I was opening a bottle of malbec and reflecting how it came to be I’m able to use a sommelier’s corkscrew to open a bottle of wine.
The man who first taught me to use a corkscrew told me since I wasn’t strong enough he’d show me a different way.
He taught my mom and I at the same time.
This man – a doctor – explained since women didn’t have the upper arm strength to use a sommelier’s corkscrew without risk of injury we should put the bottle between our ankles and use a specific type of corkscrew.
No no no
The man I married apparently had a different opinion as evidenced by his teaching me to use a Christmas gift he received when we lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A sommelier’s set.
I remember him holding up a corkscrew I’d seen wait staff using.
Including women.
I’d always admired their quick dexterity, lamenting I didn’t have the strength to do so without injuring my … wrist? Arm? Rotator Cuff?
Or so I was told.
Aaron held up the other contraption while promising there was a better way. When I explained the why of which I used the other he set a wine bottle on the counter and said “Watch. I’ll let you do it but I’ll show you what you’re going to do.”
Under his patient guidance I succeeded the first time.
Years later I’m using that wonderful gift and feeling – not smug – just good.
As I was pouring it through an aerator I thought back to a similar situation.
Where adversity threw an opportunity in my direction.
As Fate Would Have It
It was a wild set of coincidences that led me to working at DEC. A novice who needed to prove myself it came to be the senior TCs told me to clean out “the closet.”
In exchange for helping me become a Technical Consultant.
It was filled helter-skelter floor to ceiling with old VMS manuals
As well as bits and pieces of God only knew what in terms of computer parts.
I spent an entire weekend on a ladder organizing that room.
Method To The Madness
My tech mentor showed up “unexpectedly” to help me.
He spent four hours on a Saturday advising which manuals were worth keeping and which had truly outlived their usefulness.
He told me not to get rid of one piece of hardware.
I Might Use It Someday
Uh-huh where have I heard that before?
The other TC’s came in Monday beaming and suggesting I might be worth investing their mentoring in after all.
If…
Blackmail is Such an Ugly Word
They more or less collectively pointed to the pile of bits and pieces and told me if I could get the 8088 to load an OS they would agree to train me to be a consultant.
Unforseen Consequences
Not everyone was on board with promoting an administrative to the “elite.”
I was given a tiny cubicle so close to the back door it wouldn’t take much for me and my bits and pieces to go careening – helter-skelter – down the stairwell.
Less than three feet as it happens.
Who Was That Masked Man?
Aka Cosmic Justice
One Friday afternoon I was testing apps on this tiny little computer I put together.
I literally had to build the 8088 from parts and these were long past the days of an 11/780.
We’re talking MicroVAX era.
A gentleman popped his head over the cube wall and asked where everybody was. I smiled and said “Oh it’s Friday. They don’t come back from lunch unless there’s a proposal due Monday. Then they work all weekend, often staying to 3 in the morning and coming back at 6 or 7 til it’s done.”
I told him I was always there helping out – which was 100% truth.
He pointed to the antiquated piece of equipment and asked, “What are you doing?”
I explained “Oh this is an 8088…”
He smiled and said “Yes, I know what it is. It’s old. Why is it on your desk? What are you doing?”
I explained the blackmail.
The “deal” negotiated by those making 2 – 3/x what I made.
He smiled and we chatted for some time.
I told him of the exciting OEM deals I was helping with and how I had just taken over managing the LAVC.
Among other projects – having proven myself – I was working on.
I remember thinking he was a pleasant man but – being semi-customer facing and part of the region’s headquarter team – I was used to chatting with wonderful interesting people whose identity I didn’t know.
No Way!
The kind gentleman thanked me and went on his way. A short time later a colleague I wasn’t aware was in his cube came rushing into my tiny piece of corporate real estate and gasped “Do you know who that was?!”
“Who?” I replied.
My apoplectic colleague hissed, “That was Uncle Ken!”
“Ken Olsen?” I replied my stomach dropping.
What had I said?
Though nothing was ever said directly the path to my aspirations was smoothed out.
The tiniest tiniest bit.
I will never forget that day.
The Take-Away?
You never know what Adversity is doing for you.
Even after a lifetime of it I don’t.
Walk the Talk
Elizabeth Maxim 
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