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5/29/2021 6:10:40 PM
Floating Free
What is a Name?
Memorial Day is a time of remembrance. Many people honor family and friends who are no longer alive while others look back further to uncover their family’s lineage. I became interested in the history of my parent’s surname and was surprised at what I found.
What is in a name? "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," wrote William Shakespeare in the 1600s. What he said is not necessarily so. For commercial reasons, roses have been given specific names that denote color as well as odor. There was a time when human brains may have been geared more towards detecting smells for survival. It helped primitive man avoid certain poisonous plants and caves inhabited by dangerous predators. Today, smell connections are primarily a matter of nostalgic memory. People reach for scents with names that bring a sense of well-being-lavender, lemon, forest/pine, and sea breeze. In our litigious world, we can even trademark names used to remember objects and attributes. In earlier eras, names were used to recognize what was important to the society of the time.
The sources from which names are derived include an endless number of physical attributes, places of origin, trades, heraldic symbols, trees, and almost any object one can think of. In hunter-gather societies, people were commonly distinguished by an event, a characteristic, or religious connotation. Before the Norman conquest, Britains were known only by singular personal names or nicknames. Communities were small, and there was no need for hereditary surnames. As the population grew and people were more difficult to identify, second names such as William the Short, John the Tailor, Roger son of Peter ‘the Bald’, and Mary of Wales were added. The Norman barons introduced Smith, Green, and Johnson, names that began to stick. Between the 11th and 16th centuries in England, they began to be passed on from one generation to the next. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England, it was known as a Poll Tax.
Countries added to the stockpile with names like French, Fleming, Beamish (Bohemian), Lubbock (from Lubeck a port in NW Germany), and Moore (Morocco). Wang, a common Chinese surname meaning ‘King’ was royal. Other names were derived from landscapes of hills, woodlands, and trees. As in the game whispering down the lane, adaptations of the original name were added to the litany of available surnames. Moore became Morris and Maurice.Hill became Hull, Holt, and Knoll. Wood turned into Greenwood, Woodman, and Attwood. Trees offered names such as Leaf, Bark, Root, Maples, and Oakley. Yang, a type of tree, was the royal surname during the Zhou Dynasty in China.
Names ending in —man or —er usually imply they were influenced by trade. Chapman was a shopkeeper, Leech a physician), Goldsmith a jeweler), and Baker—well, you can guess. By the 14th century, building skills were represented by Wright, Leadbeater, Carpenter, Plummer, and Smith, the most common name in English-speaking countries. From the military came Knight, Squire, Archer, Bowman, and Fletcher (arrow maker). Zhang, the Chinese word for archer came after the invention of the bow and arrow. The arts led to Painter, Fiddler, Piper, Harper, and the church added Pope, Bishop, Monk, and Abbott.
Spanish surnames originated as a way to distinguish between two men with the first name by using the name of their father or mother as the second. Examples include, Leon Alvarez (Leon, son of Alvaro) and Pedro Velazquez (Pedro, son of Velasco). Some names derived from geographic areas like Rcardo de Lugo (Ricardo from the town of Lugo) and others derived from occupations like Lucas Vicario (Lucas, the vicar). Hispanic people occasionally use two last names, one from each parent, though the practice is dying out.
Social class and culture had a strong influence on what people were called. Those of lower social status with less control often had their names handed to them by aldermen, lords, and other authorities. They weren’t always kind and included names like Dullard, meaning a hard conceited man, and Shakespeare (masturbator), though there were others emphasized good qualities like Kind, and Triggs (trustworthy). A Schiller was cross-eyed, Armann, a poor man, and Bechard a gossip. Those of higher status bore less common names like Baskerville, Darcy, Montgomery, Byron, and Percy. They indicate you come from a wealthy family, perhaps of royal blood.
My married name, Eichinger, is German in origin. It was first recorded in Austria’s medieval, feudal society. The name later emerged as a noble family with great influence, noted especially for its involvement in social, economic, and political affairs. Variations of Eichinger include Aiching and Aychinger.
I was previously married to a Rosenberg. He too bore a German name, one of the very first names on record to \be recorded. The name refers to one who resides by a place or area of roses. In medieval times, names were often based upon good feeling, mythical situations, or, as in Romeo and Juliet, a pleasing scent. An adaptation of Rose is found in every European country and varies from Roze in France, Rosette in Italy, to Ruzek in Czechoslovakia.
