Ringing in Y2K with Timbo Cotter

You remember it.. They inadvertently programmed computers to shut-down and reset when the clock struck 12:oo am in the year 2000. Planes were going to fall out of the sky, whole financial networks would be destroyed, society was doomed. This isn't about that.

Much of my childhood was spent at the Cotter's house hanging out with Timbo, Patrick, and Brian. I always liked it there because we could stay up as late as we wanted, eat whatever, and sleep in. I was allowed to go to his house for New Year's- and lucky me, they were throwing a big party.

The night started off great. People brought tons of food- kids played, parents drank- it was all around a good time. Then it started to happen. My stomach was wrenching and I could do nothing to alleviate the pain. After much deliberation, I asked Brian Cotter to take me home.

So, Timbo and I sat in the back of his Ford truck while Brian and his friend Austin Bowie drove and rode in the front. I was getting progressively worse and am pretty sure I said I might puke, but being so close to my house that I could 'probably hold it.'

'Just tell me if you need to and I'll pull over," Brian said. "Don't puke in the Truck."

'Don't puke in the truck. okay- just concentrate you can make it' i was thinking-

Just about then we made a really sharp turn and I lost control. Knowing that it was coming and that no puke was allowed in his car I covered my mouth. Bad idea. Vomit (which was coming out at a crazy pace) sprayed everywhere. Austin was riding shotgun and looked back at me with a face of pure amazement. I basically puked directly into his mouth. He then proceeded to projectile vomit all over the front of the truck.

My spray was not localized and it hit Timbo too- who also started puking his guts out. Brain started to freak out and pulled the car over as soon as he could. It wasn't soon enough because by the time we all escaped there was probably a good 1 to 2 inches of puke over the truck.

I've never seen people move so quickly to get away from something before. The truck stopped and we were all instantly out of it- all of us puking on the side of the road.

It was everywhere- - we were saturated with 3 different kinds of vomit. It covered our clothes- our faces- our hair- everywhere.

The big problem was that we were still decently far from my house and the car was un-drivable. Who was going to get in that car and drive the rest of the way? Timbo and I were 13 so not us. It had to be Brian. We made a plan- all of us would sit in the truckbed and Brian would drive with his head out of the window like some overjoyed dog- but there was no joy here. Just a shit-ton of vomit.

By the time we got to my house the puke had frozen in my hair and to my face. I felt terrible for the next 3 to 4 days. My mom told them she would drive them home and clean his truck. And to this day, every time I see the older Cotter brothers (which is rarely) they bring up this story- and I really am glad it happened because I love it.