The weather turned from days of cool perfection to a sudden sense of forboding. Clouds moved in, drops dribbled from the sky, a thunderous barrage boomed, and a wash of rain fell outside my office window. The weather is world, its change of temper changes me. Fall weather brings strange feelings of comfortable nostalgia. I look forward to them again.

Terry Teague, passed away last week. He was only 50. He looked and played the role of Merlin. He had long white hair and beard, and possessed an infinite resource of knowledge about computers. At times he was arrogant, and not to be bothered, but in casual meeting, he was friendly and talkative. He came from New Zealand and he had that great New Zealand accent, which sounds slightly Scottish, and often is confused for Australian (an observation which offends New Zealanders...)

Terry worked at Apple Computer, Inc. In Cupertino, California, U.S. and lived in the hills on the east side of San Jose, CA.

I didn't know Terry very well. I feel some sadness that he passed alone, with few close friends, having spent a life obsessed with computers. He did much in the software realm, and was well known in his circles on the internet, so I don't mean to suggest he didn't live a full and successful life. Yet, I imagine a lesson to be learned from his early passing: I too love computers, and I take from Terry the lesson: don't let the obsession kill your health.

We are mind, and we are body. Computers appeal to our mind. They trick us into forgetting about body. The needs of the mind are now met effortlessly by computers, games, movies, and improving virtual reality. But we are bodies non virtual. We must go out in the real world and make an effort slightly more costly in time and strength, to keep ourselves in good health, to make and be good friends, and to live in the real here and now.

So arriving at the start of the circle again. It's time to use my computer, to be active and write in my weblog, and to be real and feel the weather, and reaffirm old friendships, and new ones.
3:31:50 PM      comment