I was 15 in 1999. My parents had enrolled me in a driver's ed class that spring. I was one of those weird kids that really didn't want to drive at all, but I guess it wasn't like I had much of a choice. Looking back, I realize that my life was kind of miserable. Homeschooled, socially awkward, no online life, pretty much only had one real friend. I tended to have the house to myself during the day. I'd spend it playing Descent and avoiding schoolwork. I've always been a procrastinator, but especially so back then.

The only bright spot, in retrospect, was the fact that I had taken up drawing the year before. The only reason I can remember most of this is because I still have sketches relating to events.

Ten years ago today, I spent the afternoon watching celebrations from around the world. Some TV station was cutting to live feeds every hour as midnight stalked its way across the globe. I don't actually remember watching anything here. I don't know if the countdown with the elevator on the Space Needle was started fairly recently, but I think we had to watch a replay of the countdown in New York for some reason. Incidentally, I'm not holding my breath for anything spectacular tonight. The last few shows in Seattle have been really lackluster.

A few months later, in May of 2000, I registered for an account on Side7. That was the first time I'd posted my work online, and it's where I met some of my oldest and closest friends. Since then, I've been able to divide my life into two sections: pre-Side7 and post-Side7. Drawing and having an online life with which to display my work has given me something to live for. Maybe I would have become wildly successful elsewhere in life if I hadn't become a furfag, but that's conjecture. It may be sad and stupid at times, but it's better than what I had. So thanks, everyone.