Here is the prompt:
Imagine you’re a 79-year-old man writing the story of his life, interwoven with the major historical events of his time. He was born in Washington, D.C. in 1944, moved to Mexico in 1953, moved to Nice, France in 1960, went to Australia in 1961, moved to New Zealand in 1963 and went to university, graduating summa cum laude; and travelled to Canada in 1969. He worked for the Federal Government of Canada from 1971 to 1978, spent a year in Paris, and returned to Ottawa to found a passive-solar design and construction company, that became successful after a shaky start and then crashed in the recession of 1989, in the same year that his daughter was born; started a mutual credit exchange; moved to New Jersey in 1991, first to Flemington and then to Basking Ridge; and in 2020 moved to Rochester, NY with his wife of 40 years to live. Describe the key historical events coinciding with this man’s life.
And here’s the AI version
Title: Echoes of Time: A Journey Through Seven Decades
Chapter 1: Washington’s Dawn (1944-1953)
In the heart of Washington, D.C., I took my first breath in 1944, amidst the echoes of World War II. The world was reshaping itself, and the end of the war marked a promise of new beginnings. As I took my first steps, the post-war era unfolded, witnessing the formation of the United Nations and the beginning of the Cold War.
Chapter 2: From Mexico to Nice (1953-1960
In 1953, my family embarked on a journey south, seeking warmth and a change of scenery. Mexico embraced us with its vibrant culture. The 1950s witnessed the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., echoing the winds of change across borders. In 1960, Nice, France became our new home, and amidst the beauty of the French Riviera, I became a witness to the complexities of decolonization and the space race.
Chapter 3: Down Under and Higher (1961-1969)
Australia beckoned in 1961, a land of opportunity and adventure. As I pursued my education, the 1960s unfolded in a whirlwind of cultural shifts—the rise of the counterculture, the Vietnam War protests, and the moon landing. New Zealand became my academic haven in 1963, and while I delved into my studies, the world grappled with the tumultuous events of 1968, from the Prague Spring to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy.
Chapter 4: Ottawa, Paris, and Entrepreneurship (1969-1989)
In 1969, I set foot in Canada, a nation navigating political and cultural transformations. The 1970s brought economic challenges, yet I found my place in the Federal Government. A brief sojourn in Paris in 1979 immersed me in the city of lights, amidst the echoes of the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Returning to Ottawa, I founded a passive-solar design company in the early 1980s. The business faced the highs of success and the lows of the 1989 recession, a year marked not only by financial struggles but also the birth of my daughter.
Chapter 5: Mutual Credits and Garden State (1989-1991)
Undeterred by the challenges, I ventured into the world of mutual credit exchanges, a vision for an alternative economic system. The early 1990s brought a new chapter as I moved to New Jersey, navigating the suburban landscapes of Flemington and Basking Ridge. The Gulf War unfolded against the backdrop of my personal journey, a reminder of the persistent global struggles for peace.
Chapter 6: A Millennium Unfolds (1991-2020)
The turn of the millennium ushered in a new era. In 1991, my wife and I celebrated our 40th year together in Rochester, NY, as the world embraced the internet revolution. The 21st century unfolded with the challenges of terrorism, economic shifts, and the digital age. The resilience of the human spirit stood tall against the backdrop of 9/11, the financial crisis of 2008, and the ongoing fight for environmental sustainability.
Chapter 7: A Journey’s Pause in Rochester (2020-Present)
In 2020, my wife and I made Rochester, NY, our home, a city echoing with the whispers of history and innovation. As I reflect on seven decades, I find solace in the rich tapestry of my life interwoven with the threads of global events. As I pen down these memories, I carry with me the wisdom gained through the years—a journey through time, a witness to history, and a testament to the enduring human spirit.
I find it amazing that the program is so melodramatic and the prose is so flowery. Of course we did not go to Mexico in search of “warmth and a change of scenery.” And so on.