My partner for the last thirty years is a Losey whose family name can be traced back to Lueneburg in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands as early as 1277. Losey's migrated throughout Europe adding variations like Loseke and Loosman. Early American Losey’s worked on the Erie canal.
My mother’s father, a Friedman, was also Austrian-Germanic in origin. He was born in East Prussia before immigrating to America. My maiden name, Katzen, is one of the many forms of Katz. It derives from the Jewish words, ’kohen tsedek” meaning a priest of righteousness. Its earliest known use was in Germany in 1252. Since I cannot escape a Germanic heritage, I must remain a righteous person.
Over the weekend, why not look into the origin of your family’s name? The ten most common in the United States may surprise you. They are Smith (English), Johnson (English, Scottish), Williams (English, Welsh), Brown (English, Scottish, Irish), Jones (English, Welsh), Garcia (Spanish), Miller (English, Scottish), Davis (English, Welsh), Rodriguez (Spanish), and Martinez (Spanish). Those of European descent can search a free internet surname database site: https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/. Sites for those of African, Hispanic, or Chinese are listed in the reference section below. Have fun and a relaxing Memorial Day discovering your past.
References:
Ericsson, Lena (2015) What’s in a Name? Valea Technology and Law. retrieved from https://www.valea.eu/en/news/2015/whats-name-which-we-call-rose-any-other-name-would-smell-sweet-quote-romeo-and-juliet
Blake, P. (2011) What’s In a Name” Your link to the Past. BBC. retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/surnames_01.shtml
Hall of Names. retrieved from the website at https://www.hallofnames.org.uk/surname-meaning/?v=79cba1185463
Common US Surnames and Their Meanings ( ranks from the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census. retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/common-us-surnames-and-their-meanings-1422658
Powell, K. (2019) The Meanings and Origins of Spanish Surnames. thoughtCo. retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/spanish-surnames-meanings-and-origins-1420795.
Koon, W. (2016) The Complex origins of Chinese names demystified. Post Magazine. retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2046955/complex-origins-chinese-names-demystified
Website, (2020) 120 Most Popular African Last Names or Surnames. MomJunction. retrieved from https://www.momjunction.com/articles/most-common-african-last-names-surnames_00457713/
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Art is always for sale. Floating Free is 29” by 23”, framed / acrylic on canvas/ flowers appear to be floating on ice. $425. For information, contact me at [email protected].
If you discover something interesting about your family’s name, do share it on my blog site.
5/21/2021 10:04:33 PM
The Second Edition, published in 2020, considers effects of COVID-19 on museums.
Museums in Crisis
Portland was shocked a month ago when the Children's Museum announced it was closing permanently after 75 years. Shuttered nearby is the Discovery Museum at the Forestry Center adding to a sense of loss. Last month, the Oregon Historical Museum was damaged for the second time by rioters leaving behind broken windows, damaged sculptures, and graffiti. Though the science museum (OMSI) and art museum were able to reopen, ticketing is limited. With interactive exhibits unavailable, OMSI lacks the vitality that comes from excited children exploring its displays.
The year 2020 will be remembered as a time of crisis, innovation, anxiety, and introspection. With more people vaccinated, there is hope that cultural institutions will return to business as usual, but from where I sit, that dream is a long way off for museums. Much has to be done to restore public confidence in indoor gatherings, and they face challenges due to diminished resources and layoffs.
Cultural and creative sectors in the economy were greatly affected by the coronavirus crisis. The toll on museums remains distressing. The American Alliance for Museums (AAM) writes that a third risk closing permanently. The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) reported that science centers were forced to downsize in 2020 to survive. Attendance was down 75 percent from 2019, and though there's been an uptick since reopening, the numbers remain low.
When the pandemic struck, earned revenue disappeared overnight and small museums without an endowment suffered greatly. Relying heavily on day-to-day tour groups, daily visitations, and gift shop sales, there wasn't enough income to sustain operations. Those that hung on did so because of generous gifts from wealthy donors and granting organizations. Small business loans and the Federal Paycheck Protection Program provided lifelines for some, but not all. Their recovery, projected to take many years, will permanently alter the way they do business.
