It took me a while to write this one.
It's not often I'm deeply saddened by the passing of someone I didn't know personally, but with the news of Steve Jobs passing, I found myself bitter at the injustice of it all for the majority of the past 5 days. Why is it that the world makes the effort to save those that live only for themselves, even in a manner destructive to society, yet we lose iconic world market and cultural movers like Mr. Jobs so early? In the 4 years since iPhone, and the nearly 10 years since the iPod, Steve Jobs has emblazoned the path for consumer electronics and digital lifestyles to be hip, sexy, cool, and downright helpful for all of us, whether you spend time on an Apple product or otherwise.
You see, he pushed his team to see what we will all see in 3 years rather than tomorrow. When knee-jerk is the norm, he set trends, standards, and benchmarks for excellence, while everyone else was trying their darndest to keep up with the Jobses.
By now I've seen all the quotes, re-read speeches, re-watched keynotes, and clicked through to to all of the tributes made by famous voices, and it still can't explain why I see a void in the world, why I feel sorrow for the man, his loved ones, and the world in general, without feeling any direct sorry for myself in anything.
And this comes from someone who has never shook the man's hand let alone seen him with my own eyes before. If I only were that privileged to offer you a personal anecdote. For now and now forever, it'll have to be purely from inspiration. I just wish... I could have seen what he had in store for us looking to the next few decades. I wish there was one more "oh, and one more thing."
Rest in peace Mr. Jobs.
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