It’s New Years Eve and I only thought it fitting to do a post on where I was 10 years ago. 2010, say hello to Heather in 2000.

I was thirteen years old for half of 2000 and turned 14 that summer (how weird is that.) I graduated middle school in June 2000 and started high school as a freshman in the fall. My favorite song I remember playing really loud was “Send it Up” by Vertical Horizon. I loved playing it on guitar and basically had the song on repeat in May 2000 as my little 8th grade self studied for the NYS Regents Earth Science exam. I think I also listened to the Backstreet Boys, PFR, DC Talk, Jennifer Knapp, Goo Goo Dolls and Creed. My taste in music hasn’t really changed that much, although Backstreet Boys and Creed aren’t in my playlist now, lol.

I remember the summer before high school as a time of expectation (big change for any kid). I had glasses and braces and was a giant dweeb (I’m still pretty much a dweeb though) :) I remember 12-15 being an awkward time for a few reasons anyway. Socially, physically, emotionally, spiritually…I remember being confident in myself but still trying to figure out who I was and where I fit.

I loved school (that never really changed much). I remember Latin class and enjoying the history wrapped in it. I was on the school yearbook staff, which is where I think I really realized I enjoyed photography/layout/design/writing relevant copy. I had always liked art, but I think it was then I realized art could be done as a job. I had always acted in elementary and middle school but think I lost some confidence as I was thrown into the big world of high school – I never really did any acting in high school which I really regret. I did continue to play flute and guitar for quite some time. I still play guitar on occasion. Flute is lost though.

In 2000 I didn’t have a cell phone (my mom had one with a screen that was big enough for the one line of the telephone number). Zip disks were the big new thing. I had a website through geocities I think. AOL Instant Messenger was “the” thing, my screen name was lutergrrl. I don’t think we owned any DVDs, just good old VHS tapes. We did have a computer at home, and I remember not all of my friends had one (unheard of now!)

Somewhere in there my parents were divorced (I can’t remember if it was 2000 or 2001 though). I think we adopted our second rescue dog in 2000. I became more involved as an individual at my church, and really realized this journey of life and my relationship with God was something I had to cultivate. It wasn’t just me going to church because my parents took me.

In 2000 I also thought the age 23 was old, mature and adultish. Silly me :)