When museums closed, they continued to operate as virtual educators, offering programs, curator video chats, and curricula to students, parents, and teachers. Some responded to the need for in-person schooling by organizing enrichment classes within their facilities. These fee-based programs benefited the children of their wealthier, better-educated patrons. The AAM published a fascinating step-by-step description of how the Science Museum of Minnesota adapted to different stages of the pandemic. It can be viewed at https://www.aam-us.org/2020/10/20/downsizing-our-museum-in-the-face-of-a-pandemic. The article explains how many of the larger institutions managed.
Since most museums have no more than six months of funds in reserve for emergencies, the majority had to lay off half or more of their workforce. And, though it was a way to stay in touch with supporters, digital programs and classroom offerings were not robust enough to cover expenses. Unlike restaurants, when a museum closes, it closes forever. Government resources are needed in times of crisis to end a downward spiral.
The Federal Stimulus Bill passed under the Biden administration, thankfully included $135 million relief grants for the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities and $200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Some funds are earmarked for state and regional arts organizations that support local arts organizations and nonprofits while other money will offset administrative expenses for pandemic related programming.
Though double its pre-pandemic allotment, the funds allocated for the arts, double were a relief after Donald Trump's unsuccessful fight to dissolve the NEA. Even so, the amount is short of the $4 billion the arts sector requested in a #CongressSaveCulture campaign launched last year. A great deal more is needed to keep our cultural institutions going.
In the depths of the Great Depression, the Federal government supported the arts in unprecedented ways with New Deal projects. Tax dollars employed artists, musicians, actors, writers, photographers, and dancers. President Roosevelt’s mission was “to promote American art and culture and to give more Americans access to. . . an abundant life.” In addition to saving artists from poverty, thousands of citizens viewed original art and experienced professional theater for the first time. They enrolled in music, drawing, filmmaking, and acting classes. According to the National Archives, a recurring theme was the strength and dignity of common men and women as they faced difficult circumstances. It was an amazing period of creativity during a time of tremendous change.
Humanity again faces a situation that undermines the worth of a people unprepared for change. Technological and scientific advances are forcing our citizens to cope in unfamiliar ways. Swimming through a deadly pandemic and wading through lies spread on social media made matters worse. Global warming, advanced technologies, biological breakthroughs, along with changing worksite needs have been ravaging families for quite some time. The pandemic made people more aware of the financial and racial inequities plaguing the nation. It left Americans confused about the country's future.
Museums have always played a role in helping the public grapple with change. Artists interpret through visual expression the emotional and social disruptions impinging on our lives. Science and technology centers provide information about life-altering discoveries we will have to adapt to, and history museums contextualize change with the past.
The pandemic gave museums time to get their houses in order so they can be more effective in helping civilization grow and maintain a better social order. They've been considering more equitable, safe, and creative ways to work with the public. They've been reimagining how they operate, what subjects to cover, and whose art and scientific endeavors to feature. Diversity is very much on their minds.
The pandemic gave cultural institutions time to get their houses in order so they can be more effective in helping civilization grow and maintain a better social order. Museums specifically have been considering more equitable, safe, and creative ways to work with the public. They’ve been reimagining how they operate, what subjects to cover, and whose art and scientific endeavors to feature. Diversity is very much on their minds.
Creativity in the country will blossom again if a WPA-type arts program is reinstated. Inspiration is needed to helpus get through this transformative era. I've been following AAM and ASTC discussions and remain impressed with the inventiveness and goodwill of staff. Their hearts are in the right place and their missions appear solid. Museum junkies like myself will most certainly benefit. I look forward to seeing how they interpret the many changes that greet us daily. How with museums help society readjust and thrive?
References:
Kravinsky, N. (2021) Pandemi Has Many Small Museums At Risk of Closing Permanently. NPR. retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2021/03/29/980234526/pandemic-has-many-small-museums-at-risk-of-closing-permanently
Spolar, c. (2020 Museums are staying Alive During the Pandemic. National Geographic, retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-museums-are-staying-alive-during-coronvirus
website 2019. Science Centers and COVID—19. ASTC. retrieved from https://www.astc.org/coronavirus/
Li, S. (2020) American Museums are going through an Identity Crisis. The Atlantic. retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/11/american-museums-are-going-through-identity-crisis/617221/
McGlone, P. & Smee, S. ( 2020)Coronavirus shutdowns and charges of white supremacy: American art museums are in crisis. The Washington Post. retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/american-art-museums-covid-white-supremacy/2020/10/11/61094f1c-fe94-11ea-8d05-9beaaa91c71f_story.html
(2020 ) Leading in Times of Crisis. American Alliance of Museums. retrieved from website https://www.aam-us.org/programs/about-museums/leading-in-times-of-crisis/
Cascone, M. (2021) The $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Congress Just Passed Includes $470 Million for America’s Arts and Culture Sector. artnet news. retrieved from https://news.artnet.com/art-world/stimulus-package-includes-big-bucks-nea-1950807.
