1983 - grade 3. Millikin Basics Plus in Santa Clara, CA. First experience with a computer. Apple IIe in a 'computer lab' at school, taught by Mrs Gleim. She told us that these computers were being created just down the street and soon every other house would have one of these. I rolled my 8 year old eyes.
1985 - grade 5. My dad brought home a Macintosh. I was the only one to use it and I could Mac Paint like no other. "Dad, look at how I can use spray paint!!"
I began to notice these adults that worked at the Apple Computer building. They'd eat lunch at Vallco sometimes. Most were male, gray-bearded and wore Birkenstocks. I remember the flag that flew at Apple's modest headquarters down the road. My dad bought a few more Apple computers but I really didnt pay much attention, I was too busy being a teenager.
Jump ahead to...
1995 - Mike and I, married, would drive the two miles from our home in Sunnyvale to my childhood room in Santa Clara to expore this email thing my dad had. I could see all the other people in the area that also used Apple's email service. Being a Browning, I would then message every one that I knew just to say hi. Once I forgot to log out of Dad's internet and didnt realize until days later.
Anyone remember what was the name of that Apple email?
Mike and I owned a computer but it wasn't an Apple. We used an AOL account for email. I still have that email account. Just because.
Apple fell out of favor with the public. I had a soft spot for it because I love a good local product, but as a young mother, I didnt really have much to do with a computer. We were more into Nintendo back then.
2005 - Living in Utah and my sister, Rory, gave me an iPod Shuffle for my birthday. Wow, what a product. I loved mine so much I turned around and gave her one the next month.
2006 - Mike gives me an engraved iPod (64 gig). It gets stolen from my car in my garage the next year.
2008 - Allison and I are driving down our street and my glovebox starts to ring. We discover my first iPhone (1st gen). Thank you Mike! There still aren't many people in Utah with an iPhone, and even then, it's mostly men that are carrying them. I carry mine in a Paul Frank case that I carry as a wristlet. When we go back to the bay area to visit home, I see tons of people with iPhones. Tons.
2008 - September- its my birthday and Mike takes me to the Gateway for dinner. At this point, I've taken up running, so Mike lets me pick out a Nano that I can use on the road. I choose the Product (RED) one.
2009 - I'm racing a sick Gwen to the bathroom at the Riverton 4th of July parade. My iPhone is in my bra as I had no pockets. It leaps into the toilet. A few weeks later I buy the iPhone 3GS. Its quite a bit faster.
2010 - Im at the DMV in a long line. I cant exactly find my phone. I retrace my steps to no avail. that night Mike takes me down and orders an iPhone 4 for me.
2010 - Mike tells me a friend can get an iPad for less than $400. It never shows up. We are suckers.
2011 -January- Mike buys me an iPad (first gen)
2011 - September- I've saved $700 for my first ever Apple laptop. I havent decided which I want. Still need $1000. Who am I kidding, more like $1300. I feel like a little kid having to save up for this.
October 5 2011. Today I've been watching via live feed, this manhunt happening back home in Sunnyvale. I know each and every street that is being searched. My kids went to preschool right there at Laurelwood. Close friends are being kept in their homes and some have even been searched. I'm concerned and I'm thinking the people in those neighborhoods have got to be exhausted. It's been a 'bay area' mindset all day, even wished for a Togo's sammie.
I found out about Steve Jobs passing away from a favorite news station I began subscribing to on FB just this morning. KRON-4. This is a little ironic seeing as how it was probably the first station I ever watched report on Apple.
I'm pretty homesick right about now. We happen to be headed back there in a few days for a reunion, that works out nicely.
Forever greatful to you, Steve.
I think Ashton Kutcher could play the young Jobs. WOW do I want Woz' belt buckle!
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