the 2000s in review, part I: introduction and setting the stage...
N.B. This is to be the first in a multi-part entry arch, detailing changes that have occurred for me in the past decade. One of the underlying themes will be the political and social changes in which I, basically, came of age and grew up in.
For better or for worse, the 2000s proved to be one of the most pivotal decades of my life. This only seems natural, of course, given that I attended and completed high school and university during that time. Many of life's firsts (dating, driving, having sex, moving out of town, etc.) occurred for me during this time period. I don't mean to wax sentimental, but I imagine that will happen anyways.
Somewhere, I have documents and sources relevant to the whole decade, but the reality is that many of the materials are gone, and that this will have to be done primarily by memory. Though I've always had my eyes on the past, I never really had my eyes on the future. The sad reality is that a lot of the stuff is gone, most notably my artwork and what not, that I threw out in about 2005 or so. Thus, these entries will be based on memories and their potency in 2011, which will, inevitably and unfortunately, result in some distortions more reflective of the current era.
In September 2000, I began my high school career. I was a bit late to class that first day, as my grandma was being rushed out to the hospital via ambulance. She wasn't doing well and hadn't been for the past few months. It was tense and scary; a woman who had helped raise me, was dying. The 2000-01 school year was filled with this sort of energy; the times were changing, but aside from grandma being sick, it didn't seem too bad. Life seemed really quite good.
I didn't really have an idea of the 2000 election. Earlier in the year, when the primaries were fresh and exciting, I went to some rally for Steve Forbes, here in Modesto, with my mother and my sister. She was finishing up her senior year of high school and her government teacher was offering extra credit for those who went. Aside from Steve Forbes, the only other Republican I even really remember was McCain, who (then at least) seemed like a nice, reasonable man. Sure, he was a bit to the Right, but he did sometimes work with the other side. I still knew, however, that I wanted Gore. My family had made no pretenses; they were Democrats, and still are. So, after 8 years of Clinton prosperity, it just made sense.
It was the post-Seinfeld world, and the 1990s were ending, on notes of prosperity and hope. Although, admitted, the youth, if my sister was any indication, still seemed disenchanted with the world, with the processes. I don't really remember much. In 2000, and for most of 2001, I was still fixated on events from 1999. I never really did escape that past, and I still haven't to a degree.
When I think back on it, I try to remember day to day stuff, what life was like in high school, I simply don't. My life, from 2000-2004, at least, seemed to be defined by moments outside the classroom. Freshman year I really enjoyed English and Algebra. Those were probably my two favourite classes at the time; English was a good, challenging course that made me work hard for my A. Algebra was a good, easy class that handed me a nice, juicy A+. Spanish II was also a good class, but I don't remember much of it. PE and Science were kind of meh. Finally, the day ended with Health the first semester and World Religions and Geography the second semester. I don't remember learning much of anything in that class, but as it was 7th period, and it was a pretty big class, it seemed to have an almost party-like atmosphere.
That was the year I had my first kiss, my first girlfriend. I was still heavily into Rocky Horror. People that mattered then are now so distant and irrelevant. But I still think about them often. I wonder how they're doing, and being without fb has made me lose contact with at least 3 of those people who mattered to me, and who helped shape me this past decade.
Musically, that was the year I transitioned from the Beatles, Grateful Dead, Blondie, Jefferson Airplane, Ramones to Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd ended up dominating my freshman year and especially my sophomore and junior years. I know I listened to other stuff then, but it all seemed irrelevant. I got my first copy (and to date only copy) of The Dark Side of the Moon in March 2001, about a week or two after my grandfather had passed away. Though my grandmother had been the one who was sick and on her death bed, grandpa passed away first. It was also so shocking and scary, but that was the way things were.
I don't remember much of Bush II's first days. Though I did care about politics, it didn't seem as relevant. So what if a Republican had won? The good times, economically, were still happening. But, as I also said, I had some personal preoccupations, as well as the usual teenage worries.