A New Deal For the Arts. National Archives. retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/new_deal_for_the_arts/index.html#
Lives of Museum Junkies- Second Edition is available online and in bookstores in paperback and ebook formats.
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5/15/2021 1:43:16 PM
The Garden
Planting a vegetable garden and watching things grow is a wonderful activity to do with children. If you don’t have space in your backyard, join a community garden and enjoy seeing your neighbor’s produce grow alongside your own.
Summertime—Will the Living be Easy?
Summer vacation will be a challenge after spending a year sequestered with children at home. I'm sure children and their parents learned a great deal about themselves, but it must have been tough going. They probably figured out what things are most important, what they enjoy doing, how they think, and how to organize their time. They discovered if they were self-starters or need to follow a leader's direction to complete tasks.
Years ago, I read a study about women who made it to the top of their organization. Sorry, but I no longer remember the source. The only thing the women had in common was that during their childhoods, they didn't attend school for an extended period of time. Some had serious illnesses while others had parents whose jobs took them abroad and disrupted their education. A few faced family crises that forced them to remain home to take care of an ill parent or to babysit siblings.
As young people, they came to understand themselves. They learned to occupy their time, and eventually became self-motivated young adults capable of rising to the top of their professions. So parents, have heart. The pandemic may have a greater silver lining than you think. Even so, as summer approaches you will have to consider how to manage with children underfoot for several more months.
Thoughts of a Young Person
School is almost over, let the fun begin. No more online classes or homework assignments. Lazy days are before me with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I can't wait to take out my bicycle and ride to the park with my buddy. I'm going to sleep late and do nothing, nothing, nothing! Maybe I'll see a few friends. I wonder if I'll have to wear a mask. I will eat a lot of ice cream, though, and go under the sprinkler if it is hot. Two whole months for play. Yea!
Thoughts of Parents
This April, two of my children returned to elementary school part-time and one attended high school a few days each week, but their hybrid classes will only last twelve weeks. I am tired of monitoring schoolwork and crave time alone with no responsibilities. Having the children engaged part-time along with online classes is almost as difficult as having them home full time. My days will remain disrupted making it difficult to work.
During confinement, my husband and I were our children's playmates as well as their parents. Now that the kids will start their summer vacations they will expect more freedom. How will I get them back into a routine so I don't go crazy? They'll be underfoot, tracking in dirt, and lounging around the house bored. They'll want to be entertained, fed continuously, and taken to the playground. Their demands will interrupt whatever I do.
Baby sitters cost $15 an hour and day camps are $200 to $350 per week. My husband and I live comfortably but are not so well off that we can afford to enroll three children in camps. I take them with me wherever I go-the grocery store, the cleaners, the garden shop, you name it. My older daughter will be vaccinated next week. She wants to visit her friends, but until the younger ones are vaccinated, I will have to limit who she sees. One good thing is that I don't have to wake up early and run around like a madwoman to be sure they're ready on time for the bus. And, I won't have to pack a lunch to send with them.
I better stop complaining and get organized, plan fun things like going on bicycle rides or hiking in the arboretum. Do I need to do more? My children lost a lot by not attending school last year. My six-year-old should be reading by now and she's not. A complete break from academics this summer may be foolish. That means that I will have to be the teacher or counselor.
What do I want them to learn? The school suggests they follow a workbook they will send home and complete the math and English exercises. I know the kids will fight me on that. My goal is to raise curious kids and wonder how to go about inspiring them. Perhaps I'll sign them up for swimming or a soccer camp instead. Maybe we'll go to the beach and stock up on vitamin D. Do they still need to practice the piano during vacation?
Parenting places different demands on those working outside of the house from those who are home and unemployed.
Thoughts of an Unemployed At-home Parent
It's much more relaxing when the kids are off from school, but I need to organize myself to ensure they are busy this summer. We managed all right during the school year, but it wasn't easy. Summer, though, is a time for exploration. It's no fun when children hang around bored. I want them to spend most of their time outdoors, but I also want them to keep reading and questioning. This is my chance to round out the gaps in their education. Nature camp or science camp for a few weeks would be a good start, but my budget is tight this year.
