Allns good gohn

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneemoond 2000)

Nu hebbt wi dat Johr Tweedusend foot. Ohn' Problems is uns dat öber de Süll hüppt, liekso as al de annern Johrn dat vörher ok mookt hebbt. Wat is rümbibbert worrn, un wat is nich allns Schuriget an de Wand moolt worrn! Nix vun all' de swatte Dübelsmoleree is indropen. Wat schull nich allns posseern? De Welt schull ünnergohn! De Computers schulln alltohoop verrückt speeln! De Stroom- un Woterwarken kunn ohn' Computers uns kold un dreug sitten loten! Dreug müch jo för een poor Doog gohn, ober keen kinnt nich dat Seggwuurt ,,Döst is leger as Lengen?'' Ober kold? Nee, alleen dor an dinken, un mi loopt kolde Grösen öber mien Rüch. Sünd wi jo gor nich mihr wohnt; de Hüüs sünd vun'n Keller bet ünner 't Dack warm.

Kloor wüür ik ok neeschierig un wull weten, ob mien Computer dat Ümstelln op dat nee'e Johrdusend mitmookt harr or nich, un hebb em kott no Middernacht ansmeten, üm em to kunterleern. Ober stult wies he mi, dat he op 2000 ümstellt harr. Wenn he harr lachen kunnt, harr he mi wiß öber mien Mißtroon utlacht, wiel ik nix, rein gor nix beter wüür as all' de annern Computer-Minschen un mi ok vun den Afsturzvirus harr ansteken loten. Nee, dat lett Di koold, hebb ik ümmer dacht, ditt Verücktspeeln üm so een Computerafsturz, dat geiht Di nix an. Heß jo noch dien ole Schriefmoschien wenn Noot an'n Mann is. Jo, so hebb ik mi ümmer warrer inreedt un den eegen Bammel rünnerspeelt. Wüür ober nich so, denn glieks nodem wi miteenanner uns ,,Proost Neejohr'' wünscht, op dat nee'e Johr anstött un ik mien Glas ut den Buddel mit den Opdruck 2000 utdrunken harr, wüür ik nix beter as all' de annern Computerlüüd, de sogor grotet Verantwurten op jümehr Schullern to dregen harrn. Wüür würklich wat scheef lopen, denn harr dat wull opmeist de Sükenhüüs dropen.

Kloor hebbt wi uns ok de Reis' üm den Globus ankeken un in uns Kiekschapp mitmookt. De Keunig vun Tonga hett sogor de Sommertiet inführt, dormit in sien Land de Wieser vun de Klock toierst op Middernacht stünn. Is Bedruug no mien Meen. Denn käum Neeseeland un mell dat allns good gohn wüür. Nu ok ut Australien nix Leget, un as bi de Joponers ok allns bet op een poor Kleenigkeiten temlich glatt aflopen wüür, to sünd bi uns Managers wull so bilütten de Steen in de Büxen plumst. De Computers hebbt den Johrswessel good öberstohn un mitmookt. Müch ober nich weten, woveel Sorg, Bammel un Wünsch bi uns hogen Industrie-Managers bet to'n Klockenslag üm Middernacht mitspeelt hebbt. An mien Söhn sien Fründ Hans hebb ik gans fast dacht un em de Duums drückt, dat all' sien Öberstünn nu ok lohnt warrt.

Dat Johr 2000 is dor! un hett mit Super-Füürwarken rund üm de Welt sien Intoog hooln. Brot statt Böller is de Devies vun uns Kark. Woveel Tünn' Broot harrn för de veel'n Milljoon Mark, Dollars or Euro köfft warrn kunnt, de in de Luft un an'n Bodden afknallt worrn sünd! För een Week harr sachs keen Kind op uns Ier Hunger lieden müßt, so woog ik to dinken.

Nu wüllt wi höpen, dat dat Johr Tweedusend een godet Johr warrt, liekers dat een Schaltjohr is. Mien Pappa hett ümmer seggt: ,,Een Schaltjohr bringt nie nich Godet mit sik.'' Is villicht Obergloben, wüllt wi doch üm Freden för dat nee'e Johr beden.

All is Well

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

So now we've got the year 2000. It skipped across the threshold without a hitch, just as all the other years had done before it. What a lot of scaremongering there had been, and all the horrible things that had been forecast! None of all the doom and gloom came to pass. There was hardly a thing that was not supposed to happen. The world was supposed to come to an end! All computers were supposed to go crazy! Power and water suppliers were supposed to leave everyone cold and dry! We might have been able to cope with dry for a few days, but who doesn't know the saying "Thirst is worse than longing?" But cold? No, just thinking about it makes my skin creep. We aren't used to it anymore after all. Houses are warm from basement to roof.

