From: MAJ) Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle (blackeagle@POP3.SCOUTER.NET)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2000 - 00:19:20 CST
With all of the Y2K fears just about over and done with, this item from the
book "Patches and Pins..." became more and more appropriate. I started to
post it the week before last, but I started to have my version of Y2K
problems (ISP problems really) and couldn't post it until today.
"The Day The World Ended"
(from "Patches and Pins...", (c) 1988 Mike Walton)
On a cloudy day in April 1982, the world was to come to an end. That is what
evangelists were saying. It was the top story for days before in the
newspapers and on radio and TV. Churches reported a marked increase in
attendance the Sunday and Saturday before.
According to those evangelists, who got their information from professors
and astrological studies and then compairing it to events in the last book
of the New Testament called Revelations, all of the planets were to line up,
one in front of another, so that from the Sun to Pluto, all of the planets
in our Solar System would be one straight line. Then, because of the
tremendous gravitational pull of the combined bodies, all of the planets
would be sucked into the Sun and everything would come to an fiery and fast end.
I awoke that day to "Double Q", the Lexington classic rock station,
announcing that I needed to "get my butt out of bed and face the end of the
world as we know it!" I prayed for my roommate and that somehow the Lord
would watch over me. I didn't pray for my own salvation -- I was already
Baptised and after the long walk I already have with Him, I figured that He
knew all about me anyways and would make His own judgement. I got out of my
bed and turned up the radio as I readied myself for the day.
"Maybe He'll give me "instant credit" for all of those Good Turns over my
life," I giggled to myself, listening to some guy scream
"Instttttttttaaaannnntttt Credit!!" with a lot of reverb in his voice. It
was a furniture store commercial.
I went down the hall, took my last shower, shaved for the last time, and
then went back to my room to put on a McKee Scout Reservation teeshirt,
bluejeans, blue socks and my old ratted sneakers. Then finding my green
Scout jacket on the backside of my chair on my side of the room, I grabbed
my two textbooks and binder, and went to class.
As I walked down the stairs and past the main lobby of Mattox Hall, one of
the officeworkers greeted me and asked me if I knew what day it was.
"I've heard it all. The world's supposed to end today," I said. I went on
across the campus to my classes.
All of my classes were shortened for some reason -- I guess the professors
wanted to spend this day with their families or someone, or that they all
felt that with all of the hoopla, they were unable to keep their classes
focused while buildings crumbled or earthquakes shook things.
I also noticed that very few people -- students, staff, maintenance workers
-- were on the elevators or walking in the "commons area" of the campus. I
rode the elevator to the third floor to wait on my girlfriend, in the second
hour of her two-hour class. I don't know why I was waiting on Millie...I
guess I just wanted to see her. Maybe I really thought inside that this was
the last time I would.
I placed my books on the sill of the large side window and then stood at the
corner of the sill and the wall, looking out at the street below and the new
postal kiosk built to support the students and staff of the University.
While I was looking out at the window, another person joined me there. A
tall, muscular-built woman who enjoyed wearing her short chestnut brown hair
in curls. Despite her heavy build, Shirley was a very attractive woman --
and had to be. She was a partner in a public relations firm in Lexington,
and was hired by the University to teach us poor saps the basics in public
relations, kicking off the new degree program. I was one of her first
students. She was extremely rough, but fair. She insisted that her
students call her by her first name and not "Dr." or "Mrs." Serini. She was
my instructor for two classes...one I enjoyed and the other I get picked
upon because I don't pay attention in that class.
"Bad day, huh?" she said soothingly.
"Nah," I replied, turning to greet her. "Hi Shirley. I'm just looking
outside at the crummy weather."
She looked outside and agreed, adding "Everyone said this is how the world's
gonna end. You think so?"
"Nope. A lot more things will have to happen before it's all over," I sighed
and leaned back against the corner of the window and the wall.
"I don't know, Mike. So many things have already occurred. I know from my
brief but good study that so many things must happen, but they may not start
up until now." She looked really worried about this "end of the world thing".
I smiled and told her flatly, "Shirley. The world's not going to end today."
"You are really determined. How do you know??" she responded, crossing her
arms.
"I just know." I replied. We stood there, looking out the window, talking
about church and each other. She revealed that I was a good PR person, but
added "Don't let it go to your head, bucko. You've got a lot to learn about
this business."
I nodded, silently agreeing with her. I couldn't have found a better
instructor for that particular subject. We talked about the clouds and the
formations, and I explained that I learned a lot of those things from my
Scouting experiences. "You and Scouts. You're never gonna let it go, are
you??" she asked.
No, I shook my head, continuing to look down three stories to the street and
alleyway below, whereby it had started to rain slightly and the few people
outside now moving their paces forward to escape the rain...probably the
least of their worries on this April day.
We talked about whether or not she would extend her contract for another
year. Then, as if someone or something directed her, she looked at her
watch. "What'll you know...the world ended ten minutes ago," she tuned up
to cry.
"See, I told ya," I said as she walked off back to her office. I felt her
tears, even though she would never let me -- one of her students -- see her
cry.
I stood up, grabbed my stuff, and decided to go to Frisch's and have a cup
of coffee.
*********
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle
[Purchase Your Binder! for Scouting's Y2K's publications!]
personal inquiries via kyblkeagle@aol.com,
blackeagle@pop3.SCOUTER.net or blkeagles@hotmail.com
professional inquiries via mike.walton@usarc-emh2.army.mil
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