Reflections in the Mirror

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It was a year ago. A year ago this week. I moved up the Y2K Evolutionary Scale from Don't wanna get it to get it, and made my first Y2K specific purchases. What a year it has been. We are all familiar with or have experienced some life-changing events: Things like graduating from school, that first job, marriage, having children, etc. For my family and I, Y2K has been a life-changing event.

So this is a time of personal reflection for me. A time to look in the mirror. When I do, I see in many respects a different person looking back. A person that for the first time has become aware of the need for self-sufficiency, and all that this entails. A person who is, for the first time, active in the community and not sitting comfortably on the sidelines. A person that no longer takes even simple things like turning on a light switch and having it work for granted. A person who is both more thankful for everything and also more anxious about everything. A person that has grown spiritually. A person who has become a leader, that never was a leader before. A person that has so many new interests that were not even reflected in the mirror a year ago. A person who is thinking about things that he had not previously thought of, doing things he never had done before, and seeing things as if through a different set of eyes.

A person that has contacted every member of his extended family about Y2K despite not talking to or seeing some of them for years - and after saying "Hello, it's Rob", my next line would be "Don't worry, nobody has died". A person who has put their credibility on the line, receiving both ridicule and thanks. A person that can't get through a day without trying to learn something else about Y2K.

There are other images in the mirror too, some of which are not yet seen clearly. Perhaps they never will be. There are also those things which have not changed very much either - but even with these reflections, nothing is static - the images in the mirror run like ocean waves - ever moving, ever changing , ever reshaping themselves - on the way from uncertainty to uncertainty, while the tides of fate continue to flow, and we drift along in the current.

In short, this post is from a person who has seen their life change forever, or should I say, for however much longer it may last. A person that learned a lot from this great forum, and has, in his own way, tried to give something of value back. A person that has, out of necessity, developed more of a sense of humor. A person who shall never look at a sack of rice the same way again. A person that now has some cyber-pals, and will never hear the word "fruitcake" again without laughing out loud.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), February 25, 1999

Answers

Good words, Rob. Always enjoy your posts.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 25, 1999.

I think we have all discovered just how fragile life really is and how everything must work together in order to sustain life. Our quality of life ITSHTF will never be the same and perhaps even better in some respect. We will have time to communicate, and work together for the good of the family unit or whatever community you are with. We will have to govern in matters that we have never had to deal with before such as law enforcement, medical emergencies, funeral and disposal of bodies, and a myriad of other problems that we depend on others for. It's overwhelming, but it's something we must all think about and plan for.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 25, 1999.

Very profound Rob - I see some of the same reflections.

I, too, enjoy your posts.

Yours, also, Puddintame.

-- Anon (anon@abc.com), February 25, 1999.


Enjoy yours also Bardou.

-- Anon (anon@abc.com), February 25, 1999.

Rob,

You've provided the brightest spot I seen in a good while.

If I may be so bold as to add to the intensely personal perspective.

I think you're also seeing a man who has a 1000% better chance of getting to see some age wrinkles in that same face someday.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 25, 1999.



Rob, Bardou, both of your posts indicate a developing level of leadership - something that seems to be occurring in the lives of a number of folks who are preparing for y2k. Personally, I believe it is also the single most threatening aspect of y2k preparation from the perspective of the DWGIs...and those who wish to remain in power at all costs.

God Bless you both, Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 25, 1999.


If you start yelling "I have a dream" I'm going to slap you!

Just kidding Rob, take care and best of luck

-- (Lancelot @ tavern link.com), February 25, 1999.


Rob; Thank you for your response to "What was your rate of perception?" and for your reference to this excellent helpful post. Keep well and thrive!

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 10, 1999.

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