Daniel Hruska Lisen Stormberg, a neighbor of Steve Jobs, wrote a few lines about his recent resignation from the head of Apple.
My neighbor, Steve Jobs, has been quoted a lot in the media lately. The main reason is his recent announcement about stepping down from the leadership role so that others can continue Apple's rise. The business press, news, blogs and everyone else wrote odes about the "greatest CEO of all time" celebrating this "wonder boy" who changed our daily lives with his genius.
All of that is true, but here in Palo Alto, Steve Jobs is not only an icon, but a guy down our street.
I first met Steve (does anyone still call him Mr. Jobs?) many years back at a garden party. I was completely "off" being so close to his DNA that I barely made a sound. I'm sure I must have made the best first impression when I messed up my name when we introduced each other.
I watched him swim in the pool with his son. He seemed like a normal guy, a good dad having fun with his kids.
I met him for the second time at our children's class meetings. He sat and listened to a teacher explain the importance of education (wait, isn't he one of those high-tech gods who didn't even finish college?) while the rest of us sat around pretending that Steve Jobs' presence was completely normal.
Not long after, I saw Steve when I went for a run around our neighborhood. He was in heated conversation with a younger version of himself – plain jeans, a black t-shirt and thin rimmed glasses. I must have looked like a fool when I tripped over the gap between the tiles trying to avoid them.
It was Halloween and I was soon to find out that he knew my name (yes, my name!). Steve and his wife have decorated their house and garden to look pretty damn spooky. He was sitting on the sidewalk dressed as Frankenstein. As I walked with my son, Steve smiled and said, "Hi Lisen." My son thought I was the baddest mom in town because he knew me On – Steve Jobs.
Thanks for this moment, Steve.
From now on, whenever I saw him in our neighborhood, I didn't hesitate to say hello. Steve always returned the greeting, perhaps as a genius, but also as a good neighbor.
Over time, things have changed. He wasn't seen as often, his walk slowed and his smile wasn't what it used to be either. Earlier this year, when I saw Steve walking with his wife holding hands, I knew something was different. Now the rest of the world knows.
While Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, and CNET are constantly rehashing the impact of the Steve Jobs era on today's society, I won't be thinking about the MacBook Air I'm typing on or the iPhone I'm on the phone with. I will think of the day I saw him at his son's graduation. He stood there proudly, tears streaming down his face, a smile from ear to ear as his son just received his diploma. Perhaps he is Steve's most important legacy.
Source: PaloAltoPatch.com
nice…
Nice article. It remains to make a true film about Steve Jobs and the co-founders of Apple Computers (now Apple Inc), Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayen. Easily five hours long, divided into several parts. In the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley", many things from Jobs' life are deleted.
I would definitely watch that movie :)
They could also include how he was driving on LSD. Or he went to India and came back in robes with a shaved head and as a Buddhist right? Or that, Jan graduated quickly (after the 1st semester). I don't know you. Whatever SJ's life was, shouldn't we have some respect for his privacy? (Even if it's a really interesting topic, yes)
great, thanks! :)
Can't articles like this be translated at least for a little bit more? it's always a shame
Really nice - and yes! I'd take the movie too - Noah Wyle could easily play Steve again