Instead of signing them up for a program, I'll arrange for a few excursions into nature on my own. We might start with a tracking expedition in the woods. Later we'll use an underwater scope to check out the creek and collect water samples to analyze. Food is a big issue, so planting and maintaining a garden will be a good challenge. I will get a food dehydrator so we can take fresh fruit and vegetables to make our owns snacks. Fun, fun, fun! I like teaching my kids and am fortunate I can be home to do so.
Thoughts of a Working Parent
My husband and I have been called back to work and the kids will be home from school expecting to have fun. How will I manage? Do I leave them by themselves all day under their older sister's care or pay for a babysitter? I don't trust my daughter to manage so that's not a good option. There are lots of summer programs, but they fill fast because of social distancing and cost a bundle. Perhaps my husband and I can alter our work hours so one or the other can stay home. I wonder if my mother or sister will help? I hate to burden them. This will be a very exhausting summer if I don't think of something soon.
I just had an idea. I have a friend with young children who might be willing to exchange care time with me. Our children can stay in a safety bubble around COVID while I watch them all for half a day and she takes the other half. If I have to work longer hours, then family members can help out or I'll pay for a sitter. It won't be as great a burden if I can offset costs by sharing with my neighbor. In August I'll take a week off and go camping with the kids. Until then, they can assist with housework. That should keep them busy. I'll also look into parks and recreation programs that don't cost too much?
Thoughts of a Grandparent
My grandchildren will be a burden on my daughter and her husband this summer. They've been called back to work full time. The 16-year-old would like a summer job, but no one is hiring teens her age. Now that she is vaccinated all she wants to do is hang with her friends. She needs supervision so she won't get in trouble. My grandkids will all need extra attention. I'll pay for them to go to science camps for at least a week.
My husband and I were vaccinated and feel it is safe to take them to the beach in July. We might even make it to the mountains before school starts. We will do what we can to reduce their parents' stress, and it will be a good way for us to get to know the kids better. When I was a child, my grandparents were always around to care for us. That type of assistance is not common these days, for families often live great distances away. I am glad the city's swimming pool will open. It is promising to be a hot summer.
I do worry about my grandchildren, though. They don't have the advantages I did as a child. My elementary school, for instance, had a free half-day summer program of crafts and sports actives that ran for eight weeks. We not only lived near our grandparents but were within walking distance of aunts and uncles. When people talk about it taking a village to raise a child, I agree. I just wonder how it can be done in modern America.
Please share your thought on spending the summer with children. Though most people look forward to breaking out of confinement, not everyone can take advantage of that freedom. Do comment on my blog site below.
Art is always for sale, The garden is 37” x 32” by 2”\. Acrylic paint on hardboard, wood frame. For sale at $499. Contact me for shipping information at [email protected].
5/8/2021 6:18:49 PM
Ellen: Wide-Eyed and Ready
What experiences will mark the phases she goes through throughout life?
Life Across Time
ail Sheehy published several books in the 1990s describing passages adults experience throughout their lives. She talked about youth taking longer to grow up and elders longer to die, and that during mid-life people embrace a second adulthood with deeper, more playful, and creative meaning. The problem with Sheehy's concept today, is that it does not embrace the majority of Americans. Though longevity continues to increase in all segments of society, vast socio-economic differences set people along different paths to old age. Not everyone can afford to have a mid-life crisis. People living in subsets of society go through passages that vary greatly. Forty percent of Americans living in poverty don't have a chance to customize their experiences as Sheehy suggested.
One hundred-sixty-years ago, life expectancy in the U.S. was 39.41 years. In 2020 it was 78.8. Despite the pandemic, 39.39 years is still quite an increase. Americans shouldn't be complacent though, for expectancy has been on a slight slide downward since 2015. Negative societal trends such as unbalanced diets, sedentary lifestyles, high medical costs, and increasing rates of suicide and drug use are impacting the poor more than the wealthy.
Despite the drop, centenarians have become more common. The United Nations estimates this year that 573,000 people will live to be 100, with that number escalating to 757,000 by 2045. The U.S. has the highest number of centenarians in the world with 97,000 alive in the country today. Kane Tanaka from Japan at 117 years is currently the oldest known person alive today. Back in 2003, when sixty gerontologists were asked to estimate life expectancy in 2100, their combined guesstimates had a median expectation of 100 and a mean of 292 years. The UN currently projects that elders over 60 will double by 2050. With such an increase I can’t help but wonder what will happen when more people live to 100? How will they pass their time and be supported through 30 or more years of retirement? What differences will there be between different segments of society.
