I was thinking about how interestingly I had rather suddenly and unexpectedly bumped into our good and funny guy Rory Blyth! I was very fortunate to happen to drop by Rory’s blog this Sunday, September 30th, 2007 since tomorrow is Rory’s last day as a Microsoft Technical Evangelist. I was very moved by his life experience that he mentioned over the last three years of his fun at Microsoft, and I felt compelled to write him back a short reply:

My friend Rory,                                                                                                                                    

My encounter with you in building 25 cafeteria, the building where my present contract has placed me, was very enlightening, and also definitely a sign. It was a sign that I am not all that far behind you in the direction that you are headed in back to my home of 29 years, Portland Oregon after my present contract with Microsoft comes to its natural conclusion. For the longest time, it felt like my stay here in Redmond/Bellevue/Issaquah was more like a pilgrimage for spiritual knowledge, and then slowly as months turned into year, it felt like a Babylonian Exile much the same way that the two ancient Jewish nations in the land of Israel known as Jerusalem and Judea were banished from their cities and forced to live in captivity within Babylon. Their temples destroyed, and their people enslaved by the Babylonians because they did not heed the warnings of God's chosen prophets. They could not do something so simple as to obey God's laws and precepts that were handed down to them by Moses himself. Yes, it was the Ten Commandments that we know all too well. I too also believe that I've gained invaluable experience during my time at Microsoft. My skill levels have finally advanced to the point with software programming in testing and development that I stand a much stronger chance of gaining software engineering work in Portland Oregon that has always been my dream.

Rory my friend, if you happen across any contacts in the Portland area you happen to know of since your headed back to Portland and tomorrow is your last day at Microsoft, do you think you can put in a good word for me over at the Pack West Microsoft office in Beaverton, OR? Or anyone else you happen to bump into kind of the same way that you and I bumped into each other over in the Building 25 cafeteria?

A friend once said to me that the greatest joy happens in helping someone else, and perhaps even if that person is a somewhat of a stranger. I could not help but think about how you have been since the last time we met as business acquaintances. I'm glad I read your blog today since it spoke to me a great deal about being away from home and wanting to see family again.

-Matthew

http://www.klump-pdx.com