Anything & Everything

I received the below e-mail a few minutes ago and one of the programmers for different group is retiring. I worked with him from time to time to help him with programs which he had inherited from employee’s who also retired or left the company. He was the last one in his group as programmer and now we will inherit all the programs he was responsible for it. I guess when the time comes to say goodbye to the company, I will be using the same lines as below in addition to “I started working for the company while many other programmers were pumping applications like an assembly line. Only couple of us are last ones standing and have to troubleshoot not just 150+ apps that we have written over the years, but also ones who are orphaned by others…I like writing code, but last couple years I am more debugging others code to troubleshoot than writing my own…Still, enjoy working for a company which has diverse business and workdays never feel dull.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This little note is to announce that I am retiring from xxx today.

I’ve been in DP or IT (or whatever it is that we do) since 1969.  First at xxx (where I learned COBOL using a self-instruction workbook) for a number of years.  Then, at xxx which became xxx (one of xxx less successful acquisitions).  Finally, in 1987, I moved to Richmond and have been here ever since, first in the old bank building (now imploded) and now in our modern (but basic-beige) building.

I think that of the several job titles I’ve had over the years, the one I liked best was the one I started with - Programmer.

To start with a request or need or problem or “opportunity” - sometimes poorly expressed.

To define, develop, and design a solution that has a chance of working.

To punch-in, write-up or key-in programming language instructions to cover all the detailed aspects.

To test and adapt and revise until the objective is reached.

To send your system, program, script or process out into the harsh world of users and operators.

To HAVE CREATED SOMETHING that didn’t exist before to help someone in their job or add a new service/product or make a few bucks for the company.

And, to get to do it all over again next week.

So, now I’m off to new sights and new things to learn, leaving someone else to enjoy (unreasonable?) users, (cantankerous?) hardware and (impossible?) deadlines.

It’s been good working with you all over the years and I wish you all every success in the future.

To those who have gone before me, to those who have been here for years (and years) and to those who have recently joined our merry band, I have one more wish.

In the words of the Ringmaster after a gaudy, comical, thrilling and entertaining show in the Big Top:

“MAY ALL YOUR DAYS BE CIRCUS DAYS!!!”

xxx – Programmer at xxx Information Technology Group