scottm@cavell.UUCP (Scott McPhee) (01/19/85)
Sometimes our collegues just fly off the deep end and nothing can be
done about it...
I write this note to net.micro.cbm because I know he loved this
group the best, and besides, it is believed that this column is what
started it all.
Dear Scott will be alright now. All the doctors confirm that he is
in peace even though they won't take off the white jacket and insist
that all sharp objects be kept from his reach (for fear he may
unknowingly hurt himself or others near him).
I believe it all started with something called a 1541 (whatever that is
I don't know - but I distinctly remember hearing him curse out loud
when he got a new computer "Damn 1541!! What kinda crap is this?!?").
At first it was mild, but then it got worse. He became 'edgy' at work
and started chewing pencils - and I know Scott has never done this before,
he shouted at people, became very impatient, and his work quality
declined to something I would expect from an undergraduate! Well
it got to a point where I asked him to see a doctor for fear of high
blood pressure.
The doctor said it was out of his hands. He said Scott needed a
different doctor, yes a psychiatrist.
This made all the difference in the world. He seemed so mellow, so
peaceful, and altogether a different man. (I tell you now what the
doctor's instructions were: stay away from the computer at home
for awhile, and if you really hate the 1541, well maybe there will
be something you can do about it soon. But for now just relax.)
Scott confided to me (shortly after this visit) he had done what the
doctor ordered. He had put his computer in the closet and he was
"A New Man", yes that is what he said, "A New Man".
This was fine for quite some time, about a month in total when
next thing you knew, the accident happened.
I felt so sorry for Scott's wife, now that she has to support two
children and her husband was, well, practically an invalid.
During a long discussion, she told me the story:
"... yes I know he was edgy. I thought it was the coffee, so
I switched to decaf'. But this didn't help. He was so rough
with the children, and me. But all I can do now is forgive
him, dear soul."
She began to cry, but then continued,
".. I think it was that damb Skyles company he talked about
in his sleep. Yes they must have started it all. He was
starting to get better, following the doctor's orders, you
know. But then he ordered something for his computer ...
now my memory fails .. what was it again ?? ...
Yes! that's it! I remember now, he called it a Flash!
Have you ever heard of anything so silly?? What on earth
is a Flash? I know Scott loved his computing so much, so
I did not bother to question his good judgment when it came
to his computing. He said he would be better soon and that
he was sorry for treating the kids that way. He was doing
real well, with that Commodore in the closet he spent more
time with me. Frankly, I've never been so happy since our
newlywed days together... but then ... but then ..."
Again she wept, I had to comfort her. After the tragic loss
of her husbands mind, what else could I offer?
"... I'm OK now, thanks.", she went on. "But then that
damb thing came in the mail. God curse that damb thing!
He pulled the computer from the closet and started tearing
it apart. He had it all over the room here.. and I
recall vividly him saying 'I'm gonna fix you now you
fifteen fourty onesie poosie...' And the look in his eyes,
well in the fifteen years I've known Scott, I'd never
seen such a look of mixed expression. A tearing hatred
with such excitement! And then... once he had put everything
back together - he was working feverishly and it was only
a matter of an hour or so, he sat down to do some computing
like he had always done before.
I shouted, 'But you should listen to the doctor's orders
honey, he said you should leave it alone for awhile' but
just then, (it was the last time I think I was looking at
the Scott I always knew) he started laughing histerically.
It frightened me so. Such a strange and loud laugh - like
a rampaging murderer! His last words that made any sense
(and the only ones he says today over and over) were:
'Finally ! Finally ! Finally ! Finally! Finally! finally..
finally, finally, .......'"
And she immediately burst into tears. Pour dear woman. God make
her life liveable after what she has endured. As I sat looking
out the window of this stricken home, I caught sight of an
ad that (presumably) Scott had cut out of a magazine. It
read "1541 Flash! disk speed up will increase ... up to
three times ..", and it went on. I tossed it back on the
coffee table and looked out the window wondering how anything
could change such a strong man so much as to produce a
babbling child. I heard Scott in the next room (he must have
been sleeping now for it was late) muttering away,
"finally finally finally finally".
Thanks Bryce.
A good friend you are.
This is my last postnews.
They are taking away my
account. I would love to
have comments mailed to
my home address:
(care of)
Scott McPhee
10973 76 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T6E 0J6
Bob Skyles, I kiss your forhead for having such a fast turn-around
on my order.
.. over and out until the summer of '85.
coming to you live from the campus of U of eh? Yes, Canada.