For the last time that year, the Sage of Time led the Tapestry of Nations parade out into EPCOT, and, after the drummers, one by one, his friends followed.
First came the Aztec Man, leading his group out in front of the humans, his wings flapping in the wind as he danced and twirled. He could see the same thing happening with his other Aztec Man friends, but he truly didn't care. He was living in the moment.
Out after the Aztec Man, was the Disc Man. Disc Man was much, much taller than everyone else, and he knew it. But he was proud of his height, and his dreadlocks, so he carried himself with confidence. And it truly warmed him to see everyone, short, tall, wide, slim - so many different people with so many different body types, out on such a special day, gathered together in unity.
The much smaller Sprites followed the Disc Man. Each Sprite had different colour wings, feathers, and skin. Some were slower, some were faster. Others were happier, others were sadder, but they were all together, following the head Sprite, who was dancing, leaping about happily, like she didn't have a care in the world. And truly, she didn't. This day was special. The kind of day that comes about once in several generations. She would be around for the next one, but none of these humans would die to their very short lifespans. Why not channel them, and live in the now?
After the last of the Sprites had passed, Hammered Man took his turn with his Hammered Man friends. Sheets of metal he and his friends may have been made of, but they were still able to dance to the music and have fun with the humans. The humans fascinated Hammer Man and all his friends. He wanted to greet every single human along the parade route, but obviously couldn't - it would slow down the parade. So, instead, he settled for greeting every few humans. He couldn't help his fascination. Humans were the species most capable of both of the greatest evils, and the greatest kindness. It was simply the human spirit.
Bird Man was up next. He and his Bird Man friends took great pleasure in delighting the humans, which happened especially when he extended his wingspan. Unlike the rest of his friends and fellow spirits, he didn't know much about humans or the human spirit or anything like that. But his friends were a very diverse group who all managed to get along just fine. He knew that humans tore themselves apart over the stupidest little things, like what they thought, and how they looked, what part of the world they inhabited, and what colour they were. But they were happy now - united on this special day. Maybe what he'd heard had been exaggerated.
The Inverted Marionette followed, along with his puppet, Bobo. He was made of many different colours, like a patchwork quilt, and so was his puppet, which mirrored him, and all the wonderful ways in which everyone was unique and beautiful. And humans, for all their strange little foibles that they repeated on certain occasions and called them "traditions". Some of them shared by small groups of humans, others, larger groups. Some were shared by whole societies. Most were shared by the entire species. The resilient, incredible species. Inverted Marionette was honoured to walk among them, even if for a little while.
Out came the Wiggle Girls, flapping their wings as they danced to the beat of the parade music. They were all joyful, but one was particularly more joyful than the others, wiggling her hips, flapping her wings, spinning around and jumping in glee. This particular Wiggle Girl was very much into the celebration. It only came around every one thousand years, after all.
The two Angel Girls were last spirits in the parade, and were accompanied by the Sage of Time, as he talked about the human spirit that had brought everyone together on this special day. And it was, truly, a very special day. The Angel Girls knew it. The Sage of Time knew it. And the humans - they knew it too. The Angel Girls followed their friends, as they danced happily to the music, optimistic for the future of humankind.
The Sage of Time, wise as he was, urged the humans watching to go in peace and to celebrate the future hand in hand.
Twice, they all did this.
After the parades had concluded for the night, The Sage of Time gathered everyone together to celebrate the special night.
The special occasion was that it was December 31st 1999 and they were in the last throes of the millennium, a new one about to begin.
All forty of the spirits gathered together to watch the humans, the animatronics, and various other Park characters come to life and peacefully usher in a new millennium together.
All the humans, their stories were wildly different from each other. They all came from different lands, many not represented by the World Showcase. They were all of different cultures. With their own different traditions.
But all the humans gathering together peacefully and happily was the whole point.
The spirits were not the tapestry of nations their parade was named for - the humans were.
And there they were, counting down together as the promise of a new millennium, and the 21st century was there just for the taking.
The Sage of Time knew that the humans were at a crossroads now. They could take the lessons they learned from today and apply it to every day afterwards, lifting each other up and celebrating each other's differences and similarities. Or they could not.
But The Sage of Time was optimistic.
Not just for the occasion, but for humanity. He believed the best of them.
He believed in humans, because fundamentally, they were good and full of love. And they would celebrate the future hand in hand together, now and always.
I was not in EPCOT during the Millennium Celebration, but I do remember the very special feeling of the millennium. The hope and promise it brought.
Just about 23 years later, and I never did let that feeling go!