I am one of the many whose hero is Steven Jobs.  In 1985 I bought a Mac XL computer from a little known company with a funny name and became a devotee of both Apple and it’s wondrous leader for the next 26 years.  In that time I’ve owned nearly every successful product they’ve created.

Periodically I watched Steve’s addresses to his company touting his company’s new ideas and features with religious anticipation regarding what improvements he would bring to my life and work.  My life centered around the Mac computer both in the studio and at home.  I’m on the computer so much that I’ve learned to mouse equally with both hands – a left-handed mouser in the studio and a right-handed mouser in my home office.

Steve, with his clever wit, cool demeanor and sparkling eyes, was always three steps ahead of the game and out front of the pack.  I didn’t always agree with his choices, but I used them and grew to deeply respect his individuality.  He was the rare combination of artist, inventor and businessman and hugely successful at each — a true American hero.

Recently I read his sister’s eulogy, given at his memorial, and found him again to be leading me in yet another one of life’s endeavors.

As most of you know, I’m pretty consumed with my Goin’ Home – On Heaven And Beyond CD project these days.  In short, it’s about the transition we all face going from this world to the next and the meeting of it head on with open eyes and wonder. It’s about the eternality of life and its various preparations and speculations on the hereafter.

Right in the middle of the climactic phase of the project, my hero up and takes the journey himself.

His sister speaks about his last days in her eulogy:

His tone, his sister said, was “like someone whose luggage was already strapped onto the vehicle, who was already on the beginning of his journey, even as he was sorry, truly deeply sorry, to be leaving us.”

“Even as he struggled physically in his last hours”, she said, “there was also sweet Steve’s capacity for wonderment, the artist’s belief in the ideal, the still more beautiful later.”

“He was working at this, too. Death didn’t happen to Steve, he achieved it.”

With his family surrounding him, his sister said, Jobs’ last words were: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

When I read this on my iPad, I just leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes and smiled at his boyish wonder and anticipation of adventure.  Once again, even after leaving us, my hero showed us the way to live – and the way to die.

I realized that I loved this man though I never met him.  I loved his creative mind and I loved his wonder for life and, most importantly to me at this moment, I loved his open-minded excitement about moving on.

Goin’ home
Goin’ home
I’m a goin’ home
Quiet like
Some still day
I’m jes’ goin’ home

It’s not far
Jes’ close by
Through an open door
Work all done
Care laid by
Goin’ to fear no more

From Goin’ Home
Music and Lyrics by Antonin Dvorák & V.Labenske