Midnight January 1, 2000: "I wanted the power to go off so I could experience what it would be like to live without it" my ten year old daughter, Samantha, said with obvious disappointment. She told me she could live without TV. I am delighted she is receptive to potential change with a sense of adventure rather than a fearful perspective. I attribute this to the fact that she has grown up in a more simple, natural and macrobiotic lifestyle. My preparedness efforts at home helped as well. Samantha knew we would have our basic necessities met if the power went out with an alternative heat and cooking source(wood stove), a basement located manual well water pump (plus bottled water) and food. That gave her the security to develop a sense of adventure around what was happening.

My 21 year old daughter is more inclined to go with mainstream attitudes. She seemed to take some pleasure in telling me that everything is okay and I was wrong about the potential for Y2K problems.

As a mother and community member, I have never felt more secure. No matter what happens now, I feel relaxed. I am ready - a glorius feeling. I can continue to help my family, my community and the world. Thank you everyone for helping me get here.

-- Jeanette Thomas (ou_2000@berkshire.net), January 01, 2000

Answers

Jeanette:

Hear! Hear!

I, too, felt a sense of disappointment. My childlike sense of adventure had been pumping through my veins in preparation for what was (potentially) to come. Then when the adrenaline wore off, the knowledge that my husband and I are prepared for any emergency, whether a natural disaster, terrorism, computer glitch or loss of employment, really made me feel secure. We are relaxed and ready. Hopefully, the feeling of y2k fizzle will not stop people from being ready for any disaster.

-- Erin Bryson (quinnbryson@mindspring.com), January 01, 2000.

I think a lot of people went a little overboard with their reactions to the Y2K scare. On the otherhand, the simple emergency-preparednes examples like the above aren't a bad idea. Even if we don't use them this time around, it may come in handy for when a real calamity hits us by surprise. 00/01/01 As a power engineer for a large paper mill, I had plenty of opportunity to assist with preparations for the Y2K event. Since I am a contrarian by nature I resented the amount of money our corporation was pouring into trying to fix things that weren't really all that likely to break. On the otherhand I was an enthusiatic participant in our emergency preparedness plan review and revisions. This was a very valuable exercise. Even though we didn't get to use it last night, it will be ready to go in case some disaster takes us by surprise in the future. I spoke with the engineers at the local power company and they said the same thing.

Anyway, my point is, life just keeps getting better and better.

Don Kamp

-- Donald Kamp (donaldkamp@prodigy.net), January 01, 2000.

00/01/01

Oops! Don't misunderstand me. I don't resent money. What I meant to say was, it bothered me that companies and corporations were spending so much money on this one event.

Don Kamp.

-- Donald Kamp (donaldkamp@prodigy.net), January 01, 2000.

Going through this experience was, in a way, awe inspiring for me. I felt a kinship with previous pionees and explorers in that I was in a situation where no one knew what would happen. It was new territory, a new experience. And in stead of being an observer, I was a participant. Now that we have reached the apex and gone over the hurdle, we can look ahead towards a new year, century and millennium.

Enjoy your vistas!

Cyndi

-- Cyndi Crowder (cyncrowder@aol.com), January 01, 2000.

From the Y2Kids web site discussion board http://www.y2kids.net

I am so happy that all is well. I think that because everyone worked so carefully to fix their computers things went okay! On New Year's Eve I though of everyone around the globe more than I ever did before. I think that the Y2K worries helped me to think of everyone more. I will remember what I have learned about being prepared. Thank you!!!!!!! Janice T. Potsdam, NY USA - Sunday, January 02, 2000 at 12:06:18 (EST)

-- Jeanette Thomas (ou_2000@berkshire.net), January 04, 2000.

From the Y2Kids discussion Board http://www.y2kids.net

I would really like to hear people's comments about/on what they THOUGHT would happen and WHAT DID happen!! Especially kids. Let me know how much preparedness you and your family did too. I'm doing a research paper for my school, so please include your age and any thing else you think might be important!! I really enjoy the site, Coco. Thanks! Delayne Eugene, OR USA - Sunday, January 09, 2000 at 16:31:43 (EST)

-- Jeanette Thomas (ou_2000@berkshire.net), January 10, 2000.