I'm not sure what else to say at this point. I'm going to have to do some digging, that's for sure...
to be continued...
For better or for worse, the 2000s proved to be one of the most pivotal decades of my life. This only seems natural, of course, given that I attended and completed high school and university during that time. Many of life's firsts (dating, driving, having sex, moving out of town, etc.) occurred for me during this time period. I don't mean to wax sentimental, but I imagine that will happen anyways.
Somewhere, I have documents and sources relevant to the whole decade, but the reality is that many of the materials are gone, and that this will have to be done primarily by memory. Though I've always had my eyes on the past, I never really had my eyes on the future. The sad reality is that a lot of the stuff is gone, most notably my artwork and what not, that I threw out in about 2005 or so. Thus, these entries will be based on memories and their potency in 2011, which will, inevitably and unfortunately, result in some distortions more reflective of the current era.
In September 2000, I began my high school career. I was a bit late to class that first day, as my grandma was being rushed out to the hospital via ambulance. She wasn't doing well and hadn't been for the past few months. It was tense and scary; a woman who had helped raise me, was dying. The 2000-01 school year was filled with this sort of energy; the times were changing, but aside from grandma being sick, it didn't seem too bad. Life seemed really quite good.
I didn't really have an idea of the 2000 election. Earlier in the year, when the primaries were fresh and exciting, I went to some rally for Steve Forbes, here in Modesto, with my mother and my sister. She was finishing up her senior year of high school and her government teacher was offering extra credit for those who went. Aside from Steve Forbes, the only other Republican I even really remember was McCain, who (then at least) seemed like a nice, reasonable man. Sure, he was a bit to the Right, but he did sometimes work with the other side. I still knew, however, that I wanted Gore. My family had made no pretenses; they were Democrats, and still are. So, after 8 years of Clinton prosperity, it just made sense.
It was the post-Seinfeld world, and the 1990s were ending, on notes of prosperity and hope. Although, admitted, the youth, if my sister was any indication, still seemed disenchanted with the world, with the processes. I don't really remember much. In 2000, and for most of 2001, I was still fixated on events from 1999. I never really did escape that past, and I still haven't to a degree.
When I think back on it, I try to remember day to day stuff, what life was like in high school, I simply don't. My life, from 2000-2004, at least, seemed to be defined by moments outside the classroom. Freshman year I really enjoyed English and Algebra. Those were probably my two favourite classes at the time; English was a good, challenging course that made me work hard for my A. Algebra was a good, easy class that handed me a nice, juicy A+. Spanish II was also a good class, but I don't remember much of it. PE and Science were kind of meh. Finally, the day ended with Health the first semester and World Religions and Geography the second semester. I don't remember learning much of anything in that class, but as it was 7th period, and it was a pretty big class, it seemed to have an almost party-like atmosphere.
That was the year I had my first kiss, my first girlfriend. I was still heavily into Rocky Horror. People that mattered then are now so distant and irrelevant. But I still think about them often. I wonder how they're doing, and being without fb has made me lose contact with at least 3 of those people who mattered to me, and who helped shape me this past decade.
Musically, that was the year I transitioned from the Beatles, Grateful Dead, Blondie, Jefferson Airplane, Ramones to Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd ended up dominating my freshman year and especially my sophomore and junior years. I know I listened to other stuff then, but it all seemed irrelevant. I got my first copy (and to date only copy) of The Dark Side of the Moon in March 2001, about a week or two after my grandfather had passed away. Though my grandmother had been the one who was sick and on her death bed, grandpa passed away first. It was also so shocking and scary, but that was the way things were.
I don't remember much of Bush II's first days. Though I did care about politics, it didn't seem as relevant. So what if a Republican had won? The good times, economically, were still happening. But, as I also said, I had some personal preoccupations, as well as the usual teenage worries.
I'm not sure what else to say at this point. I'm going to have to do some digging, that's for sure...
to be continued...