Twenty Years??? Really???

Has it been twenty years already?
Hardly seems so.
Twenty years ago today we were on our way. The great adventure was beginning.
The year 2000 was fast approaching.
And we were on our way!
This journey had its beginning some years before.
Somewhere around 1995 or maybe 1996 I can still recall that someone asked me the question, "So were would you want to be for the dawning of the Year 2000?"
Even years before that historic New Year many were already looking ahead and planning ahead and maybe even dreaming ahead. This was to be an historic moment. There was emerging that sentiment that somehow this should be a special moment, a dream event moment.
Where would you like to be?
I had no problem answering that question.
Where would I like to be?
There is one city, one place, one experience that has over the years captured my attention, fascination,  heart.
Rome!
I had already been there a number of times including spending several weeks on sabbatical.
Nevertheless Rome never lost its charm with me.
Rome!
What a dream!
New Year's Eve 1999 - Rome!
New Year's Day 2000 - Rome!
Start the new year, century, millennium in the Eternal City.
Rome!
That was my dream but realistically that would not be.
"Why not?" my questioner asked of me.
"Why not?"
Simply put - fascinating as Rome is, I would not want to be there for this event all alone. This would be a moment to be shared.
But who would even think such a possibility? Why would anyone even consider a possibility like this? New York, maybe. Even Paris, maybe. But Rome?
But then cane the challenge. My questioner set it before me.
Check it out.
Ask around.
You just might be surprised.
And so I began to ask and in so doing I began to discover.
Yes, indeed, there was an interest, a rather strong interest, I may add.
Next thing I was sitting down with a travel consultant and discussing possibilities.
And then came firm plans.
And a brochure.
And advertising.
And response.
And as autumn was turning to winter in the final year of the Twentieth Century there were over forty of us all set and ready to make that excursion across the Pond to Italy and Rome.
We would be welcoming the New Year, New Century, New Millennium in the Eternal City.
On the 27th of December twenty years ago now we were on our way across the Atlantic headed to the adventure of a lifetime.
And now as 2020 approaches, I cannot help but think back to that moment, to those days, to that adventure.
Twenty years ago now - when we headed to Rome.
And my luggage headed to Amsterdam!

(Stay tuned!)