Old Hat
The very first computer I ever used, the venerable TI-99/4A, I have yet again. For some reason I decided it time to revisit this part of my own history and purchases a set of four units in various states of repair. This particular one, and one other, is fully functional as is. I didn't imagine that opening the box for this machine would be an emotional event, but here I am.
What a magnificent artifact of my journey through life. Almost every moment of my own existence has been informed by this make and model of computer. It ignited a fire in my soul that became a hobby and passion, a career, and the means by which I can accomplish many of the goals I have. Very rarely can I say that a material item holds any genuine meaning, and sitting in front of me is one of those shining pieces of infrequent objects. I am lost for how to express myself.
As a young child, kindergarten aged, I would pour over the manuals and try to make the things my imagination asked me to make. I would call my father at work for help. I would ask my siblings to help me read words I couldn't decipher. It was the first moments of a journey that has lasted nearly thirty years, and will continue until I am no longer wrapped in my mortal coil. This one object forged the iron will and stubborn persistence to try "just one more thing" that keeps me awake far later than is reasonable. Or worse, the thing that wakes me far earlier than I wish.
I am not embellishing when I say this computer had as much impact on who I am as my family. My father used it as a tool to analyze investments. My older siblings used it as a teacher, playing with software my father wrote just for them. Software that knew what type of math they needed help on. Software that knew who their friends were, and that my sister Angie had a dog named Odie. I learned how to play blackjack on it, using a version that my father wrote to perfect his play strategy. My younger brother and I bonded over games.
To my heart, engineering has been an expression of self as truly as a painter feels of canvas or a sculptor to their marble. Every line of code caries a little bit of who I am with it. And this device is my personal alpha point. This is why my thoughts are structured in a way that allows me to describe the structure of my thoughts. This is why I number sequences not in 1's, but in 10's, just in case you need to add a line of code somewhere.
All of this impact from a machine that is less powerful than the bluetooth speaker on my desk.
GOTO 10
What a magnificent artifact of my journey through life. Almost every moment of my own existence has been informed by this make and model of computer. It ignited a fire in my soul that became a hobby and passion, a career, and the means by which I can accomplish many of the goals I have. Very rarely can I say that a material item holds any genuine meaning, and sitting in front of me is one of those shining pieces of infrequent objects. I am lost for how to express myself.
As a young child, kindergarten aged, I would pour over the manuals and try to make the things my imagination asked me to make. I would call my father at work for help. I would ask my siblings to help me read words I couldn't decipher. It was the first moments of a journey that has lasted nearly thirty years, and will continue until I am no longer wrapped in my mortal coil. This one object forged the iron will and stubborn persistence to try "just one more thing" that keeps me awake far later than is reasonable. Or worse, the thing that wakes me far earlier than I wish.
I am not embellishing when I say this computer had as much impact on who I am as my family. My father used it as a tool to analyze investments. My older siblings used it as a teacher, playing with software my father wrote just for them. Software that knew what type of math they needed help on. Software that knew who their friends were, and that my sister Angie had a dog named Odie. I learned how to play blackjack on it, using a version that my father wrote to perfect his play strategy. My younger brother and I bonded over games.
To my heart, engineering has been an expression of self as truly as a painter feels of canvas or a sculptor to their marble. Every line of code caries a little bit of who I am with it. And this device is my personal alpha point. This is why my thoughts are structured in a way that allows me to describe the structure of my thoughts. This is why I number sequences not in 1's, but in 10's, just in case you need to add a line of code somewhere.
All of this impact from a machine that is less powerful than the bluetooth speaker on my desk.
GOTO 10