Page 9 - PINE CREST 2000

lifetime”, or stayed home and did something intimate with family or friends.
David Hendler, with his parents and PC sophomore sister, Beth, made the 24-hour flight to Australia for three
weeks of sightseeing and entertainment. After time in Sydney, Melbourne, the Outback, and scuba diving in the Great
Barrier Reef, the Hendler’s settled on a remote location off the eastern coast of the continent, Hamilton Island, where
they would celebrate the coming of the New Year/Century/Millennium. After having a lavish Aussie dinner with his
family, Dave spent the rest of the night out in the island streets with the chef who cooked him his dinner. “There were
over 5000 people at the street parade,” says Dave, “it was pretty crazy.” The last few things Dave remembers from the
night was watching (as I myself did on the other side of the world) the millennial sunrise over the ocean, and meeting a
very nice young native lady of whom he was particularly fond. Unfortunately, his departure from the island meant the
end of that relationship. ‘No worries’ Dave, I’m sure there will be plenty more of that in college.
Senior football captain Javier Cheng spent the big night more privately— locally with family. Javi went to South
Beach, a popular weekend getaway for Pine Crest Seniors, with PC graduate and brother, Jorge. Along with a widely
televised fireworks display over the beach, and the sounds of many artists like the Gypsy Kings, Blondie, and others
playing late into the night, one of Javier’s most memorable moments was counting down with his brother while watching
the ball drop in Times Square on a gigantic TV screen. Despite having a great time, Ch-Cheng wishes he spent the
festivities in his homeland. “For New Years in Taiwan they
had a huge kissing competition,” reveals Javier.
As I watched hourly CNN broadcasts of memorable
festivities from around the world - from Australia, Tokyo,
Moscow, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Paris, London (the best of
the bunch), and Hawaii - 1 witnessed the first truly global
event in the history of mankind. I felt a human unity unhin­
dered by religious, cultural, or governmental restrictions that
only impede peace and a more social world. I saw the threat
of Y2K embarrassingly wither away (similarly to my earlier
cynicism), and our blue dome, home, prevail.

Left: Javier Cheng out in South Beach on the
big night.