heather- “OK, I try not to like doom scroll on TIK TOK.”

R.J.- “Doom Scroll, that’s new to me, what’s that?”

Heather- “It’s like when you log on, saying ‘let me get on here for 15 minutes, and you start watching, scroll from clip to clip, then all of a sudden an hour passes.  It’s like dopamine rush, all 15 second cuts.  Our attention spans are being trashed because of this.  Now I have an app that sets my screen time and blocks me out after 15 minutes.

R.J.- “It’s a brave new world.   Thanks for talking to a Boomer!”

Heather- “Sure.”