Oct. 6: Thanks, Steve

Like many, I was surprised and saddened by yesterday’s announcement that Steve Jobs has died. Our home has three iPhones, an iPod, and an iPad (which, given the Apple products available, is not much, I know…) so our gratitude for Mr. Jobs’ vision is acknowledged on a daily basis, without a doubt.

But it’s his work with building Pixar to the giant that it is that’s really impacted our family. Our kids have been raised on Pixar films. We saw the true value of DVD over VHS by comparing the two formats of A Bug’s Life. The first movie Katie watched from her high chair for more than ten minutes was Toy Story 2. Victor and I saw Monsters, Inc. in a theater the night before Jack was born. The first Mom-and-Katie theater experience was a Portland premiere of Finding Nemo. We still regularly watch Pixar DVDs at home.

Before we went to Florida in 2004, I bought Jack small plush Buzz and Woody dolls to entertain him during the flight. Vic and I sat several rows behind him and Grandpa in the plane, and we laughed as we watched him hold Buzz and Woody high over his head and made them kiss, over and over.

Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, an attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, opened just before one of our all-Disney-all-the-time vacations, and Jack insisted on riding it over and over—he’d get off the ride and run to get in line to go on it again. Vic and I had few complaints; it’s a very cute ride—much like actually being in the movie—and we loved seeing Jack enjoy it so much.

Theater releases of the newest Pixar movies are treasured family memories. I expect they will be until Pixar makes a real dud, or our kids get too cool to enjoy them, in which case Vic and I will go see them by ourselves, like we did before they were born. BECAUSE WE ARE THOSE DORKS.

Thanks, Steve, for sharing your genius with the world. You left it way too soon.