Picture it. The world is buzzing.
The Nokia 3310 is the most popular phone in the world – with the Motorola Razor phone as a close runner up. The satisfaction of slapping your phone shut after a phone call was coveted by all and had by many.
Coldplay just released “Parachutes” and Eminem released “Slim Shady” on his “Marshall Mathers” LP and Bill Clinton was president.
(Photo Courtesy Diamone Ukegbu)
Diamone Ukegbu posing for her middle school basketball team.
Flashlights were sold out for the first quarter of the year, and then later that year 199 nations of the globe came together in Sydney, Australia for the Olympics.
Yep. You guessed it. It was the year 2000.
We had survived Y2K and still, the world was trying to mimic the “Matrix” in every way – from fashion, to phones, to food. There were some interesting recipes involving Pop Tarts and Hot Pockets.
Don’t ask. Plus, I’m sure the Gen X and millennial latch-key kids would never admit it.
I’m sure many of us went back in time just by reading some of those memorable moments. Here are a few stories from Miami locals and their memories of life 25 years ago:
SENIOR STARDOM
I was sure that the world was about to open to me in some way, and if it didn’t, I would find the pliers and pry it open. In the year 2000, I had just graduated high school and I was choosing to thrive by just living. The goal was to live using the best survival tactics I could find and conquer the vision of building a life for myself. If I’m honest, the most sensible version of myself had not yet emerged. I was about to start college and decided to jump on a plane to Mexico before the madness of responsibility consumed me.
Let me be clear: I do mean jump on a plane. I walked into the airport and bought the first ticket I could with a full water bottle and a 32 oz bottle of shampoo in my bag. No one even blinked at me. Now, I was angry to find it all over my clothes and my homecoming crown in my stowed luggage when I landed, but it was worth it. I had spent a few hours in the air alternating between my walkman, playing the updated Snake game on my Nokia 3310 and re-watching “Bring it On.”
It all seemed worth it. Minus the shampoo.
--- Tracy Timberlake, Ives Dairy
FISHY FRESHMEN YEAR
I remember that I didn’t want to admit that I was nervous to be a freshman in high school. That would be unacceptable. But inwardly I was so nervous. Everyone was bigger, taller and the world seemed to be everything I expected and nothing like my expectations at all.
Thank God for my brother being here. It helped a lot. Especially on the day I walked into the school and it had the most rancid smell. While holding my nose, I was greeted by freshmen students removing raw fish from their lockers. Everyone’s locker but mine. These were the perks of having a brother set the ground rules to his fellow senior classmates regarding who was off limits. I had never been so glad to be his sister.
To this day my greatest question is this: Who had access to all that fish?
---Lettianne Lologo, Surfside
(Photo Courtesy Diamone Ukegbu)
Local Miami resident reading her 5th grade paper for the “What the World Would Be Like in 2025" essay contest. where she dreamed of making the world a better place - starting with the city of Miami. Today, she lives her dream as a mom and civil servant.
A Fifth-Grade Vision
I won first place in an essay contest called “What the World Would Be Like in 2025” when I was in fifth grade. I imagined flying cars and a Chocolate World, inspired by my sweet tooth, a love that still holds true today. But what stood out most was my focus on making a difference. Even then, I dreamed of greater access to education for everyone and how innovation could help us all excel and move forward.
It was more than a moment for me. I saw the true power of limitless dreams. I can still sense my younger self and she smiles at who I have become. Her hope, curiosity and determination are the fuel to press on to build a vividly bright future for others.
---Anonymous, Miami
These stories invite you to take a journey to the past and give yourself a smile and a nod for how far you’ve come. It helps us to zoom in and to zoom out of life. Some things we must never do again. Some things our kids are determined to do again, like pleather jackets and pants. Still, all of it is a reminder to keep growing and enjoy the ride.
Cheers to 25 years into the millennium.
Diamone Ukegbu is a local Little Haiti artist, creative, teacher, mom and wife who is in the throes of raising three children while trying to keep her sanity.