We were born in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. We grew up in an era full of curiosity and simplicity, exploring the 50s, 60s, and 70s with wide-eyed wonder. Our school days spanned the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and our friendships and adventures thrived in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Some of us married, some of us explored the world alone, and all of us discovered a world far more complex than the one we were born into.
We’ve lived through eight decades, bridging two centuries and witnessing the emergence of entirely new generations. Our lives trace the arc of history: from rotary phones to smartphones, from pay booths to video calls across the globe. Music has evolved from vinyl to streaming; films and television have gone from black and white to HD 3D. Our leisure has transformed from board games and roller skating to online gaming and Candy Crush on our phones.
We have adapted to dramatic changes in science and medicine. Childhood diseases that once threatened entire communities—polio, meningitis, tuberculosis—have become preventable. Yet, new challenges like COVID-19 remind us that life’s lessons are never-ending.
Fashion evolved with us: from shorts, Oxfords, and mini-skirts to jeans, jumpsuits, and versatile modern wear. Transportation changed from bicycles and mopeds to gasoline and diesel cars, and now hybrids and electric vehicles dominate our roads.
In addition to technology and fashion, we’ve witnessed an extraordinary revolution in biology. In the 1960s, biology was largely descriptive. By now, we have seen the molecular world revealed: the secrets of DNA and RNA unlocked, giving rise to gene therapy, forensic fingerprints, and other breakthroughs that were unimaginable just decades ago.
We have seen live history, from childhood innocence to the digital revolution, from analog simplicity to molecular complexity. Our generation has learned to embrace change like no other, adapting continuously to a world that never stops evolving.
We’ve lived richly, laughed heartily, worked tirelessly, and explored passionately. We are the ex-annuals—a unique generation born in the 1950s-60s era, experiencing an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.
To all who belong to this extraordinary generation: we have seen it all. We have witnessed progress in every field, adapted to every new era, and have lived a life so full it is nothing short of remarkable. Here’s to celebrating a generation that is truly one-of-a-kind, leaving a legacy for those who follow.