[Note: Read this post first for an introduction.]
This one comes almost 20 years ago to the day. By this time I’d been out of the Navy for 7 months. I was new to Raleigh, living in a cheap, roach-infested apartment in a dangerous neighborhood near campus, yet I felt promise. I had no where to go but up, right?
I smile at my constant use of the word “programmer,” as now they’re called developers. It was a time of rapid change in computers, which led to me leaving college behind for real-world experience. I was right about getting a high-paying job in computers. I still know what its like not to have a college degree, though!
Boy, if only I could get those “eye-popping” tuition rates of 1992 today. I’d just might go back to school.
10pm August 31, 1992 [age: 23]
Dear Grandma,
Sorry it’s been so long since you heard from me. I was twisted like a pretzel by all the new directions I had to go. I didn’t settle down for half a year and just now am I getting my footing again.
This is my second week here at N.C. State. I still don’t really believe I’m here. I guess by the time the tuition bills arrive I’ll be feeling right at home!
Living away from home is nothing new to me of course, but all the responsibilities that it entails kind of caught me off guard. In the short time I was seeing the world, tuition rates must have increased 20%. I am also paying out-of-state, meaning the school is getting a major chunk out of me. It’s eye-popping, but my student loan should be approved soon and the paper here is full of want-ads for programmers – I should have no problem getting a good job once I graduate.The classes themselves are not going to be a problem. It amazes me how much of that stuff in high school actually stuck with me! I wish I had taken a better attitude about it then – I probably would have been teaching it by now!
As for friends here, it’s really not a problem. Jeff’s friend Joel is my roommate and we get along fine. He knows some other guys here in town so my circle of friends grows bigger. My high-school buddy (and former neighbor in Virginia) Mike Diggs has a programming job here and he comes over all the time.
Sometimes I wonder what things would be like had I got here right after high school. It makes me appreciate the different outlook that I now have. I know what its like not to have a degree. There aren’t many choices.
I spent the summer working hard at Midlands Tech and helping around the house and waitering the rest of the time. I managed to knock out six courses, five with A’s (“chemistry” was a B – darn). If I was wise, I’d have found a better job because I didn’t save nearly as much money as I needed. Still, I got a lot done while I was home this summer.
I don’t know if you heard from Dad, but we took on a yard project that would’ve put the Army Corps of Engineers to shame! The edge of our yard slopes off, causing the sandy soil to wash into the woods next door. We got quite a few rough rains in a row before something had to be done.
Dad called in a dump truck full of filler sand and hired two guys to distribute it. They fixed holes under the fence on one side, and Dad and I patched up the other side. Then we filled them up with the sand, built a wall in the front yard to keep the yard from sliding away, filled it all in, put sod down everywhere, and finally rerouted the sprinkler system to water all the new grass! I still scratch my head when I see it – it was a major job but – looking at it you’d swear it was professionally done. Dad is real proud of it.
As you know, Reid is growing like a weed. Even since I’ve met him in February he has changed 1000%. I could hold him with one arm back then and now he’s kicking like he’s ready to walk. He can roll himself across the room now and sits up all by himself.
Reid seems to be fascinated with gadgets (who does that remind you of?). He watches the ceiling fans at home, the door hinges, and especially the flashing red light on my video camera. Suzanne says he likes the VCR clock, too. He loves animals and will probably be swimming before he walks because he loves going in the pool with everyone. He sure is a happy little kid, that’s for sure …
Florida State plays N.C. State for the first time September 19th here in Raleigh. I’m working on getting tickets so Mom and Dad can see it. I won’t even insist they pull for the Woldpack (it won’t be an easy decision for me, either, I assure you!)
Well, I had better get back to my homework tonight. Here is my new address:
1101-204 Clanton Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27606phone #: (919) 859-3351
I’ll write you again as soon as I can. Wish me luck in college!
Love,
Mark