Hey #GenX I'm a bit worried that a lot of you aren't clear about #Measles vs #Rubella

And it's still bloody confusing to me because another name for measles is apparently Rubeola and when I searched "Measles" just now I saw that and I thought there was just confusion on someone's part about how to spell a weird latin disease name.

But anyways, we all most of us got Rubella as kids, and the grownups called it Measles, or else German Measles, but that was Rubella. Little red rashies everywhere for a few days, no further ill effects. One of those "harmless childhood diseases" that antivax crew love to deathcult about.

Measles or "Red Measles" or Rubeola, on the other hand, that shit is bad. Real fuckin bad. And as I understand it, that's what is on the spread.

Rubella = German Measles = don't panic.

Measles = Rubeola = antivaxxers are participants in multiple homicides.

So my concern is, that a lot of you are brushing off the Measles outbreaks, because you think it's Rubella.

You're unbelievable....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfCLt0kTd5E

I'm old enough to remember when "downsizing" was a corporate euphemism to improve optics and soften the previously shocking concept of "mass layoffs." It was originally met with sarcasm and distrust, but at some point, did its job and now we all say it with straight faces and take it for granted as totally normal, business as usual.

Dear reader, it once was NOT business as usual. It was uncommon and made headlines news every time it happened.

This in many ways explains why #GenX is the way we are. We grew up watching this and many other changes to American culture which we instinctively knew signaled the end of social contracts that our parents, Silents and Boomers, took for granted. We knew those promises would not be kept to us, and we were right.

They ignored us then like they ignore us now. But we're the only generation that fully saw the world before (Millennials saw some of it) while also (as a generation) embracing and even promoting new values in reaction to these changes that younger generations now take for granted. We are historical witnesses from a distinct vantage that is extremely important for understanding where we were, how we got here, and how it could be.

(And we borrowed heavily from 60s counterculture, so to the Weirdo Boomers, thank you.)

We need all perspectives.

I recently turned 50 yrs old but don't feel that old. I usually don't feel my chronological age. Sometimes, I'm randomly reminded that I am not a Spring chicken anymore. That happened earlier today, at the grocery store. A masked woman approached me in store & her eyes were bright & happy. She asked me if I was Miss Banh & if I used to work at McTavish Elementary School in the late 90s. I replied, 'Yes, I worked as a specialized TA with disabled kids at McTavish in the 90s.' She was elated & said - 'I was one of your autistic students! I remember you well & missed you when you stopped working there. I want to tell you that your help, support & staying after school hours to help me with my lessons more, made a big difference to my life & my self esteem. I never forgot you. I'm so glad to see you again. Can we please exchange contact info so we can meet up sometime & chat more?
We exchanged contact info. I'm looking forward to catching up with her this Spring

This woman was only 8 years old when she met me at her school. I feel honoured that she remembered me & grateful for the unexpected reunion in a grocery store, decades later.