Remember when we partied like it was 1999 because it was 1999? I still remember that night, my senior year of college at Texas A&M, gathered in an apartment with about 30 of my closest friends — most of the university swimming and diving team, a bunch of us Rec Center lifeguards, and a few others that were regulars in our social circle. I spent the evening hoping that through some miracle I might get to kiss the girl I liked at midnight and wondering if the Y2K bug was going to wipe out all of our computers. Spoiler alert, neither happened.

It’s hard to believe that was 20 years ago, especially since most of the time I still feel about 25. I jumped with both feet into the newspaper industry just in time to watch it die a slow horrible death. Back then, getting your picture in the paper was a big deal. People talked about it for years. Now, nobody cares about anything except celebrity retweets, and everyone is trying to be an “influencer.” Social media brought the democratization of journalism but with a loss of quality and a loss of truth. Everyone has an outlet and is screaming at the top of their lungs to be heard over the noise, but nobody had to sit through media law 101, and it shows.

Our 2019 celebration was a far cry from 1999. I don’t know if I could still even come up with 30 people to invite to a party, much less get them out of the house after 9 p.m. anymore. We were just a party of four out on the water.

This marks our one year anniversary working on the Kadey Krogen 38 sailboat. As always, it came down to the eleventh hour as to whether or not she would be working for the trip out into Galveston Bay to watch fireworks. The dodger combing that was having fiberglass repair done wasn’t reinstalled until the evening before. Unfortunately $3,000 later, it looks wonderful, and is much stronger, but obstructs the companionway from opening and closing correctly. It will have to come back off for more repair.

I also spent the four hours leading up to when our guests arrived crawling through the bilge and anchor locker to get a pump working and to rewire two of the running lights, which quit for no reason. However, the windlass, which has been relocated and then rewired with a solenoid and up and down buttons worked pretty well. Unfortunately the chain seems to slip every fifth link or so, and I can’t tell if it’s because we have low grade chain or if the gypsy is worn out and needs to be replaced.

I know that earlier I said I still feel 25, but I may be getting too old for project boats.

Despite all the trials, we made it out onto the bay to watch the fireworks. Mary made full use of the oven on the new boat to make some delicious Hawaiian roll ham and cheese sliders, and the full cockpit enclosure kept us warm. Despite the ongoing maintenance issues, this boat definitely has some advantages over our previous vessels.

While there’s no telling what’s in store for us in 2020, we are very excited that there will be an addition to the family in May. Parenting will be the biggest adventure we’ve ever undertaken.

I also want to say congratulations to our friend’s TJ and Kayla who were brave enough to spend new years with us on the water. They’re tying the knot in 2020, and we’re very excited for their upcoming nuptials.

It’s been a wild 20 years. In 1999 I never would have dreamed I could shoot a photo with my phone and instantly send it to all my friends. I mean, I didn’t even have a phone — I shared a landline with four other roommates. I’m very excited to see what the next 20 years brings.

All good things for you and your family in 2020.