I learned this evening that my friend Fran Allen passed away today. She was 88 years old.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_E._Allen

Fran was another IBM fellow… Actually one of the first ones that I knew. She was the first woman IBM fellow… And the first woman to win the touring award… Which is as close to a Nobel prize as there is in computer science. Her specialty was optimizing compilers… She Was a great mathematician and love thinking about algorithms. She also loved people. We work together quite a bit on programs related to the vitality of our technical community and IBM. She had a great sense of humor. She was a great advocate for folks in our technical community… And always had time to mentor young upstart’s (like me)….… I remembered today that I had run into Fran several years ago and IBM headquarters in Armonk. At that time she already seemed “old” To me… Though I’m sure she was younger than I am now.. She was walking with a cane.… I assumed it was something like arthritis or some other complication of getting older.… I asked her about the cane… And learned that she had twisted her knee helicopter skiing in British Columbia…

I’m tempted to say “they don’t make them like that anymore”… But I actually hope that’s not true. Fran wouldn’t have wanted that

Nite all, night te sam

-me

39 yeRs ago today I put on my tweed jacket and skinny tie and showed up at ibm for my first day at work. I was in a group of several other folks who were hired that day .. some are still friends of mine today . the one thing I remember is getting to set of a fire extinguisher …

I can’t say they the 39’years has gone fast or slowly .. maybe a mix of both . It’s been an interesting ride .. over 80 countries , thousand of plane rides and hotels , zillions of conference calls and more friends than I can count . For that I’m really grateful .

Wonder what the next 39 will bring ?

Note all, nite Sam

-me

We got back from “camp Windhoek” late this afternoon. That’s code for hanging out at our friend Lucie and viktor’s. We were up there to help them pick blueberries and cabbage… But mostly we just goofed off. It was just what we needed. It’s really closest thing we’ve had a vacation since… Well since anyone else had a vacation.

It’s a beautiful spot

After an early dinner last night… ‘Diane and I took a walk along the trails on our friends land. It was beautiful

This morning we woke up and had a nice breakfast… Then we cut some cabbage. Lucie was making lacto preserved vegetables.

I did my favorite red cabbage experiment that shows how the die you can extract from cabbage leaves can be made to turn blue or red dependent on PH. Baking soda makes it blue vinegar makes it red

Speaking of making it read… Check out Diane’s hands

I decided at 9 AM was time for a nap… So he went off and lay down on the trampoline. Seconds later they were Labre doodle puppy Cafix Jumped through the netting and started jumping on the trampoline it was so cute. He looks a lot like Chai did when she was a puppy

We left Victor and Lucie’s around 1130 and headed over to Belvedere Mountain.. We never claimed it… It was raining a bit and quite warm but it was a really nice hike. Lots of cool mushrooms along the way. And at the top and amazing weather tower. It was freezing at the top… It felt great to be cold

OK… Busy week coming up. Time for bed.

Note tomorrow is my 39th anniversary and being at IBM… I’ve never worked anywhere that long 🙂

nite all, nite sam

-me

Greetings from the 45th parallel… Literally… We’re sitting about 50 yards from the Canadian border at her friend to see in Victor’s. We’re up here to help them the fruits and vegetables… Lucie had some shoulder surgery so a couple of extra hands are helpful. We had a lovely day hanging out with them… Just finished a really nice early dinner. I’m sitting in there very peaceful yard looking at a mountain… Maybe Jay Peak… And it hasn’t moved an inch since I’ve been watching it

Wr need a little stability like that about now. Lots of The crazy stuff in the world… But you wouldn’t know it right here.

It’s great seeing Lucie and viktor again so soon… And it looks like the goats missed us too

Nice surprise for dinner. Lucie let us pick artichokes

Dinner was super nice.. pesto pasta from us, eggplant, beets and artichokes

Ok heading for a walk. More tomorrow

Nite all, nite Sam

-me