The footlong was once five dollars, or so the legend goes. At the risk of shaking a proverbial cane and wagging a finger, a similarly sized Subway item is now often more than two or three times that cost. That’s all to say, even sandwiches evolve because of inflation.
No other than the current famed sandwich generation can attest to this shift. First coined in the ‘80s, the moniker refers to any cohort bookended by dual caregiving responsibilities. Now, Gen X has aged into the prime time to be sandwiched, as they look after both their parents and children. And the oft forgotten middle child of generational speak are finding themselves stretched thin. The nation’s high cost of living and increased lifespan means that Gen X’s duties are elongated, looking more like, well, a hoagie or $15 footlong.
