MILLENNIUM ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS; LOOKING BACK AWARD OF MERIT: I MADE IT

The year was 1936, and I was 9 years old. My parents had separated and were getting a divorce. My mother and two older brothers and I were staying at my grandparents house in Illinois. I was sitting in my grandmother's flower garden, thinking of all the things that had gone wrong in my parents' marriage. I was thinking if I was older, I wouldn't be hurting so bad. I got to thinking about the year 2000, but I just knew I wouldn't live that long as that was 64 years in the future, and in 1936 people didn't live that long. I had no idea that over the next several years as medicine and technology advanced that the life span of people's lives would change and is still changing. I sat and cried as I thought I would never see the year 2000.

Well, the year 2000 is right around the corner. I am still here in good health and am celebrating my 56th wedding anniversary in a few days. With the Lord's blessing I have several more years to live. But back in 1936 I was sure I would never see this day.