So I read with interest the other day how Paul Thurrott was inspired but, but yet never met Woody in person. It’s funny in technology how that turns out. We interact so often with people but so many times it’s never in person. And when you get in person, there is a communication that for all of the zoom and the skype and the ability to interact that we have today, just cannot be replicated online.
For that blessing of being able to meet in person, I need to thank Brian Livingston back in the Windows Secrets days. He coordinated getting most (if not all as I recall) of the writers together in the Seattle area at the same time. Which with all of us from all over the country and (if I’m recalling correctly) Woody traveling through the area at the same time, it was an interesting interaction. We had all corresponded with each other. Read each others articles. Agreed with most. Disagreed with some. But meeting in person kicked up the trust level to another notch. Woody was taller in person and more personable.
What will I remember most? His turn of phrase in the newsletter. Many a time I’d have to look up a word or two or three. His gracious recommendations of me to other publications and other authors when I was looking for advice and recommendations. His trust in turning over “his baby” to me.
In that respect the greatest memorial I can give to him is keeping his legacy alive. Making sure the users of technology are respected.
As you can note we’ve gone a bit “dark” and have had a weeklong silence on the main home page to honor the founder of this site. Come Monday morning we will celebrate his life and honor him.
And then we will get back to doing what I know he’d want me to do in the best way possible: Keeping you informed. Keeping you respected.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
