Relative Something

I am more wealthy than most of the people in the world, yet I am so far away from the top 1% of wealth that I completely understand the perspective that is driving the multitudes who are protesting “income inequality, economic disadvantage and the overwhelming power they say is controlled by the top 1 percent.” [Occupy Wall Street Protest: As Movement Spreads, a Message Evolves ]

May their protestations prove influential in a way that brings about increasing equity in the financial situation of the masses. Will I live long enough for that?

Concurrently, the passing of Steve Jobs is inspiring an abundance of emotional nostalgia for the products he brought to the marketplace. I am a fan from the very beginning. I have used almost every Apple product. I am happy to see the outpouring of attention for everything Steve Jobs accomplished in his life. But once again, as I so often do, I find myself intrigued by the attention that springs forth at the time of a death.

On Monday, nobody was waxing nostalgic for their original Macintosh computer. Today, there are images of those early machines showing up in the news, and all over tribute postings online. At the beginning of the week, who was thinking about how much influence Steve Jobs had in their lives? Now, Steve is dead. His influence on us hasn’t changed yet, but people’s perception sure has.

Will I miss him? I don’t know. I never knew him personally, so I doubt it. Will I miss his influence on the products I love? Possibly, but that will take a long time to manifest, I expect. He was a man who accomplished amazing things. His passing doesn’t alter how I perceive that.

I am moved to wonder, what person, whom has dramatically influenced us for years, though is still alive, are we totally overlooking right now? As soon as he or she dies, we can focus anew on the depth of our appreciation for all we have gained from that person.