Life's passages don't proceed in straight predictable ways as was once thought. The idea of retiring after 40 years with one company and taking home a pension and gold watch is gone. No longer do workers believe employers will be loyal to them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, people change jobs an average of 12 times and spend five years or less in each position. Job changes that require a move, disrupt relationships. The U.S.Census shows that the average American moves 11.7 times in a lifetime. In addition to employment concerns, people move because of changes in marital status, climate conditions, retirement, neighborhood changes, health issues, layoffs, and pursuing dreams.
A high school graduate's road to the grave will consist of many twists and turns. Independent living, long considered a milestone in the transition to adulthood, is not an option for 48 percent of young adults. The Pew Research Center reports that in 2020, 52 percent of young adults still lived with their parents, the highest amount since the Great Depression. Twenty-year-olds form goals that are expansive, focused on gaining knowledge and information for a long and nebulous future.
When finally independent, they move to a stage traditionally marked by blending lives. That previously meant marriage to a person of the opposite sex followed by the birth or adoption of a child by the time the woman reached 21. Today, the average age women give birth is 26 or 31 years for mothers with higher education. Women with less education have difficulty finding a job that pays enough to support a family. More women choose to be single mothers than they did twenty years ago, but, whether single or coupled, they opt for fewer babies. Due to financial concerns, global warming, and political unrest many twenty and thirty-year-olds choose not to bring children into the world at all.
Fewer couples married today will remain with their original partner. Instead, they will have serial liaisons throughout their long lives. Cohabitation, no longer confined to relationships between men and women, commonly takes place without marriage vows. Fifty percent of those who do marry will divorce or separate. Though divorce and marriage rates have been declining over the 10 years, the COVID-19 pandemic may reverse the trend. According to BBC, the increase in domestic violence and relationships stressed by the lockdown, financial strain, and political discord may usher in the largest single-year increase in divorce in decades.
Parents with children are challenged to balance work with personal life. Remaining happy and healthy is not always easy when there are multiple demands on time and money. Growing families add pressure for more space and a greater income. Though some parents can provide support and childcare for their children, many can't. According to a 2019, 60 Minutes newscast, 40% of U.S. families struggle to survive. The pandemic hit women especially hard. More than 2.3 million women have left the workforce since February 2020. A majority of American families require income from two working adults.
Moving and changing neighborhoods disrupts established social patterns and schooling for children. Stress increases as old relationships end and health can suffer. I was once told that it takes twenty years to make a friend. There is some truth in what was said, for it does take a long time to get to know people well enough to be able to trust and depend on them.
When youths move from home, parents enjoy feelings of freedom not felt for years. Life appears sunny to most empty-nesters. They still have their health and time to travel and take up hobbies. However, for many parents, an empty house brings on a crisis of purpose. Careers may come into question, making them want to try something new. Bored with jobs and perhaps their partner, mid-lifers crave new experiences. They want to feel as free as they did when in their twenties. Unfortunately, middle-age is when they begin caring for their elderly parents.
But, now in their fifties, there is also the worry of losing their jobs. Many workers are passionate about what they do and want to stay employed into their senior years. Those laid off can struggle to find well-paid employment. Many are forced to take a cut in salary or even a low-paying job. Walmart, the largest employer in the United States, pays between $25,000 and $30,000 a year for a full-time employee. Amazon warehouse workers make $31,200 annually. Universities and colleges have the best reputation for keeping older people employed at a fair wage.
According to a recent Gallup survey, the average age for retirement at 61 is not by choice. Most people prefer to stay in the workforce until they are 65-67. Nine million people over 65 find it necessary to stay employed. The book and movie, Nomadland do a good job showing how Americans over 60, faced with debt and high housing prices, pack everything up to live in their vans and RVs, work odd jobs, and find adventure on the road.
The crisis of aging can be painful to go through, though it does bring excitement as well. Seniors faced with an ever-increasing number of years to dream anew think about how to continue living meaningfully. For some grandparents that means raising their grandchildren. Nationwide, 2.7 million are doing so, with one-fifth having incomes below the poverty line. Children who reside with their grandparents are more likely to have experienced traumatic events that will influence their development.