Of course, I too was curious and wanted to know whether or not my computer had kept up with the switch to the new millennium, and I briefly fired it up shortly after midnight to check it out. But proudly it showed me that it hat switched over to 2000. Had it been able to laugh, it surely would have laughed at me for my lack of confidence, because I was no better, no better at all than all the other computer people and had allowed myself to catch the crash-hysteria bug. 'No, it won't affect you,' I used to think, 'this craziness about computer crashes. It doesn't apply to you. You still have your old typewriter, just in case.' Well, that's how I kept trying to talk myself out of my own fears. But that's not how it turned out, for right after we had wished each other "Happy New Year!" made a toast to the new year and I had finished my drink from the bottle with "2000" printed on it, I wasn't any different from any other computer people, many of whom shouldered a lot of responsibility as well. Had something really gone wrong, then it would have mostly affected the hospitals.

Of course we also watched the trip around the globe on TV. The king of Tonga had gone as far as switching to summer time so his country would be first to have the clock strike midnight. That's cheating as far as I am concerned. Next was New Zealand, reporting that all had gone well. Then nothing untoward in Australia either, and when all but a few details had gone pretty smoothly for the Japanese as well, at that point the managers here must have been greatly relieved. The computers had withstood the changeover to the new year and had cooperated. I won't even try to imagine how much fear and hope our industrial executives had experienced until the clock struck midnight. My thoughts were with my son's friend Hans, crossing my fingers for him and hoping that all his overtime would have been worthwhile.

The year 2000 is here, making a grand entrance with super fireworks. "Bread, not Bangs" is the motto of our church. How many tons of bread could have been bought for the many millions of marks, dollars or euros that exploded in the air or on the ground! Not one child on earth would have had to suffer hunger for a week. That's how I dare think.

Now let's hope that the year 2000 will be a good year, even though it is a leap year. My dad used to say, "A leap year never brings good things." It may be superstition. Still, let's pray for peace for the new year.

Allens goud gaan

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneimaand 2000)

Nu hevt wii dat jaar twei-dusend faat. Aan probleems is uns dat oever de suel huepd, liik soo as al de anneren jaarn dat foerher ouk maakd hevt. Wat is ruem-bibberd worren, un wat is nich allens schuriget an de wand maald worren! Niks fun al de swatte duyvels-malerei is in-drapen. Wat schul nich allens paasseiren? De welt schul uenner-gaan! De kompjuters schullen all tou houp ferruekd spelen! De stroom- un water-warken kunnen aan kompjuters uns kold un droyg sitten laten! Droyg mueg jaa foer 'n paar daag' gaan, aver kein kint nich dat seggwourd ,,Doest is leiger as lengen?'' Aver kold? Nei, allein daar an dinken, un mii loupt kolde groysen euver miin rueg. Suend wii jaa gaar nich meir wand. De huys' suend fun d'n keller bet uenner 't dak warm.

Klaar woyr ik ouk nei-schirig un wul weten of miin kompjuter dat uem-stellen op dat neie jaar-dusend mit-maakd har or nich, un hev em kot naa midder-nacht an-smeten uem em tou kunterleiren. Aver stult wiis hei mii dat hei op 2000 uem-steld har. Wen hei har lachen kund har hei mii wiss euver miin mistroun uut-lachd wiil ik niks, rain gaar niks, beter woyr as al de anneren kompjuter-minschen un mii ouk fun d'n afsturts-virus har an-steken laten. ,Nei, dat lett dii kold,' hev ik uemmer dachd, ,dit feruekd-spelen uem soo 'n kompjuter-afsturts. Dat gait dii niks an. Hest jaa noch diin olde schriiv-maaschiin wen noot an d'n man is.' Jaa, soo hev ik mii uemmer warrer in-reedt un d'n eigenen bammel ruenner-speeld. Woyr aver nich soo, den gliiks nadem wii mit ein anner uns ,,Proost Neijaar'' wuenscht, op dat neie jaar an-stoett un ik miin glas uut d'n buddel mit d'n opdruk ,,2000'' uut-drunken har, woyr ik niks beter as al de anneren kompjuter-luyd' dei sogaar grotet ferantwurten op juem er schullern tou dregen harren. Woyr wuerklich wat scheiv loupen, den har dat wul op maisd de sueken-huys' drapen.

