*sniffle
When I interviewed here in 1984, I was barely 21 and had no real work experience. I was trying to get out of Huntington, WV and found an ad in a newspaper for a FORTRAN '77 programmer with some statistical background. OMGSQUEE! PERFECT. I was going to be in Cincinnati for another job interview (which turned out to be unholy-boring) and called this ad to see if I could pop by and check the place out. We set up a 2 hr visit that extended to dinner, and then they asked me to come back the next morning to meet HR. They made me an offer a few weeks later.
One of the key people was a wonderful man named Michael (guys with that name are so awesome!). We shared an office for years - nice, calm, quiet him... and bouncy, loud, challenge-the-computer-to-duels me. I adored him. He taught me so much. We worked together as computing evolved from JCL on punch cards to installing the first IBM PC AT's... we converted from IBM mainframe to a VAX miniframe to Windows-based apps and now the web.
I learned so much just by watching and listening to him. He could tell people "no" in a way that made you feel good about it, could pick up new technologies with great ease, and trained others in a simple way that still respected their intelligence. I remember him losing his composure.. once? And I don't recall him ever saying a bad word about anyone.
I amused him to no end with my naiveté. We went to a Jewish deli and I asked for a hamburger (oh please GOD tell me I didn't ask for a cheeseburger). I'd never had Chinese or Mexican. He and our supervisor decided to show me new worlds of food (YUM!)
Over the past 10 years our paths have separated. He specializes in numerical analysis and experimental design. I've wandered into the software development/implementation area. I've REALLY missed playing with equations and for years we've been saying we'd sit together so he could show me some of what he does, just to dust the cobwebs off my math-noggin. Well, we have about 4 months to get'er done. He was given his notice today, along with 8 other people. His last day hasn't been set but will be sometime around Sept. 1 or later.
It's hard to understand how they made this decision, based on our business. I can't imagine the office without him. He's always been there, you know? He has the best smile, such a calm and pleasant demeanor... and I still have so much to learn from him.
Besides, if Michael leaves, that makes ME the old-timer. *jaw drops. That can't be. I'm not THAT old. *blink. Man, 24 years goes by fast. The next few months are going to be so strange.
I've been blessed to work with some really stellar people.
One of the key people was a wonderful man named Michael (guys with that name are so awesome!). We shared an office for years - nice, calm, quiet him... and bouncy, loud, challenge-the-computer-to-duels me. I adored him. He taught me so much. We worked together as computing evolved from JCL on punch cards to installing the first IBM PC AT's... we converted from IBM mainframe to a VAX miniframe to Windows-based apps and now the web.
I learned so much just by watching and listening to him. He could tell people "no" in a way that made you feel good about it, could pick up new technologies with great ease, and trained others in a simple way that still respected their intelligence. I remember him losing his composure.. once? And I don't recall him ever saying a bad word about anyone.
I amused him to no end with my naiveté. We went to a Jewish deli and I asked for a hamburger (oh please GOD tell me I didn't ask for a cheeseburger). I'd never had Chinese or Mexican. He and our supervisor decided to show me new worlds of food (YUM!)
Over the past 10 years our paths have separated. He specializes in numerical analysis and experimental design. I've wandered into the software development/implementation area. I've REALLY missed playing with equations and for years we've been saying we'd sit together so he could show me some of what he does, just to dust the cobwebs off my math-noggin. Well, we have about 4 months to get'er done. He was given his notice today, along with 8 other people. His last day hasn't been set but will be sometime around Sept. 1 or later.
It's hard to understand how they made this decision, based on our business. I can't imagine the office without him. He's always been there, you know? He has the best smile, such a calm and pleasant demeanor... and I still have so much to learn from him.
Besides, if Michael leaves, that makes ME the old-timer. *jaw drops. That can't be. I'm not THAT old. *blink. Man, 24 years goes by fast. The next few months are going to be so strange.
I've been blessed to work with some really stellar people.