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Goodbye Steve Jobs

I got my first Apple with I was 11, we had just returned to the States after living in Japan for the last three years.  We had been home for a few months and my father was looking up old friends.  We visited a my fathers good friend Joe, who happened to be a programmer.  After the introductions the adults took did their thing and I was just sitting there.  So Joe asked if I ever played a computer game, I said "No?" He then takes me into the back room of his home and shows me his Apple II.  I sit down and he loads up "The Bards Tale".  Right then I am hooked, and every weekend after I ask if we can go to Joe's house.  After about six months I ask my folks if I can buy a computer, and they about have a heart attack, computers are expensive.  So I begin to start saving some money and I save about $200 and ask the question again, and finally get the OK.  I remember digging through the local newspaper, Quick Quater, and Penny Saver.  After a month of searching I finally find a Apple II+ $600.  I show my mom and she says they will help with the remaining money needed to get the machine.  I ask Joe if he will go with me to check it out and make sure I am making the right choice.  It turns out that this Apple II+ has dual floppy drives, and the 128K expansion board.

At this point I was in middle school and joined the computer club which happened to be run by my math teacher.  Now I suck at math and he offer extra credit for turning in plot drawings.  Needless to say thank goodness for extra credit.

Once in high school it was time for an upgrade, and Apple had just released the new Apple IIgs.  After lots of coaxing I finally got my parents to agree to buy me a new Apple IIgs, with a 5 1/4 and a 3 1/2 in floppy drives, the best part was the 50 MB external HD ($1000) by itself.   With the help of the Joe and the vision of Steve Jobs, I would have never found the love for technology that I have today.  Thank you Joe, but most of all thank you Steve your products help mold my life and career.