Way back when, at the turn of the millenium, I was part of a big family called Genuity. As in all families, there were disagreements, triumphs, bitter fights, great friendships, and the bond of common goals and struggles. It was in a way, a coming of age, a rite of passage at a critical time. Though for me it only lasted three years, it seemed like much longer -they were after all, not regular years, but internet years, and events that would normally develop over months, took only weeks. We were all still riding the internet boom, and things happened fast. Not surprisingly, they also ended fast. The much anticipated crash was finally beginning to happen. Then came the coup de grace on 9/11. Three rounds of lay-offs later, there was no longer a "u" in Genuity, as the joke went -and a pink slip was my inspiration to migrate westward. A few months after that, Genuity was little more than a billion-dollar garage sale. It is amazing how quickly time erodes the past. Today, while ...
Today is the last day of the year, and I want to dedicate this post to that fact. Amazingly, we are one twentieth of the way into the not-so-new century XXI. Thinking back to the year 2000, I realize these past years have brought radical change to my life. The disquieting part is that I can't say if my life is better now or then. I realize this means it is probably both. Though I have not traveled society's mainstream lifestyle since my childhood, I was pretty close to it around 2000. Many things were good, but I now realize I was heading in the wrong direction. Today, things are still not perfect, but at least I can see where I am headed, and it is a better place. May the next twentieth of a century bring peace and happiness to us all.
My New Year's resolution: to give up my car. I will donate it to a charity, and bike, walk, or bus to wherever I need to go. The advantages: helping the environment, saving money, improving my health by exercising more, and perhaps most importantly, find out if I have enough self-discipline to do it. Disadvantages: increased travel-time and reduced mobility. No late-night social events. Innability to give my friends rides, no large-bulk cargo hauling ability. My last attempt lasted two weeks. I am determined to make this second try last longer. P.S.: This isn't entirely an intellectual decision. I have never liked this car, even though I've owned less appealing vehicles in the past, I just could never entirely befriend this one. Sorry, car. I guess that makes it in part an emotional decision.
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