I am puzzled, perplexed, bothered, bewildered and generally discombobulated by the fact that nobody has really talked about it. At least, I haven't been able to find anything meaningful said about it.
Am I the only one who was totally blown away by Steve Jobs' last words?
"Oh Wow, Oh Wow, Oh Wow".
Maybe it is because I am so much closer to the Exit Door than most of you (though I don' t really think that's it) but I was absolutely flooded with awe when I read about his last moments and last words........and, I must confess, tantalized with a fragment of hope.
I happen to consider Mr. Jobs to have been one of the most monumental, brilliant, inspiring, evolved and enlightened people on this planet and his contributions to the rest of us cannot properly be evaluated yet. Consequently I take his last words and calm demeanor very seriously. I would have been equally fascinated if he had said, "Oh, Damn, Ouch, No, no, no, Why me?" or (my favorite), "Shit, Piss, Fuck". I would have been thrilled if he had said, "Oy vey" (but I realize that is just the shred of my Jewishness speaking,) since, having been a dedicated Zen Buddhist, I guess it would have been more in keeping if he had muttered, "Carry Water, Chop Wood".
I do not want anyone to think that I mean to denigrate my very serious and heartfelt feelings on this subject with humor.......I couldn't help speculate on what pronouncement I might be inspired to utter on my way out ........but, being a huge admirer of Zen as being the philosophy closest to truth and reason I must bring myself to admit that my own interpretation of his message, as best I can verbalize it, is that, finding himself in the tunnel between life and death, he got a glimpse of something awesome that excited him to the possibility of further adventures beyond the ones he was leaving behind.
Face it, my dears. It's what we all hope he meant isn't it? I guess I may be the only one dumb enough, naive enough, gullible enough, Pollyanna-ish enough to put it in writing. I just hope that on my way down the tunnel that is what I will be inspired to say.
Of course, I am willing to admit that what he really meant was simply "Oh Wow, Oh Wow, Oh Wow'.
I would love to hear your own feelings and ideas on the subject if anyone would care to share them.
The New Yorker covers: September 26, 2011
2 hours ago