Including transformative events that shaped my life [from 1900 to 2025]
Generated by Canva AI on 7 August 2025 and tweaked by me
I came along for the second half of the 20th century, of course, but many things happened before my arrival which are very pertinent for this memoir! I could have chosen to go back to the 1640s [maybe in the next draft, or even earlier].
Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight, launching the age of aviation.
On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers made four flights with their Wright Flyer, with the longest lasting 59 seconds and covering 852 feet. This breakthrough opened the skies to human exploration and commerce.
• Transformed global transportation and commerce
• Enabled rapid international travel and communication
• Changed military strategy and warfare
• Created entirely new industries and job markets
World War I devastates Europe, ending empires and redrawing the global map while introducing modern warfare technologies.
The "war to end all wars" involved over 70 million military personnel and resulted in unprecedented casualties. It marked the end of the old European order and set the stage for the 20th century's major conflicts.
• Collapsed four major empires (German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Ottoman)
• Introduced chemical weapons and mechanized warfare
• Led to women entering the workforce en masse
• Created conditions that led to World War II
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin, revolutionizing medicine and saving millions of lives through antibiotic treatment.
Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin's antibacterial properties launched the antibiotic age, transforming medicine from a largely palliative practice to one capable of curing previously fatal infections.
• Reduced death rates from bacterial infections by 80%
• Made complex surgeries safer and more common
• Extended average human lifespan significantly
• Launched the modern pharmaceutical industry
The deadliest conflict in human history reshapes the global order, leading to the emergence of superpowers and the United Nations.
WWII involved virtually every nation and resulted in 70-85 million deaths. It ended with the atomic bombings of Japan and established the United States and Soviet Union as superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War.
• Established the United Nations and modern international law
• Accelerated decolonization movements worldwide
• Led to rapid technological advancement
• Created the bipolar Cold War world order
From modest beginnings in Portland Maine (with a brief stay in Boston Massachusetts), Don spent most of his youth in Wimington Massachusetts [next slide].
I don't remember all that much about this period of my life. I have some anecdotes to share in person about my time in Portland (but I will only share them with family and close friends: in person). Stay tuned for a few memories about Boston and a few significant memories of parents and relatives about those early years.
• None that I am aware of!
• You guessed it: I was born a Sagittarius
• Prominent starting dates for residences:
This period is under construction.
Not much to say until I spend the time to organize my thoughts.
• None that I am aware of!
• Let me know if you know of any and thanks.
Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., the movement achieves landmark legislation ending legal segregation in the United States.
From Rosa Parks' bus boycott to the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Movement used nonviolent resistance to challenge systemic racism and achieve legal equality for African Americans.
• Ended legal segregation with Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Secured voting rights with Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Inspired global human rights movements
• Transformed American society and politics
Apollo 11 successfully lands humans on the Moon, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first person to walk on its surface.
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong's words marked humanity's greatest exploration achievement, demonstrating that seemingly impossible goals could be reached through determination and technology.
• Advanced computer technology and miniaturization
• Developed satellite communication systems
• Inspired STEM education and careers
• United humanity in shared achievement
Tim Berners-Lee creates the World Wide Web, revolutionizing information sharing and communication globally.
Berners-Lee's invention of HTML, HTTP, and URLs created the foundation for the modern internet, transforming how humans access information, communicate, and conduct business.
• Connected billions of people worldwide
• Created new industries and business models
• Democratized access to information and education
• Enabled remote work and global collaboration
A global pandemic reshapes society, accelerating digital transformation and highlighting global interconnectedness.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected every aspect of human life, from health and economics to education and social interaction, while demonstrating both human vulnerability and resilience.
• Accelerated remote work and digital adoption
• Advanced mRNA vaccine technology
• Highlighted global health system vulnerabilities
• Changed social behaviors and priorities
ChatGPT and advanced AI systems become mainstream, marking the beginning of the artificial intelligence revolution.
The release of ChatGPT and other large language models brought AI capabilities to millions of users, sparking discussions about the future of work, creativity, and human-AI collaboration.
• Democratized access to AI capabilities
• Accelerated automation across industries
• Raised questions about AI safety and ethics
• Sparked new forms of human-AI collaboration