|
December 31, 1999
That's me, holding the tiny purse I bought for my party tonight.
Okay, so I wasn't going to do any more entries until after
New Year's, but all the retrospectives got me feeling historic,
and I felt like I had to record my thoughts for future generations
or something.
First, let me record what is going on today, December 31st,
1999. We have been watching CNN, ABC and MSNBC all day, as
they have wall-to-wall end of the year coverage. I saw it
turn midnight in Japan and Korea this morning. Also, I went
to the grocery store and the mall today and there are tons
of cars at the grocery store. It is the busiest I have ever
seen it there, and I went on Christmas Eve morning as well.
There were cars lined up seven deep to get gas at the corner
gas station. People must be concerned about Y2K! There was,
however, plenty of bottled water and such at the grocery store,
so I guess no one is hoarding. Most of the other people I
saw shopping were just buying regular groceries, or getting
ready for a party with vegetable trays and such.
Anyway, that's what is going on today. I was reading xeney's
take on the 20th century, and she's right. But more than
the 20th century, I am really going to miss the 90's. They
have been my decade. So I thought I would reminisce a little
bit. [note: I have redone this because I found a website with
a lot better information on the top news stories of each year]
1990: I graduated from high school and started college
in 1990. My memories of that year include listening to Janet
Jackson's Rhythm Nation A LOT. I don't remember any
other big news stories from that year, mostly because I think
I was caught up in my senior year of high school, prom, graduation,
starting college and all that. In August, Iraq invaded Kuwait
and I went to college. The United States was in the middle
of an economic depression.
1991: The Persian Gulf War began in January of 1991.
I totally remember sitting on my bed in my dorm room with
my friend George on the day of the deadline, waiting to find
out if we were going to war. I remember thinking that all
of my friends were going to be drafted, and maybe I would
even be drafted. It was the 1990s after all. I went to a rally
for peace that night out on the quad and we all lit candles
and sang songs about peace, and then my candle caught Pam's
hair on fire.
Also in 1991, the Soviet Union ended. I remember hearing
about the tanks in Russia and Gorbachev and Yeltsin but I
did not then (and really don't now) have any idea what it
all meant. I mean, I understand the fall of communism and
the breakup of the states, and that they are all separate
nations and all that. But I don't know much else. I'm such
an ignorant American.
1992: The site I am getting historic information from
says this was the year of grunge. Being in Syracuse, NY, we
really didn't get grunge until a year or so later, I think.
But I was very into this scene. I was all about flannel shirts
and ripped jeans and Pearl Jam and mosh pits. Well, sort of.
I listened to the music, but I didn't like go out to clubs
and stuff.
The spring of 1992 featured the L.A. riots. I remember walking
into Terry's apartment (during finals week? Is that right?)
and his roommate Brett was watching the riots on TV. We all
ended up just standing there saying, "I can't believe
this is happening in the United States. This is so surreal."
It was such a wake-up call to Americans who thought racism
was part of history, and that race relations were just fine.
This would also be the year that Clinton was elected. I remember
being at home watching TV when he won the Democratic nomination
and feeling very hopeful. I really thought he would be the
first President to represent my generation or even acknowledge
my generation. He wanted to do something about education and
health care and gay rights. Ah, youth.
1993: Woo hoo! The year I got on the Internet! This
was back in the days of Gopher and Archie and all that business.
I was on a lot of listservs. I used Lynx. God, that was only
7 years ago. I just remember being completely astounded by
how much information was out there.
Jurassic Park was released to theaters. During the
summer of 1993, I stayed at school and worked at the library.
All of my friends went to see the movie on a Sunday night,
but I had to work and couldn't go. I finally saw it at the
end of the summer with my friend Bola, and I was mad that
no one told me it was SCARY! It was! Remember the raptors
in the kitchen stalking the kids?
Also in 1993 -- Waco. I do remember that vaguely. I must
have been totally oblivious to the outside world while I was
in college because I only vaguely remember most of these news
events.
