Since I had about 40 mins before I could start driving to work, I decided to go to my vegetable plot in McClellan Ranch. This was not my usual practice, but a one off day. While I was there contemplating on how to structure protection for my next planting, a couple walk by. The lady looked familiar and few seconds later I could not not hold myself. I drop by gloves and chase after the couple. I catch up to the lady and I ask if her name is PK. She said yes.
PK was my muse, my inspiration. I told her my name and how I knew her. We spoke for a few minutes. I was totally thrilled to have met her, it seemed like a gift. It seemed cosmically preordained meeting, because about 30 mins later while driving to work that I realized, today was my 3rd anniversary from being laid off from my last full time work as a software developer. About a year before the layoff that I moved away from my long term group. Below is my goodbye email to my longtime colleagues. Read below to understand why I called her my muse.
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I am done with the last delivery!
Today will be my last day at work for SeaQuest. In the past 16 years, 5 months, 21 days I had one of the most amazing journeys in life. Every day I was humbled and grateful for the people I worked with and the product that I worked on. There have been many, many people in this group that made my life richer, and I am very grateful for their generosity and kindness.
The memories I take with me:
On second day of work at Tandem I was walking down the aisles reading the names of people who worked there. I saw a name HZ and I knew I had seen the name before. That evening I visited Stacey’s and looking through my favorite book Transaction Processing by Jim Gray, I found his name in Acknowledgements. I bought the book with my first paycheck, and I knew I was at the right place.
My surprise Bridal shower in 1998. I was truly surprised that so many people cared and wished me well. It still gives me goose bumps.
When I was in QA I saw PK (she was the manager for SQL/MX Catalog Manager) talking in the corridor with a developer. She was talking intricate design considerations, she was talking very fast, and so coherently. To me it sounded like poetry. I remember thinking : that is the group I want to work in. And how wishes come true.
The wonderful time I had in QA group : learning, experimenting and integrity towards the product.
When I moved into development I had a truly wonderful mentor: LSS.
My first check-in as a developer: 30 mins after my first check-in, I was feeling smug and on top of the world. I got an email from MR with a long list of problems with the code I delivered. I sat fuming for some time, and then something wonderful happened. I read his email again. Yes some of the problems he listed were indeed correct, and some had explanation to the way it was done. Once I replied back that I would address the problems and gave my explanations I got the greatest gift. The product is not just my baby, everyone holds a stake in its success. If I was pointed to a problem then it is with the intention of making it better. Every day of my life I thank MR’s generosity, he took time to go through my code and send me the mail. He cared about the product and he taught me to care about it too.
I learned that some people write code like Haiku, and some others like Mahabharata.
When I had a developer’s block I could go to AS’s office to get the latest Indian music CDs.
In all the long discussions GS and I used to have, I learned even though we come from different parts of the world we had so many things in common.
RS taught me how to lead.
One summer a group from work went to San Jose baseball game. DB said that it was sitting on the bleachers in that very stadium Codd developed his Relational Model. To me those bleachers became hallowed ground.
I have had so many mentors over the years. No problem was too small to discuss and it did not matter how many times I asked the same question. Each and everyone one, brain stormed with me, explained to me. I thank all my colleagues past and present for their generosity in sharing their knowledge.
I loved sharing Diwali with you all. It always seemed like I was sharing with family. You all gave me the joy of celebrating Diwali, just like in India.
I will miss the ping from RS on Friday nights 10 pm on work related questions.
I loved all the eggplant gifts I got over the years.
So many memories……I will miss you all. I am on linked in and my email id is <****>
I hope I have as much fun in my next gig as I did in the past 16 years, 5 months, 21 days.