My brother (20 yrs younger) just called me. Right out of the box after my hello was, "I've been working hard for 5 years to get where I am. Now its all over. I should've just rented an apartment and had a good time instead of busting my ass."

I asked him what the heck he was talking about. "Y2K", he replied in a tone that suggested I should already know because it was my fault.

I've been working him for months now and the thing that finally got him was a conversation with a couple of friends who own businesses downtown. His buddies were discussing their bugout plans.

Go figure. Big brother, 25 year IT pro couldn't convince him. Two friends discussing their plans, trip the alarm.

Now I've got to 1)calm him down, 2)focus his attention, and 3)get him prepped.

This is the first family member that has been converted. Any help with 1 and 2 would be appreciated.

MVI

-- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), December 14, 1998

Answers

MVI,

You did the leg work. You initiated him and his friends pushed the button. I'm sure that we'll all have these same kinds of experiences starting very soon!

Congrats! Just be patient about 1 and 2.

Mike ===================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), December 14, 1998.

Been my experience to reassure, to guide/assist in preparation will focus them and calm them down. Good luck and God bless....

-- other-Lisa (LisaWard2@aol.com), December 14, 1998.

"Go figure. Big brother, 25 year IT pro couldn't convince him. Two friends discussing their plans, trip the alarm. "

Wrong. You set the stage up for him to be able to hear the alarm from his buddies. Otherwise he would have thought his buddies just went nuts.

I'll share something with you. I'm an RN. You'd think that my family would just come running to me for "free/cheap" medical advice right? Or that they'd at least listen to my warnings or advice when I detect something is wrong with their health right? Well they don't. They have to pay for it to be "real" advice ;) All my RN friends complain of the same problem. It's just that you are too close to your brother for him to take your advice and warnings and act on it.

You did the leg work, he finally got it, great job MVI :)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), December 14, 1998.

Don't get me wrong folks. I'm not insulted in way, shape, or form because his friends triggered the alarm. Just amused and glad.

MVI

-- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), December 14, 1998.

Great MVI! Think of 1, 2, and 3 together. That is, by focusing his attention on preparation he will calm down by keeping busy with the hard work, thought, and the subsequent rewards that prep entails. Try to remember what affect preparing had on yourself. Did you feel calmer after getting some deliveries? Worth a try? Best of luck, and move immediate.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 14, 1998.

Congrats!

We never know when or where the seeds will sprout...whole bunch coming up soon and will need help with the same kind of focused attention your brother does.

Tell him to breathe deeply whenever he feels a panic attack coming on. It will center and calm him.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 15, 1998.

Would he listen if you referred him to an informational resource???

(Like here!!??)

cr

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 15, 1998.

MVI, Good for him. Now that you have his attention, let him know he's ahead of 98% of the population. And as such he can and should make the preps to keep him and those he loves viable.Don't let him be a doom and gloomer. He beat the odds and is ahead of the curve.Now since most of JQ public is focused on the holiday season and buying those things he can start getting his shit in one sock(I love the military metaphors). For the cost of about a months pay he should be able to feed himself for at least 4 months, maybe more. And with more information he should be in good shape. IMHO.

nine

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), December 15, 1998.

Don't spread it about too much, keep it in the family, or Brotherhood.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), December 15, 1998.

He said "Now it's all over...."

No, it's not all over. There's no bloody wonder there is so much depression out there with that type of attitude. I'm wondering how long it will be before someone seriously starts suggesting that we stock up on cyanide tablets so we can end it all when it gets really bad.....

Fact: We have no accurate way of calculating just how serious the effects will be. There is a very wide range of possible scenarios. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that all companies and people will just roll over and play dead come the magic hour. What utter bullshit........

I'm glad when people "get it". But when all they get is utter despair without any balance, then it's not a good thing at all.

Get off the "Road Warrior" kick.....it's not realistic.......and it's certainly not good for the mental health!

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), December 15, 1998.

I'm glad your brother just got it.

I have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren. My older daughter has two children - she sort of believes its going to happen but her husband is in denial, so not getting prepared. My second daughter, 3 little boys, just got a call from her mom-in-law, lots of money. Her financial advisor called her two weeks ago and told her to get out of the stock market and stock on on food and water. So now my daughter believes, after I've tried to get her to accept it for one year. Mom-in-law is going to buy out Cosco getting daughter's family ready.

Third Daughter has 3 girls. At first her husband was in deniel for several months. Daughter was losing weight, not sleeping, kept giving him articles I printed out, so husband finally gave in and said she could prepare, not because he believed her but because he was worried about her. So she started preparing four months ago. She ordered her food, and started sleeping and eating again. She finally got her dried food delivered a couple of weeks ago. Husband finally believes her but I bet for a while he wished he had any mother-in-law but me. Now they are trying to get his mom to prepare.

Youngest daughter not married, no money - I'm preparing for her, and trying to get enough together for my eldest daughter and her family, without telling her. It's a good thing I started a year ago. I would never be able to afford this at the last minute. It takes time to prepare. You keep finding out other things you need to get.

It's an up hill battle trying to tell others. some just don't want to hear it. That Vanity Fair article was great. Bought two magazines to send to others, telling others to buy it at work. I'm constantly mentioning Y2K to the people I work with. My mom is sending out her Christmas Cards and putting down she is getting ready for Y2K in the note she writes. A couple of her friends have called her wanting to know what Y2K is and she tells them. The moment I come home from work she smiles and asks me if I've brought her any article to read. I think I've created a Y2K cookie monster.

One lady I work with her financial advisor also called her two weeks ago and told her to get out of the stock market and stock up on food and water.

So now I know two people, and their financial advisors told them to get out of the stock market, stock up and do it by APRIL. I think things are going to start happening in the financial markets soon.

Merry Christmas everyone.....

-- (Sister.gotit@family.togo), December 15, 1998.

Craig -

I would think you've been reading this board long enough to know that MVI's bro just hit the SHOCK/PANIC stage. He'll move through the rest of the "Grief" cycle and then finally hit ACCEPTANCE/ACTION and be ready to rock'n'roll. It's a phase and takes time to work through, is all - took me a couple of months, all told. Luckily he's got MVI to watch his back and answer his questions. I'm sure most of us wish we'd had more "mentors" on this particular course of study.

Onward!

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), December 15, 1998.

Thanks to all for the help!

As a follow-up he called me today to let me know he's dumping some stock and wanted advice on what to do with the money. He's moving along pretty well and he is coming over tonight to discuss details.

I think this is the first time I've asked for help and you guys came through. :)

MVI

-- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), December 15, 1998.

my parents just got it too. I am greatly relieved, but it does seem strange to listen to my 74 year old mother discussing the shelf life of various foods....actually, I was quite impressed with how fast they did get it, once they got it!:>

-- More Dinty Moore (Not @this time.com), December 17, 1998.