Watching the Kavanaugh hearings, or reading autobiographical articles, there is always a lot of gratitude being expressed for one’s mentors and teachers. It always makes me feel a little funny. When I think about who taught me stuff in my life or guided me in some way, I can eventually come up with a few names, but it takes an effort.
I am self taught. Of course none of us are really self taught. There is a vast reservoir of knowledge available to us thanks to the genius and work of our ancestors, but I’m talking about personal in the flesh mentors. I’ve picked up stuff from this or that person over the years, but I don’t have any story about how Mrs. Crabadopolous in the third grade set my feet on the path that has led to the magnificent flowering of my present being.
I learned about life and love and computer programming in the school of very firm knocks. I didn’t get much help from anyone, never served an apprenticeship, with the one exception of Big Al Meltzer on the big press in the print shop. I have done a bit of guru-following, but it always ended in disappointment.
As a result, I am a poor teacher. My instinctive reaction to anyone seeking instruction or guidance, is “Figure it out for yourself.” I am a lone wolf software developer. I do everything myself, programming, web site, accounting, tech support, etc. No employees. I do have an associate/old friend who I facetime with once a week for an hour or two who helps me out with interface and web design and general brain-storming. I pay him well-deserved royalties. That was my wife’s idea and it has been invaluable, but I would never have done it on my own. I am a lone wolf Christian. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but I don’t go to church.
All the articles say that how well you do and how long you live and how groovy your life is depends on the number of your friends and family and human connections in general. I sure hope that’s not true.