It’s a Wonderful Life – 2060
The chapter introduces Juniper Blakely, a 34-year-old man living in the year 2060, and details his structured yet technologically advanced daily life. Juniper uses an implanted pacemaker-like clock to regulate his sleep and follows a routine that includes automated meals, AI-assisted work, and leisure activities like gardening and model train building. He works remotely for Enstro Technologies, fact-checking global news reports and ensuring the accuracy of communication in a world heavily influenced by AI. His wife, Leonder, also works from home, creating pottery that decorates their distinctive home. The chapter explores themes of nostalgia, the challenges of modern technology, and the human need for escape, as Juniper reflects on the complexities of his work and the world’s precarious state. Despite the advancements, he finds solace in his hobbies and fleeting moments of prayer, yearning for a simpler, better life.
It’s a Wonderful Life – 2060
Chapter Seven - Pittsburgh Bound
Juniper Blakely finds himself in a race against time as he prepares for a pivotal presentation to the Pittsburgh Planning Commission, which has unexpectedly shifted from a virtual meeting to a televised event at one of the city’s largest venues. With no prototypes or cost estimates for his ambitious HO-scale train layout featuring lifelike, moving figures, Juniper relies on his creativity and determination to craft a compelling narrative. He uses simulated visuals, including a video of a walking elderly couple, to add a “wow factor” to his pitch. Despite his history of overpromising and underdelivering, Juniper is driven by his belief in the project’s potential to showcase Pittsburgh’s rich history through model railroading. The event draws an unexpectedly large and diverse audience, including representatives from museums, chambers of commerce, and cultural organizations, all eager to hear his vision of Pittsburgh as a gateway to progress and imagination. Juniper knows this is his one shot to make an unforgettable impression and bring his concept closer to reality.