Retirees with the means to do so engage in educational pursuits and travel. Snowbirds move south in the winter and north during summer. Before the pandemic, 28 percent of elders pushed worry aside and stepped forward to volunteer. They benefited by staying healthier than non-engaged retirees, reporting fewer cognitive complaints, depressive symptoms, and functional limitation. Volunteers have a lower prevalence of dementia and live longer. Elders are happiest when able to fulfill emotionally meaningful goals.
Studies show that seniors are generally satisfied in old age and that most report relatively high levels of emotional well-being. This is especially true when life is controllable and social supports are strong.
But, there comes a time when aging brings confinement, causing problems for offspring and family members. As more people reach 100, this will add pressure to health and social systems. With fewer adult children having adequate resources to help aging parents, the government will need to step in. Elders without family, who imagined friends would be there for them when needed, may get a painful surprise when their support system moves into retirement homes or leaves the neighborhood to be closer to their children.
Those fortunate enough to have been raised in a secure loving environment can take heart. They do better with caregivers than those who didn't have close parental relationships when young. They tend to feel less vulnerable and less subject to emotional distress. Most seniors look back on their lives with contentment, considering what went well and what they wish had been different, accepting what was. Aging well has to do with the ability to acknowledge that you did the best you could throughout life.
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I know this is a long blog and hope you are be frustrated by its length. There is a lot to cover when considering life's passages. Your comments are most welcome below.
References
O'Neil, a. (2021) Life expectancy (from birth) in the United States, from 1860 to 2020. Statosta. retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1040079/life-expectancy-united-states-all-time/
Buchholz,K. (2021) Is 100 the New 80?: Centenarians are Becoming More Common. World Economic Forum. retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/is-100-the-new-80-centenarians-are-becoming-more-common
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Sheehy, G (2095) New PassagesRandom House. ISBN 0-394-22447-7
Careers. Forbes. retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/05/01/new-study-millennial-women-are-delaying-having-children-due-to-their-careers/?sh=13bfaede276a
Fry, R, Passell, J, Cohn,D. (2020) A majority of young adults in the U.S. live with their parents for the first time since the Great Depression. Pew Research Center. retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/04/a-majority-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-live-with-their-parents-for-the-first-time-since-the-great-depression/
Anderson,L. Scherer.Z (2020) U.S. Marriage and Divorce Rates declined in last 10 Years. United States Census.https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/12/united-states-marriage-and-divorce-rates-declined-last-10-years.html
Miller, J. (2021) A year into the pandemic, mothers and children are still struggling, USC News. retrieved from https://news.usc.edu/183396/women-kids-covid-19-pandemic-child-care-workfore-usc-experts/
Savage,M. (2020)Why the pandemic is causing spikes in break-ups. BBC. retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces
Henderson, T (2019) For Passion or For Money, More Seniors Keep Working. PEW. retrieved from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/09/20/for-passion-or-for-money-more-seniors-keep-working
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Art is always for sale. Ellen: Wide-Eyed and Ready is an acrylic painting on deep /16” by 22” / $399. To make arrangements contact me at [email protected].
Lives of Museum Junkies and Over the Peanut Fence are available online and in bookstores in paperback and ebook formats.
5/1/2021 1:49:15 PM
Flying High
Last June when kites flew high alongside COVID-19, world scientists were working in their labs to understand the disease and find ways to tame its spread.
Physics vs Psychology
Physics and psychology may seem to have evolved from different universes, but the way they are studied is similar. Practitioners of both, use identical techniques to solve problems. Physicists call it the scientific method, a process practiced in science museums like the ones I ran. Psychologists call it cognitive psychology when adopting a scientific approach to mental processes by conducting experiments that confirm or refute hypotheses. As a psychologist, I had to be thoughtful about its use because it is difficult to control for behavioral and cultural variables. The success I had with clients and my own difficulties made me value the scientific method. I use it frequently and find it has a great deal of merit when applied to most problems. The scientific method, outlined by Sir Francis Bacon (1661-1626), has five basic steps plus a feedback loop.
- Make an observation.
- Ask a question.
- Form a hypothesis or testable explanation.
- Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
- Test the prediction.
- Draw Conclusions-if the hypothesis turns out to be true, find more evidence to support it, if false, create a new hypothesis and start the cycle over again.
The method is followed in all of the sciences as a way to solve problems. An example applied to an everyday situation follows.
