It All Starts Somewhere

It can happen to anyone really. Believe me. But don't ask me anything like how or when or even why. Don't ask me how to get there. Don't assume I know how to give directions. And don't try to take a ride on mine as you're liable to get hurt. You can however, ask me about mine in an effort to understand how to weave your own. Here, let's start in 1990. I mean, it's a ways back in time, but you have to admit, it was a very good year... Ahhh, 1990. The year started on a Monday. January 27 marked the beginning of the Year of the Monkey. It has also been noted as the final year of the Cold War. Which as we all know, meant that McDonald's could finally move in. Which it did... on January 31. Of course it got better, sort of, when in February of that year there was one of the most devastating man made environmental disasters - the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska in Prince William Sound. Not long after East Germany held its first free elections in March, London experienced it's second "Battle of Trafalgar", an anti-poll tax demonstration in which nearly 500 civilians were injured and over 340 were arrested. By the end of April Americans were already used to the idea that the Hubble Space Telescope, Discovery had been placed into orbit. And finaly, FINALLY, in May the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases. Yeah, do a double take on that one. I'll repeat myself just to be sure we both really get this. In May of 1990 the World Health Organization REMOVED HOMOSEXUALITY from its list of DISEASES. (It did not remove it from its list of "mental disorders" until 1993.) But, I digress. All of this is leading up to something important in my life. In June of 1990 I graduated from Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont. Of course, as many of you know, the last few months of your undergraduate career are filled with delight and dread that you'll no longer be tied to the books and classrooms and responsibilities of school. The mere thought of breaking out into the world of adulthood is a joyous occasion. I mean let's not forget all of those lurking credit card companies just waiting to take you under their plastic arms. Making plans for the future, developing resumes, talks about marriage proposals, trips overseas, and all there is to look forward to after graduation absorb the conversations of everyone. And another thing happens. We're all of a sudden aware that there is a world outside of our own tiny existence. I didn't necessarily remember all of those events on my own. When I did a Google search on the year it all came rushing back to me. I do remember those events. I do remember feeling something when learning about them. I also remember many, many other events that happened later in that year - without Google's assistance. I remember there was a major tornado outbreak in the Lower Ohio Valley - where I had been planning on moving! I remember the Gulf War broke out in August... the First Gulf War. I remember Atlanta, Georgia was chosen to host the 1996 Summer Olympics. I turned 22. Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister of the UK. And, I remember that it was toward the end of this year when British workers met face to face with French workers and the "Chunnel" was actually born. Amazing, isn't it? They dug an under water tunnel to link England with France! So, that's where it all began. The beginning of my lifelong adventure. I'm still on this ride. I'm not about to get off.