Klaar hevt wii uns ouk de Rais' uem d'n globus an-keken un in uns kiikschap mit-maakd. De koynig fun Tonga het sogaar de sommer-tiid in-foyrd, daarmit in sien land de wiser fun de klok to eirst op midder-nacht stuend. Is bedruug naa miin meinen. Den koym Neiseiland un meld dat allens goud gaan woyr. Nuu ouk uut Australien niks leiget, un as bii de Japaners ouk allens bet op 'n paar kleinigkaiten teemlig glat af-loupen woyr, tou suend bii uns managers wul soo bii luetten de steinen in de bueksen plumsd. De kompjuters hevt d'n jaars-wessel goud euver-staan un mit-maakd. Muech aver nich weten wou feel sorg, bammel un wuensch bii uns hogen industrii-managers bet tou d'n klokken-slag uem midder-nacht mit-speeld hevt. An miin seun siin fruend Hans hev ik ganss fast dacht un em de duums druekd dat al siin euver-stuenden nuu ouk loond wardt.

Dat jaar 2000 is daar un hett mit super-fuyr-warken rund uem de welt siin intoog holden. ,,Brood stat boeller'' is de deviis' fun uns kark. Wou feel tuennen brood harren foer de felen milljonen mark, dollars or euro koeft warren kund dei in de luft un an d'n bodden af-knald worren suend! Foer ein week har sachs kein kind op uns eird' hunger liden muesst. Soo waag' ik too dinken.

Nu wuelt wii heupen dat dat jaar twei-dusend 'n goudet jaar wardt, likers dat 'n schaltjaar is. Miin Pappa hett uemmer segd: ,,'n Schaltjaar bringt nii nich goudet mit sik.'' Is fillicht aver-glouven. Wuelt wii doch uem freden foer dat neie jaar beden.

All is Well

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

So now we've got the year 2000. It skipped across the threshold without a hitch, just as all the other years had done before it. What a lot of scaremongering there had been, and all the horrible things that had been forecast! None of all the doom and gloom came to pass. There was hardly a thing that was not supposed to happen. The world was supposed to come to an end! All computers were supposed to go crazy! Power and water suppliers were supposed to leave everyone cold and dry! We might have been able to cope with dry for a few days, but who doesn't know the saying "Thirst is worse than longing?" But cold? No, just thinking about it makes my skin creep. We aren't used to it anymore after all. Houses are warm from basement to roof.

Of course, I too was curious and wanted to know whether or not my computer had kept up with the switch to the new millennium, and I briefly fired it up shortly after midnight to check it out. But proudly it showed me that it hat switched over to 2000. Had it been able to laugh, it surely would have laughed at me for my lack of confidence, because I was no better, no better at all than all the other computer people and had allowed myself to catch the crash-hysteria bug. 'No, it won't affect you,' I used to think, 'this craziness about computer crashes. It doesn't apply to you. You still have your old typewriter, just in case.' Well, that's how I kept trying to talk myself out of my own fears. But that's not how it turned out, for right after we had wished each other "Happy New Year!" made a toast to the new year and I had finished my drink from the bottle with "2000" printed on it, I wasn't any different from any other computer people, many of whom shouldered a lot of responsibility as well. Had something really gone wrong, then it would have mostly affected the hospitals.

Of course we also watched the trip around the globe on TV. The king of Tonga had gone as far as switching to summer time so his country would be first to have the clock strike midnight. That's cheating as far as I am concerned. Next was New Zealand, reporting that all had gone well. Then nothing untoward in Australia either, and when all but a few details had gone pretty smoothly for the Japanese as well, at that point the managers here must have been greatly relieved. The computers had withstood the changeover to the new year and had cooperated. I won't even try to imagine how much fear and hope our industrial executives had experienced until the clock struck midnight. My thoughts were with my son's friend Hans, crossing my fingers for him and hoping that all his overtime would have been worthwhile.

The year 2000 is here, making a grand entrance with super fireworks. "Bread, not Bangs" is the motto of our church. How many tons of bread could have been bought for the many millions of marks, dollars or euros that exploded in the air or on the ground! Not one child on earth would have had to suffer hunger for a week. That's how I dare think.

Now let's hope that the year 2000 will be a good year, even though it is a leap year. My dad used to say, "A leap year never brings good things." It may be superstition. Still, let's pray for peace for the new year.

