Y2K

Y2K

In My Bloodstream: Lisinopril,  Amlodopine,  Omeprazole, Tamsulosin
On The Stereo: Down To The River To Pray: Allison Krause 




Funny how things come about.  Kat and I were talking about Covid and we recalled another incident that happened at an earlier stage of our lives. Y2K.  The huge difference being that we had preparation and planning time to face the year 2000.  Not so with the pandemic.

As 1999 was limping to its conclusion, many people held a belief that the computers of the world were going to crash, creating the end of the world.  One of  Bob Keith's friends was adamant that we were doomed.  Bob bought in to his theory.

Even back then, the media were playing fiddle with people's lives.  They stoked the fire, creating a narrative that the government was not prepared and the banks and big business would not be able to turn the clock past midnight as computers were built without thought of a new year that would not start with a "1".  2000 would not be recognized.  The power grid would go down and chaos would reign.  Banks would not be able to discern account #s and the public would be left penniless.  And in the dark.

This sounds like an unbelievable story, does it not?  But I cannot over-emphasize the tenuous mental state of the nation.  A significant number honestly believed we were going to be witness to world's end.  And that proposition was promoted by the press and television.  Viewers will pay attention when the world might end.  Made for a much better story.

Without names, I know a man, who, in preparation, prepared to build a (fancy) log cabin in the country, remote from civilization.   A swimming pool would be added, and filled with drinking water.  A significant  stock of food and supplies would be bunkered.  It would become a family compound until, or if, peace was ever restored.  Other protections would be installed to fend off expected packs of looters who had not been clever enough to prepare as they should have.

This is all true.  Even today, paper products and canned food have been hoarded as a result of Covid 19.  And people think we are capable of change.  History continues to repeat itself.  Especially when facing natural disasters.  If not natural disasters, then a catastrophe of man's creation would definitely suffice.  Y2K would fall into the latter.  Nature would continue.  Only the calendar and a technological vendetta of our making could cause a crisis.

Naturally, in our business, as in every other commercial enterprise, the subject of preparation had been ongoing for months preceding the event itself.  I was secure in my belief that our government and every single company of import would never let this happen.  Despite the alarms set off by the media.

Our office conversation - at least our last one before we closed for the holidays - began something like this.

Bob asked if I was planning to stay around over the new year to make sure we were alright if the worst happened.  I explained that my plan was to head to the beach house to be with friends.  It was going to be a once in a lifetime event, and I wanted to be in a special place, with people I loved, to make the moment truly memorable.

He asked if I would keep Roger Davis, our VP Technology, in the office over New Year's Eve, so that he could make sure our system was fine. I reminded Bob that we had updated our computers, and I had confidence in our team's work.

But, said Bob, what if the power grid goes down, as many have predicted.  Shouldn't we have our guy ready and in place to fix things?  Well Bob, I said, If the grid goes down, we will all be in the dark.  There well be no fixing anything.  I have already told Roger to have a great holiday with his family, and we will see him next year.  I suggest that you do the same.  This is going to be a special event.  We all need to enjoy the moment and lock it it in our memory bank.  It will never happen again.

I guess you're right, he nodded.  And we shook hands and went our separate ways.  I never found out if he got to enjoy his time away from the cares and concerns of the business.  I had a millennial time.

With our family, the French family, an uninterrupted beach, and our doggos to be walked, we welcomed the year 2000.

There was no grand power outage and no technological failure.  Life continued.

                                                         Kat and her favorite boy. (dog)



Twenty years later is when the troubles started.  A virus from China.
We rail about Covid 19 and the problems we face, both real and imaginary.  I thought you might be interested in a short video regarding the problems our parents and grandparents lived though, just to give us some perspective.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-IzlvgRxA8

Our straits are certainly not as difficult as were those faced by our forbearers.  We might be more expert than they, in complaining.  Again, our access to information and the immediacy of news does make us more vulnerable.  We are bombarded with news and opinion from expert and non-expert alike, each and every hour of each and every day.  That, in itself, makes our life seem to be more difficult than, perhaps, it really is.





Kath and I are still sharing our home.  There have been few death threats, surprisingly.  Our health continues its rocky course, but we remain happy and in love.  That provides us with a purpose and a touch of laughter on the side.  Hopefully, you are in the same boat.  (And a bit healthier.)

We have had rain, at last, and we endure sauna-like humidity.  Our air-conditioner is starting to limp along, so we have had three quotes on a replacement.  I do not like any of them.

Outside trips are kept to a minimum.  I went grocery shopping this past week, and you know the problems I have had to face from my blogs of the last few weeks.  Publix this time.  The store  is well organized, with an attentive staff and a bag of new rules.  Their customers,  however, are illiterate.  People do what they want.  One way signs are ignored and masks are for wimps.

I, on the other hand am perfect.  That is not quite true.  At one point I had gone down one aisle three times and missed an item on my list every time.  That meant I went up another aisle that held nothing I wanted the same number of times.  Finally, a friendly clerk advised me that it was behind me, on the aisle I had just traveled.  With a mask, how do you know friendly?  Anyway, I left my cart, and moon-walked backward about a quarter of the way, grabbed a jar of the listed relish and made it back to my cart, without hearing any laughter.  A successful boondoggle.


By then my anxiety was on code blue and I bailed, double time, to the register and to our car, where I immediately tore my mask off, to prevent being recognized by anybody who might have seen me break a rule.  Kind of.

                                        Kris made this mask in honor of my idol, Homer.

Hope your lives are well, and good health is with you.  Our story continues, and we will all be better for the good we do during these trying times.

For several of you who have reached out, we think of you often and earnestly pray for improvement and better times ahead.

With thanks for staying with me.