- Observation - My washing machine won't work
- Question - Why won't it work?
- Hypothesis - Because the plug is loose. Maybe I accidentally pulled it out when reaching for a piece of clothing that fell behind the machine.
- Prediction - Put the plug back in and the machine will work
- Test - Check the plug to see if it is tight and plug it in again.
- Result - It still won't work. I need to form a new hypothesis. Perhaps a fuse blew. Testing the fuse found it to be the reason the machine stopped working. The result might lead to another question. Why did the fuse blow? and so the process continues. Scientific research evolves, often creating additional questions as it looks for solutions to the original problem.
Those who expect absolute results from research may find the approach frustrating. For instance, many people are upset that information given to the public about COVID changed over the course of the year. They wanted absolute information that made them feel safe and secure. Instead, they found themselves in the middle of a research project.
What was known about the disease last spring raised questions. Hypotheses were formed that had to be tested. Some results were not as scientists expected. It took a while to find out that the disease was airborne and not passed on by touching objects. Early on, we were advised to wash our groceries before putting them away. That precaution proved to be unnecessary. Many people blame the CDC for changing their recommendations over the course of the pandemic. I believe they should be honored for suggesting precautions until tests showed results. Their thinking was logical and their concern for public health was paramount in the minds of these health professionals.
People commonly act as scientists when solving mechanical and electrical problems. However, when it comes to emotional issues, they neglect to use the scientific method. As a problem-solving technique, the system is a smart one to follow. An example of how it can be applied to emotional distress follows.
Early in the pandemic, Jane Doe, age sixty-eight, lost her husband to a heart attack. His death was more traumatic than it might have been because she couldn't visit him in the hospital and wasn't there to say goodbye as he died. She and her husband of thirty years used to volunteer for Food Bank when he was alive, but with COVID raging, she was afraid to risk being around other people.
At first, a few friends and neighbors called. Some left food outside of her door, but as COVID increased they too pulled back. She told her son, who lived across the country, not to come home because she didn't want him traveling on airplanes. He listened to his mother but is quite worried about her.
Jane sat home for months and grieved alone. Depressed, she found it difficult to sleep through the night and impossible to get out of bed in the morning. There seemed to be no way forward. She lost weight and was ready to follow her husband to the grave.
A neighbor realizing the state she was in decided to see how she could help.
- Observation - The neighbor had been observing the decline of her friend over a five-month period. She called Jane several times to better understand her state of mind. Jane missed tactile contact and interacting with people.
- Question - The neighbor thought long and hard, questioning what could be done to help Jane.
- Hypothesis - An animal might supply a tactile connection and learning to use Zoom might put her in better communication with friends.
- Prediction - She predicted that if Jane had a dog, there would be a reason for Zane to get up and out of the house for walks. The animal would also be a warm body to touch and pet. If she learned to use ZOOM she could see her son and show him she is doing better.
- Test - After establishing friendly interchanges, the neighbor brought up the subject of pet ownership., the neighbor brought up the subject of pet ownership. Jane told her she used to have a dog when she was young. The neighbor asked if she would consider having one again. Jane wasn't sure, but she agreed to walk her neighbor's Beagle, dog sit it for an afternoon, and think about the idea.
- Result - Jane decided a dog was more than she could handle, but she thought a cat would be an animal she could enjoy. Jane acquired a Birman cat from a shelter. The cat cried in the morning to be fed and got Jane out of bed and dressed. She started taking walks in the morning, greeting neighbors on her way. She liked stroking and cuddling her cat while watching television at night. Her sleep became more regular. Using ZOOM, Jane joined a counseling group for people who lost loved ones and joined a book club.
By working with her neighbor to set parameters for the animal experiment, Jane became involved in a self-healing process.
As we journey through life, we would do well to travel as scientists. Problems will occur that have to be faced head-on and tackled with purpose and patience. Several revolutions of the scientific method may be required before they are solved. Cycles commonly lead to more questions, hypotheses, predictions, and tests.
The scientific method is a process for understanding and points the way to growth. It is also a coping mechanism for dealing with unexpected situations. But over time, those who use the system gain new insights about themselves and eventually feel better.
Resources
From Kahn Academy website: The Scientific Method, Khan Academy retrieved from METHOD.
McLeod,S.(2020) Is Psychology a Science? Simply Psychology. retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/science-psychology.html
Science of Psychology. American Psychological Association. retrieved from https://www.apa.org/action/science
