Ten years ago tonight, as we all prepared for the new millennium, many events were taking place. I'll leave aside all the nutjobs storing food and gold, the y2k fears and just focus on the parties.
There were more parties that New Years Eve than I've ever know of, one of which was America’s Millennium Gala, the official presidential party. Living in DC it was the event to attend, IT took place at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, and had limited VIP seating. The overflow stretched the entire length of the reflecting pool nearly to the Washington Monument. We somehow got VIP tickets, row 10 or 12. The Clintons were a few rows ahead.
The event was simply a once in a lifetime opportunity. The host for the night was Will Smith, produced by Quincy Jones and had more performers than I could have imagined. I'm posting the official program here, but my highlight was when none other than Slash, the once awesome guitarist from Guns and Roses. I got to shake his hand, which has lead to an entire decade of me making references to my good pal Slash.
No matter, it was amazing, the performances were nothing spectacular on their own, but in that setting, on that night and in that location, I will never forget where I was at midnight on January 1st 2000.
It was a great decade for me, I think they keep getting better.
* Happy New Year and Happy New Decade.
