on that note
Generation Revelation
By Gordon Ah Tye, FAHRA
I was raised in a family that really didn’t
have too much. No fancy car. We had
a very modest home with no air conditioning and a simple wall heater. My
mom and dad watched their pennies and
somehow managed to save a little here
and a little there. After 70 years of saving, it amounted to a good little nest egg.
Mom always found ways to feed the family well on a tight budget, using coupons
and finding things on sale. They were the
good old days.
Our generation has had the benefit of
good times and good growth. Our parents
worked hard and provided us what we
needed. But we worked hard for what we
got, too. We followed the rules of investment that were foolproof, with real estate
values that soared and mutual funds that
would automatically double in 10 years.
We bought our homes 25 plus years ago
and we have seen them grow in value. We
have seen that value go up exponentially,
then correct itself painfully. The same
thing has happened to our investments
and 401k portfolios. The mutual fund
graphs that showed huge growth factors
over decades are in the trash. Nonetheless,
our overall financial picture is decent and,
even with the recession, many of us have
some positive net value to our names.
We raised our children’s generation in
a world of plenty and they’ve had a pretty
good lifestyle. As parents we wanted to
give them more: entitlements like Game
Boys, cell phones, laptop computers, and
cars. Add to the lap of luxury Abercrom-
bie and Fitch, Hurley, and other pricey
apparel. We were the “helicopter” parents:
helping, supporting, guiding, hovering to
the point of overdone. I know I “helped”
with science projects that were impossi-
ble for a fifth grader. Focus on good feel-
ings and thoughts! Never break their
spirits or make them feel bad about
themselves because it will create poor
self-esteem and failure to thrive. Have we
spoiled this generation to the point that
having an “entry level” job is not good
enough for them and the only answer for
survival is for them to live back at home
with us?
Gordon Ah Tye is director of imaging and radiation
oncology services for Kaweah Delta Health Care
District in Visalia, CA. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
biological sciences from California State University in
Fresno. Gordon is a past president of AHRA, received
the AHRA Gold Award in 2001, and received the 2006
Minnie for Most Effective Radiology Administrator of
the year. He may be contacted at gahtyes@aol.com.
