Thanks
to all of you, young and old, for providing Mac with company during his
last years on earth. You provided him with what he always wanted: a
room full of curious and intelligent students and educators alike who
were devoted to programming in QBasic. My brother and I are
particularly grateful, for our genetic code did not allow GOTO
commands. Good thing that Mac understood many other languages, both
human and computer-based.
Mac taught us that in spite of real or imagined differences, we H.
sapiens sapiens* have more in common than we care to admit (at least in
public.) Mac saw through many of the trappings of materialism and
social mores to the individual within. At the same time, all
stereotypes (and political correctness) were a constant source of comic
relief. He was a universalist at heart, so much so that upon seeing
you, he might put his hand on your shoulder and state in no uncertain
terms: Greetings, Earthling!
Mac had an amazing ability to take any fact or circumstance and
extrapolate it- putting it into perspective. Growing up under a West
Texas sky bright with stars, Mac felt the insignificance of any one
individual's attempt to "grab credit" in the grand scheme of things. At
the same time, however, Mac explained his concept of "fate" i.e. how
the entire universe had been working through all time for any
particular event to occur... so that every instance of accidentally
stepping in dog poo was suddenly overcome with great meaning (and just
cause to celebrate!)
Dad, your unique perspective causes us to cherish every story you ever
told. We love and miss you dearly. We stay strong and united in your
memory.
*
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Subfamily: Homininae
Tribe: Hominini
Subtribe: Hominina
Genus: Homo
Species: Sapiens
Variety: Sapiens
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