Allns good gohn

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneemoond 2000)

Nu hebbt wi dat Johr Tweedusend foot. Ohn' Problems is uns dat öber de Süll hüppt, liekso as al de annern Johrn dat vörher ok mookt hebbt. Wat is rümbibbert worrn, un wat is nich allns Schuriget an de Wand moolt worrn! Nix vun all' de swatte Dübelsmoleree is indropen. Wat schull nich allns posseern? De Welt schull ünnergohn! De Computers schulln alltohoop verrückt speeln! De Stroom- un Woterwarken kunn ohn' Computers uns kold un dreug sitten loten! Dreug müch jo för een poor Doog gohn, ober keen kinnt nich dat Seggwuurt ,,Döst is leger as Lengen?'' Ober kold? Nee, alleen dor an dinken, un mi loopt kolde Grösen öber mien Rüch. Sünd wi jo gor nich mihr wohnt; de Hüüs sünd vun'n Keller bet ünner 't Dack warm.

Kloor wüür ik ok neeschierig un wull weten, ob mien Computer dat Ümstelln op dat nee'e Johrdusend mitmookt harr or nich, un hebb em kott no Middernacht ansmeten, üm em to kunterleern. Ober stult wies he mi, dat he op 2000 ümstellt harr. Wenn he harr lachen kunnt, harr he mi wiß öber mien Mißtroon utlacht, wiel ik nix, rein gor nix beter wüür as all' de annern Computer-Minschen un mi ok vun den Afsturzvirus harr ansteken loten. Nee, dat lett Di koold, hebb ik ümmer dacht, ditt Verücktspeeln üm so een Computerafsturz, dat geiht Di nix an. Heß jo noch dien ole Schriefmoschien wenn Noot an'n Mann is. Jo, so hebb ik mi ümmer warrer inreedt un den eegen Bammel rünnerspeelt. Wüür ober nich so, denn glieks nodem wi miteenanner uns ,,Proost Neejohr'' wünscht, op dat nee'e Johr anstött un ik mien Glas ut den Buddel mit den Opdruck 2000 utdrunken harr, wüür ik nix beter as all' de annern Computerlüüd, de sogor grotet Verantwurten op jümehr Schullern to dregen harrn. Wüür würklich wat scheef lopen, denn harr dat wull opmeist de Sükenhüüs dropen.

Kloor hebbt wi uns ok de Reis' üm den Globus ankeken un in uns Kiekschapp mitmookt. De Keunig vun Tonga hett sogor de Sommertiet inführt, dormit in sien Land de Wieser vun de Klock toierst op Middernacht stünn. Is Bedruug no mien Meen. Denn käum Neeseeland un mell dat allns good gohn wüür. Nu ok ut Australien nix Leget, un as bi de Joponers ok allns bet op een poor Kleenigkeiten temlich glatt aflopen wüür, to sünd bi uns Managers wull so bilütten de Steen in de Büxen plumst. De Computers hebbt den Johrswessel good öberstohn un mitmookt. Müch ober nich weten, woveel Sorg, Bammel un Wünsch bi uns hogen Industrie-Managers bet to'n Klockenslag üm Middernacht mitspeelt hebbt. An mien Söhn sien Fründ Hans hebb ik gans fast dacht un em de Duums drückt, dat all' sien Öberstünn nu ok lohnt warrt.

Dat Johr 2000 is dor! un hett mit Super-Füürwarken rund üm de Welt sien Intoog hooln. Brot statt Böller is de Devies vun uns Kark. Woveel Tünn' Broot harrn för de veel'n Milljoon Mark, Dollars or Euro köfft warrn kunnt, de in de Luft un an'n Bodden afknallt worrn sünd! För een Week harr sachs keen Kind op uns Ier Hunger lieden müßt, so woog ik to dinken.

Nu wüllt wi höpen, dat dat Johr Tweedusend een godet Johr warrt, liekers dat een Schaltjohr is. Mien Pappa hett ümmer seggt: ,,Een Schaltjohr bringt nie nich Godet mit sik.'' Is villicht Obergloben, wüllt wi doch üm Freden för dat nee'e Johr beden.

All is Well

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

So now we've got the year 2000. It skipped across the threshold without a hitch, just as all the other years had done before it. What a lot of scaremongering there had been, and all the horrible things that had been forecast! None of all the doom and gloom came to pass. There was hardly a thing that was not supposed to happen. The world was supposed to come to an end! All computers were supposed to go crazy! Power and water suppliers were supposed to leave everyone cold and dry! We might have been able to cope with dry for a few days, but who doesn't know the saying "Thirst is worse than longing?" But cold? No, just thinking about it makes my skin creep. We aren't used to it anymore after all. Houses are warm from basement to roof.

