I think one of the things that made Jobs death such a punch to the gut for me was the fact that until very recently, we all had some hope that his health problems were chronic, debilitating, but not terminal (Joe Nocera had, for instance, reported that Jobs cancer had not recurred at his last medical L.O.A.).
When Jobs' death was announced, I immediately began reevaluating the little moments and snapshots we had of Jobs in the last year; his head resting on his wife's shoulder after a talk, his voice at the Cupertino city council meeting. Someone else pointed out how remarkable it was that Jobs had achieved all he had while staring death in the face. Remarkable, yes, but also very sad.
So, I'm relieved at stories like this, showing Jobs enjoying his life even as he knew it was drawing to a close.
I admit that after the paparazzi photo of him was released, I loaded up HN every morning expecting to see the announcement of his passing away at the top.
But, I was also hoping that it wouldn't happen. I think part of me thought of him as so fundamentally stubborn that if anyone could cheat death, he could. I liked to imagine Death showing up at Jobs' side, and Jobs fixing Death with his patented steely glare, and saying, "No, wait, there's one more thing..."
I was saddened by the news of his death in a way that I haven't been in a long time. He was a human being, with all the requisite faults and foibles -- and some people are trying to ignore those now, and others are trying to hilite them -- but he aspired to greatness, and he accomplished it in a way that so few people do. In a sometimes dispassionate world, he seemed to be a passionate exception.
When Jobs' death was announced, I immediately began reevaluating the little moments and snapshots we had of Jobs in the last year; his head resting on his wife's shoulder after a talk, his voice at the Cupertino city council meeting. Someone else pointed out how remarkable it was that Jobs had achieved all he had while staring death in the face. Remarkable, yes, but also very sad.
So, I'm relieved at stories like this, showing Jobs enjoying his life even as he knew it was drawing to a close.
Thanks!