When we moved from the Chicago area, I was twelve going into the 8th grade. I was ready for the big city. Chip was only 9-years old. He had been so used to spending all day wondering the state park next to our acreage and the open fields with his best friend and their two large dogs. They were free.
We moved to California with its small yards and no open space. He never adjusted. He deeply missed being able to roam. When he was older, he developed a relationship with the forest rangers in the large watershed near our home. They allowed him to wander into the mountains that were banned for everyone else. Finally, he was able to wander.
It is no wonder that he moved to an area out of California with a small population. He and Betty spent many weekends driving up wadis and washouts into the wilderness. He needed the space and the freedom.
He was in high school in the early 1970's when computers were first being installed in the school district. He eventually got them all up and running. He also took most of his senior level classes at a local college. He was bright and quiet but had a good group of friends.
After four years away at college to get his undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering, he headed back east for his Master degree. It was not a good fit. He left.
As mom and dad had just sold their house when dad was forced into retirement, Chip had nowhere to go, so he moved in with us. At the same time, we headed to Hawaii and when we got home, he was moving out! He had found a job and an apartment. Easiest house guest ever!
After a few years, that employer offered to pay for his Master Degree at an exceptional local university. He took full advantage of it. He also began to think. What the company was making was very delicate and could only be produced when purchased. His job was to tune them to prepare them for their launch into space. From order to delivery was often two weeks or more.
He developed a new plastic that was durable and able to sit in a warehouse waiting to be tuned. The turnover from order to delivery dropped to just days. When dealing with orders in the millions of dollars, that was a big deal. It was his first patent.
Later, we met at a restaurant where he showed us a plaque the company had given him with the patient engraved on it. I read it or rather I tried to read it. I turned to Chip and asked, “Why is it in Greek?” He looked at me with a furrowed brow, “That’s not Greek!”
I smiled back and said, “It’s Greek to me!”
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