Photo by Andrew Hetherington/Redux
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Online Extra...
Born Identity
By Sarah Mahoney, November 2007
She’s America’s first boomer, and she’s eligible for Social Security
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When Kathleen Casey-Kirschling receives her very first Social Security check in February, it’s a good bet the press will be all over her. As the world’s first official baby boomer—a distinction she earned by being born one second after midnight, January 1, 1946—she’s used to the attention. She’ll smile for the photographers and graciously grant interviews, just as she did on her 40th, 50th, and 60th birthdays. In fact, these days, when she and her husband travel on their boat, First Boomer, people often recognize her from news stories that have run in media outlets such as People, CNN, and USA Today. “I just laugh about the whole thing,” she says.
As a symbol of her generation, Kathleen fittingly counts herself as just one of the crowd. “I had a Slinky,” she says. “I had a Hula-Hoop. I danced on American Bandstand.” But her more recent years are the ones she treasures most. “I don’t work compulsively anymore,” she says. “My priorities are now family and friends, and if something’s not fun, I don’t want any part of it.” In true boomer fashion, however, Kathleen can’t give up on work just yet. Her retirement plan involves a part-time consulting job to supplement Social Security. She also proudly volunteers with the Red Cross and other causes, and urges her peers to do the same. “The boomers did a lot of good, but we also did our fair share of harm,” she says. “Whether it’s obesity or the environment, it’s time for us to do our part and start fixing these problems.”
Sarah Mahoney is a frequent contributor to AARP The Magazine. Her article "The New Housemates" appeared in the July & August 2007 issue.
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