Of course, I too was curious and wanted to know whether or not my computer had kept up with the switch to the new millennium, and I briefly fired it up shortly after midnight to check it out. But proudly it showed me that it hat switched over to 2000. Had it been able to laugh, it surely would have laughed at me for my lack of confidence, because I was no better, no better at all than all the other computer people and had allowed myself to catch the crash-hysteria bug. 'No, it won't affect you,' I used to think, 'this craziness about computer crashes. It doesn't apply to you. You still have your old typewriter, just in case.' Well, that's how I kept trying to talk myself out of my own fears. But that's not how it turned out, for right after we had wished each other "Happy New Year!" made a toast to the new year and I had finished my drink from the bottle with "2000" printed on it, I wasn't any different from any other computer people, many of whom shouldered a lot of responsibility as well. Had something really gone wrong, then it would have mostly affected the hospitals.

Of course we also watched the trip around the globe on TV. The king of Tonga had gone as far as switching to summer time so his country would be first to have the clock strike midnight. That's cheating as far as I am concerned. Next was New Zealand, reporting that all had gone well. Then nothing untoward in Australia either, and when all but a few details had gone pretty smoothly for the Japanese as well, at that point the managers here must have been greatly relieved. The computers had withstood the changeover to the new year and had cooperated. I won't even try to imagine how much fear and hope our industrial executives had experienced until the clock struck midnight. My thoughts were with my son's friend Hans, crossing my fingers for him and hoping that all his overtime would have been worthwhile.

The year 2000 is here, making a grand entrance with super fireworks. "Bread, not Bangs" is the motto of our church. How many tons of bread could have been bought for the many millions of marks, dollars or euros that exploded in the air or on the ground! Not one child on earth would have had to suffer hunger for a week. That's how I dare think.

Now let's hope that the year 2000 will be a good year, even though it is a leap year. My dad used to say, "A leap year never brings good things." It may be superstition. Still, let's pray for peace for the new year.

Allens goud gaan

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneimaand 2000)

Nu hevt wii dat jaar twei-dusend faat. Aan probleems is uns dat oever de suel huepd, liik soo as al de anneren jaarn dat foerher ouk maakd hevt. Wat is ruem-bibberd worren, un wat is nich allens schuriget an de wand maald worren! Niks fun al de swatte duyvels-malerei is in-drapen. Wat schul nich allens paasseiren? De welt schul uenner-gaan! De kompjuters schullen all tou houp ferruekd spelen! De stroom- un water-warken kunnen aan kompjuters uns kold un droyg sitten laten! Droyg mueg jaa foer 'n paar daag' gaan, aver kein kint nich dat seggwourd ,,Doest is leiger as lengen?'' Aver kold? Nei, allein daar an dinken, un mii loupt kolde groysen euver miin rueg. Suend wii jaa gaar nich meir wand. De huys' suend fun d'n keller bet uenner 't dak warm.

Klaar woyr ik ouk nei-schirig un wul weten of miin kompjuter dat uem-stellen op dat neie jaar-dusend mit-maakd har or nich, un hev em kot naa midder-nacht an-smeten uem em tou kunterleiren. Aver stult wiis hei mii dat hei op 2000 uem-steld har. Wen hei har lachen kund har hei mii wiss euver miin mistroun uut-lachd wiil ik niks, rain gaar niks, beter woyr as al de anneren kompjuter-minschen un mii ouk fun d'n afsturts-virus har an-steken laten. ,Nei, dat lett dii kold,' hev ik uemmer dachd, ,dit feruekd-spelen uem soo 'n kompjuter-afsturts. Dat gait dii niks an. Hest jaa noch diin olde schriiv-maaschiin wen noot an d'n man is.' Jaa, soo hev ik mii uemmer warrer in-reedt un d'n eigenen bammel ruenner-speeld. Woyr aver nich soo, den gliiks nadem wii mit ein anner uns ,,Proost Neijaar'' wuenscht, op dat neie jaar an-stoett un ik miin glas uut d'n buddel mit d'n opdruk ,,2000'' uut-drunken har, woyr ik niks beter as al de anneren kompjuter-luyd' dei sogaar grotet ferantwurten op juem er schullern tou dregen harren. Woyr wuerklich wat scheiv loupen, den har dat wul op maisd de sueken-huys' drapen.

