College: DECUS

One of my best friends in college was named Don. He was also majoring in computer science, and seemed like a nice and intelligent person. We talked often, and spent much time working on computer programming projects together.

On day he told me he’d convinced his boss to send him to a DECUS convention. He explained that DECUS stood for Digital Equipment Corporation User’s Society, and consisted of seminars given by the people who actually created the computers that I was working on at school. I was so very jealous! I wanted to go to that symposium so badly, but I just couldn’t get together the money.

Instead, I dropped a hint with Don that he might have enough money in his "grant" to let me tag along also. After all, I explained, expenses wouldn’t be that much higher for two as they were for one. We could use the same hotel room, and eat cheap. The only expense we couldn’t share was the registration fee.

I was very surprised when Don took me seriously, counted out his money, added up the expenses, and told me if I drove we could go together. Of course I immediately agreed to drive, and even offered to pay for gas.

The DECUS symposium was being held in San Diego, and was scheduled to last for four days. I packed my one and only suit, which I planned to wear for all four days. I also packed some dress shoes, and the usual changes of underwear and other necessities.

When the big day finally arrived, I drove us both down to San Diego, and we arrived at our hotel at about 7:00 a.m. in the morning. We registered, unpacked, and then made our way over to the symposium.

To make a long story short, this was one of the most fantastic times in my life. I finally met many of the people whom I had idolized from afar. People who had created the computers that I worked and played on with so much success. For the next four days, I spent every minute I could in seminars, absorbing every bit of information that I possibly could.

The high point of the symposium came when I saw Rick, my future boss. He had a cast on his leg, which he explained was the result of some of his horseplay. He was chasing a guy named Kirby Altman down the stairs, and had tripped and broken his leg. He asked me if I’d like to go up to his room with him and talk.

I accepted, and spent the next two hours in conversation with Rick and Kirby Altman, who was one of the major players in the DEC world at the time. Kirby showed me some of his code, which looked so much more impressive and stylish that mine. I was in heaven.

After four days, it was time to leave. Don and I made the long trip home, our hands full of notes, brochures, buttons (which various groups gave away to promote their products), and other various items. Thus ended my first DECUS, which was almost a magical experience for me. Of the many computer conventions that I have attended since that time, I enjoyed that first one the most.