[A repeat from December 27, 2018] Do you remember the approach of the new millennium? I’m talking New Year’s Eve 1999.  Do you recall the media warnings that power grids might shut down. Telephone service interrupted. Computers could crash. And the world might come to an end. All because the shift from December 31, 1999, to January 1, 2000, a new millennium, would cause these catastrophic “issues” with computer networks.

Ever the Eagle Scout – with a penchant to “Be Prepared” – in the week prior to this possible cataclysm, I went out and bought a few gallons of bottled water, some cans of Chef Boyardee, Campbell’s soup and tuna and I squirreled away a couple thousand dollars in twenties and fifties. And we had a few bottles of Liberty School cabernet sauvignon — all just in case.  As the clock ticked toward the advent of the New Year, Donna and I hunkered down in bed and watched a movie.  I figured – hey – when ya got no control, ya got no problem. . . . .

So as the nudge from 11:59:59 p.m. to 12:00:01 occurred (in Africa, Europe, New York and Chicago) and the new year went off without a hitch, we turned off the lights and went to sleep.   We ate the canned pasta, consumed the soup over the coming year or so, spent the dollars, and we drank the cab (which was dutifully replenished).  

A few weeks ago, I went down to the basement and in the back of the closet behind some flower pots, there was a dusty gallon bottle of water.  Leftover from that fateful night.  No.  We’re not drinking it.  But it is being used to water plants in the house.   Eighteen year old water. . . . .