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I started with IBM in Essex Junction, Vermont, July, 1967, retiring there in 2009 after 42 years with IBM, mostly in IT positions. I enjoyed working with customers to define requirements, design and code the application, test, install, and maintain and support the systems. I was lucky to work with people from or in over 40 countries.
I joined the 131st Engineer Company (LE) of the Vermont Army National Guard in 1967. The unit was activated to Federal status in 1968, and I spent a year in Viet Nam with them, returning home in 1969 when the 131st was deactivated. Although trained as a scraper operator, I ended up with an MOS of grader operator (I did ride on a grader a few times!), but during most of the deployment I was a radio operator and later company commo chief. Being NGs, we did the work for which we were best qualified, regardless of our official Army training, or our slot in the TO&E. Reality over the military mind!
I love Vermont and am thankful my job brought me here. I worked at IBM East Fishkill, NY, 1972 - 1976, but managed to escape NY back to Vermont. As the Jim Croce song says, "New York Is Not My Home". Vermont IS my home. I collected Vermont books and ephemera, and visited all Vermont's 251 cities and towns, as well as 49 states and 18 countries.
It has been great to learn from my daughter and son-in-law. Since they married in 1992, they have lived in Maryland (suburban DC), the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and finally New Hampshire. 150 miles away is much better than 3000 miles! I can now house and animal sit for them when they are away. Right now, there are two dogs (three of their four dogs have been Akitas), two cats, 10 chickens and a bunch of new chicks I have not met. The herd is now gone, but for years they had Highland cattle in NH, 11 head at the highest. I knew nothing about cattle, but after I got comfortable being out with Highlands as large as 2000 pounds, all with horns, I really enjoyed them. You get to know the individual personalities and can interact with them. Even carrying square bales out to their feeder with them nibbling as I walked, I was only wacked once with a horn, and kicked once by a heifer. I was never stepped on. Still, being in the pasture with them, you keep your head on a swivel, especially when young steers are chasing each other! Samson, their 2000 pound bull, is in the "Now" picture.