1994: This was the year I graduated from college,
started dating Jim, and started working at Borders (not in
that order). News stories included:
Apparently, this was also the year that Nicole Brown Simpson
and Ron Goldman were murdered. I have to say, it totally did
not register until the trial. I didn't see the white Bronco
chase on TV or anything. But I'm sure the rest of you did,
so I'm including it.
The Republicans took Congress and have held a majority since.
They outlined their Contract with American (whatever happened
to that?) and thus began the rise of Newt Gingrich.
Kurt Cobain committed suicide in the spring of this year.
Terry and I were waiting in line at the bursar's office to
cash our paychecks and this guy we knew vaguely came up to
us and gave us the news. We thought it was a hoax and laughed
it off. Then I got home and turned on MTV and found out it
was true. Most of my roommates didn't understand why I was
even interested. And I wasn't devastated like some people.
I was just sad because I enjoyed his music, and he left a
little girl behind. It still makes me kind of sad.
1995: Jim graduated from college in 1995 and we moved
in together and adopted two cats.
On April 19, a massive bomb exploded inside the Federal Building
in Oklahoma City. I remember seeing the footage on television
and feeling really frightened. I had always assumed that since
I didn't live in a major metropolitan area, I was safe from
terrorism.
The O.J. Simpson verdict was handed down on October 3. I
was working at Borders and we all crowded into the General
Manager's office to see the result. I couldn't believe he
got off. I still can't.
Jerry Garcia died. I can't say I really cared, but I remember
the music manager at Borders having a display up within like,
minutes, of the announcement. Nothing like capitalizing on
other people's pain. Then again, we did get a ton of people
asking for books and CDs, so I guess it was right to make
a display, since people demand it.
1996: Jim and I moved to Michigan so that I could
take a job at Borders' corporate offices. We lived in a crappy
apartment complex. We worked A LOT.
The Unabomber was arrested, prompting Jim's favorite Daily
News headline -- "Brother Fingers Unabomber".
Bill Clinton won reelection over Bob Dole, to the surprise
of virtually no one.
Eric came out to visit us in the summer, and he and I ended
up staying up really late watching CNN's coverage of the bombing
at the Atlanta Olympics. I still remember the band that was
playing just before the bomb went off -- Jake Fake and the
Liars.
1997: Eric and Stacey moved to Michigan and we all
moved into a house together.
The Star Wars Special Edition movies were released to theaters.
I really remember this. We saw each one on opening night,
and there were big crowds. We went to the Showcase Theater
in Ann Arbor.
Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris. Jim
and I were on our way home after spending Labor Day weekend
in Traverse City, Michigan, and we had stopped to get gas,
when we heard the news. I remember thinking it was sad, but
not that huge of a deal in the U.S. Then I got home and turned
on the television.
1998: Jim and I moved back to Syracuse and I started
graduate school. Jim got a job at AskERIC.
Syracuse suffered the infamous Labor Day Storm. Two people
were killed at the State Fairgrounds and the rest of us lost
power for up to a week. It sucked.
American was captivated by Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire's
race to break the home run record. I missed the historic dinger
due to circumstances above. No power. I heard it on the radio
though.
And who can forget the impeachment of President Clinton?
I have never been so deeply embarrassed to be an American.
1999: This year has really been more of the same for
me, except that I started this journal, and started doing
some freelance writing to make money in my spare time.
This year brought the Columbine
shootings, the death
of J.F.K. Jr, his wife and her sister, Woodstock
'99 and the aftermath, and most importantly, The
Real World Hawaii.
Seriously though, this has been the first decade of my adulthood.
Because I graduated high school in 1990, I have always felt
an affinity for the decade. I don't know what the next decade
will bring. This is most likely the last time most of us will
see a century end, and undoubtedly the last time we will see
a millennium end. So enjoy it. Make the most of it. Mark it
in some way, even if it's just to write yourself a little
note about what you were doing and thinking. Even though you
may not think it's a big deal, future historians will thank
you. I'll see you on the other side.
|