[optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
- From: JBliss Judy <judy@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:20:18 -0800
Dear Pam,
Your story about "Pay Martha..." was a kick! I'll remind Martha about it.
Your story about the note when your best friend was in the hospital is
wonderful (although, of course, in a different way). It's just one of those
many things that only an Optacon can do.
Judy Adams
----- Original Message ---------------
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
From: "Pam Drake" <pamdrake@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:32:58 -0800
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>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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