The Generation Gap

I've been reading Linus Torvalds's autobiography, Just for Fun. Good book. Sharp kid.

What is amazing to this old geek/nerd is that I can relate to him a lot. Different generation -- I did get my start with computers before he was born, after all -- but a sameness is there.

For instance:

• A kid with little or no social skills in school. Glasses. Didn't care for phys ed. He played with computers after hours; I played with a K&E slide rule. He and I both liked math and science and did well in them without studying.
  
• Focus. I can relate to his ability to focus on a task. You had to hit me alongside the head to get my attention if I was intent on something. Still do, in fact.
  
• Machine code beginning. Although I was 25 when I was introduced to computers while working as a tech on the bring-up floor at RCA in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, I quickly picked up machine code programming. And, with a red haired guy by the name of Chris Braidwood managed to turn the memory bank lights into a scrolling message board. (Anyone know Chris? would love to get in touch with him.)
  
• Beautiful code. Tight, elegant code has always been my forte. In the old days, you had to code that way to get it to fit. It's a habit I carry over today.
  
• The thrill of figuring out how to do something the "right" way. I always seem to spend more time thinking through the problem than most programmers. The "Eureka!" moment is a real high. The coding is a piece of cake after that.
  

It's a shame that I don't use Linux, isn't it?