[optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
- From: "Pam Drake" <pamdrake@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:32:58 -0800
Judy,
The fact that there was a guy in our class who was reading over 20 words
per minute by the end of the second or third day didn't help my
confidence. <smile> Granted, Jim was a very modest fellow, and told me
years later that when other students would say at the end of the class
day, "How many words did you do today, Jim?" he was embarrassed and
didn't really want to answer, but did so because he felt he would be
rude otherwise. He also told me in that later conversation that by then
he was probably slower than I because he let Optacon use lapse over the
years.
A final stop on the memory lane express, <smile> on the second to last
day I had managed to forget money for lunch, so Martha, my teacher for
that day, had lent me some cash. I was very embarrassed, and my prime
goal other than learning the Optacon was to give her back her money.
Well, a little exaggeration; but I sure didn't want to get away without
paying her. <smile>
On the last day my teacher and I were talking about handwriting. I said
I'd like to see a sample of carefully written hand print so I could see
if I could read it. As I said earlier, I was elated that I had turned
the corner thanks to Kay's encouragement. The teacher wrote the
following: which made me break out in laughter:
Pay Martha for lunch.
<lol> I think I either had paid her or had certainly let her know by
that point. Actually, that was a good exercise because the thought was
on my mind so prominently that after I saw the word "Pay", and the M"
and a" of Martha, I knew exactly what it was, though I moved through it
anyway. The teachers had been working on the idea of reading for
meaning so this was not only a giggle, but an excellent exercise. Same
concept of reading, or in this case, listening for meaning applied
during the learning of Morse code when that was required for an amateur
radio license.
sorry to all who may have heard this story before, but it does follow.
Years later I returned to my desk one day after lunch to find a note .
I decided to try to read it. This was not written by someone who knew
anything about for the need for careful printing of a handwritten note;
or at least the person had not been told by me or anyone else I knew in
the office. I read:
Grimes hosp. hours
I ran to the supervisor's desk, waving the note. Sure enough! My best
friend, more like a sister, Diane Grimes had been in an accident that
morning and was to be there for observation for 48 hours! I was so glad
I was able to decipher enough handwriting to know that the message
needed urgent attention.
Ok, enough of that for now.
Pam
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of JBliss Judy
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 11:13 AM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
Dear Pam,
Yes! how could I forget Stickneys? I started in '76 at Telesensory, so
I missed you, I believe. Kay Miller went on to International
Sales/Marketing and Gayle Bruegler became the training manager. I
helped her do the teacher's newsletter, "The Repeater Cable" and wrote
manuals for the Game Center and other products. Then Jackie Wheeler
became training Manager and I followed her as Training Manager.
What a wonderful story about Kay's encouragement! She was that way, and
knew that lots of students kind of hit the wall after the first week and
just needed to try to relax. I enjoyed the social activities with the
students, so we could all relax. I may have worked with you on the
teacher's training, but I do forget things as the years go by. Richard
has done a great service, keeping the Optacons going for these many
years (as well as the other guys who are doing repairs).
Great to hear from you!
Judy Adams
----- Original Message ---------------
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
From: "Pam Drake" <pamdrake@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 19:49:23 -0800
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>The restaurant was named Stickney's. I used to enjoy their fried onion
>rings.
>
>What a time that was! I was there in late 1975, one of four students
>sent in that class from the Social Security Administration. Best thing
>I ever got from that job aside from the paycheck of course, and the
>retirement funds which I withdrew when I left, using the money to buy
>my own Optacon in 1979. I still have that one, though it needs work.
>I have managed to acquire two more over the past few years.
>
>I don't remember you, Judy, and it could be that you were gone by the
>time I got there. I haven't followed this thread fully, but have saved
>the messages for future reading.
>
>The director of training at the time was a very nice lady by the name
>of Kay or Cay Miller. She was so patient with me.
>
>My learning curve was pretty steep the first week, and I had family
>friends in the Palo Alto/Mountain View area. I had been out to dinner
>a few nights, and when she asked to come by my room I was sure she was
>going to tell me I wasn't making it and it was time to pack up for
home.
>
>
>Well, nothing could have been further from the truth. Cay gave me an
>assignment for that weekend. Anything! I said. I really wanted to
>learn this machine. Her assignment was to plug the Optacon in on
>Friday afternoon, which advice was given before we understood the
>nature of NiCad batteries, go to San Francisco as planned with the
>other three students who had planned this along with me, and not to
>touch the machine till Monday morning. I had been ready to forego the
>trip; but she told me I was trying too hard, putting far too much
>pressure on myself.
>
>On Sunday night I could hardly wait to get back to the Optacon, and for
>the next week my progress absolutely soared! What a great trip!
>
>I went back in 1981 and got the teacher's certificate; in fact, one of
>the Optacons I now own belonged to a friend whom I trained under
>contract with her employer. While I'm on that subject, the other
>belonged to a friend whom I hadn't seen for many years, who had it in
>the back of his closet and gave it to me for nothing more than a gift
>box of mixed nuts, which was all I could get him to accept. I had all
>my Optacons worked on by Richard Oehm, and was lucky enough to have
>gotten the two additional ones from people I knew, so I knew they had
>been at least stored properly, if not used.
>
>My! What memories!
>
>Pam Drake
>
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