Klaar hevt wii uns ouk de Rais' uem d'n globus an-keken un in uns kiikschap mit-maakd. De koynig fun Tonga het sogaar de sommer-tiid in-foyrd, daarmit in sien land de wiser fun de klok to eirst op midder-nacht stuend. Is bedruug naa miin meinen. Den koym Neiseiland un meld dat allens goud gaan woyr. Nuu ouk uut Australien niks leiget, un as bii de Japaners ouk allens bet op 'n paar kleinigkaiten teemlig glat af-loupen woyr, tou suend bii uns managers wul soo bii luetten de steinen in de bueksen plumsd. De kompjuters hevt d'n jaars-wessel goud euver-staan un mit-maakd. Muech aver nich weten wou feel sorg, bammel un wuensch bii uns hogen industrii-managers bet tou d'n klokken-slag uem midder-nacht mit-speeld hevt. An miin seun siin fruend Hans hev ik ganss fast dacht un em de duums druekd dat al siin euver-stuenden nuu ouk loond wardt.

Dat jaar 2000 is daar un hett mit super-fuyr-warken rund uem de welt siin intoog holden. ,,Brood stat boeller'' is de deviis' fun uns kark. Wou feel tuennen brood harren foer de felen milljonen mark, dollars or euro koeft warren kund dei in de luft un an d'n bodden af-knald worren suend! Foer ein week har sachs kein kind op uns eird' hunger liden muesst. Soo waag' ik too dinken.

Nu wuelt wii heupen dat dat jaar twei-dusend 'n goudet jaar wardt, likers dat 'n schaltjaar is. Miin Pappa hett uemmer segd: ,,'n Schaltjaar bringt nii nich goudet mit sik.'' Is fillicht aver-glouven. Wuelt wii doch uem freden foer dat neie jaar beden.

All is Well

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

So now we've got the year 2000. It skipped across the threshold without a hitch, just as all the other years had done before it. What a lot of scaremongering there had been, and all the horrible things that had been forecast! None of all the doom and gloom came to pass. There was hardly a thing that was not supposed to happen. The world was supposed to come to an end! All computers were supposed to go crazy! Power and water suppliers were supposed to leave everyone cold and dry! We might have been able to cope with dry for a few days, but who doesn't know the saying "Thirst is worse than longing?" But cold? No, just thinking about it makes my skin creep. We aren't used to it anymore after all. Houses are warm from basement to roof.

Of course, I too was curious and wanted to know whether or not my computer had kept up with the switch to the new millennium, and I briefly fired it up shortly after midnight to check it out. But proudly it showed me that it hat switched over to 2000. Had it been able to laugh, it surely would have laughed at me for my lack of confidence, because I was no better, no better at all than all the other computer people and had allowed myself to catch the crash-hysteria bug. 'No, it won't affect you,' I used to think, 'this craziness about computer crashes. It doesn't apply to you. You still have your old typewriter, just in case.' Well, that's how I kept trying to talk myself out of my own fears. But that's not how it turned out, for right after we had wished each other "Happy New Year!" made a toast to the new year and I had finished my drink from the bottle with "2000" printed on it, I wasn't any different from any other computer people, many of whom shouldered a lot of responsibility as well. Had something really gone wrong, then it would have mostly affected the hospitals.

Of course we also watched the trip around the globe on TV. The king of Tonga had gone as far as switching to summer time so his country would be first to have the clock strike midnight. That's cheating as far as I am concerned. Next was New Zealand, reporting that all had gone well. Then nothing untoward in Australia either, and when all but a few details had gone pretty smoothly for the Japanese as well, at that point the managers here must have been greatly relieved. The computers had withstood the changeover to the new year and had cooperated. I won't even try to imagine how much fear and hope our industrial executives had experienced until the clock struck midnight. My thoughts were with my son's friend Hans, crossing my fingers for him and hoping that all his overtime would have been worthwhile.

The year 2000 is here, making a grand entrance with super fireworks. "Bread, not Bangs" is the motto of our church. How many tons of bread could have been bought for the many millions of marks, dollars or euros that exploded in the air or on the ground! Not one child on earth would have had to suffer hunger for a week. That's how I dare think.

Now let's hope that the year 2000 will be a good year, even though it is a leap year. My dad used to say, "A leap year never brings good things." It may be superstition. Still, let's pray for peace for the new year.