Comments on: A letter from myself, age 13

By: michael Austin Productions

michael Austin Productions — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:05:28 +0000

WOW, I wish we did that. That was sick, you where very right about the video games... 13 inventing wifi ;) lol... creative and fun.. thanks for the read.

Michael Austin Productions Michael Austin Productions | Professional Web Design | Graphic Design | Internet Consulting

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:22:58 +0000

That's a fantastic letter to recieve! A great way to see how things have changed for you. I wish I could get a letter from me earlier self, see how my life's worked out!

I recall the 486DX too, such a powerful beast, a whopping 50MhZ if I remember correctly! :)

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:17:58 +0000

Matt, you are an unending source of insight, even from when you were 13. I think I’m glad I never wrote myself a letter like that, because I’d want to skim the parts I couldn’t stand, then slap the little monkey that wrote it! You’re a good friend.

By: Josh Munford

Josh Munford — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:53:23 +0000

Matt- Dan and I kept in touch for through the summer of our softmore years in HS. He would come in town and look me up about once a year and we'd chat on the phone every once in awhile. When I returned to Burlington from the academy (junior year in college) Mom had moved and we fell out of company. I've always figured I'd find him on the front page of the national news due to his genius, or at least on Facebook or whilst Googling, all to no avail.

On another note, you and I made a time capsule out of an old mason jar a few weeks before you moved, It was hidden behind the fireplace in mom's house on Kimberly. I made it a point to grab it and finally opened it in 2004. We signed and sealed it "do not open till 2004 else prepare for the curse" or something to that nature. Inside were a few artifacts, your's consisted of a LA GEAR shoe keychain in the form of a license plate (I remember being envious of those shoes, probably because they came with a keychain), a picture of your best friend from Omaha, and a D&D pewter figure, (I assume it was a Rouge, and possibly chaotic evil, it was painted completely black and definitely looked the part). There may be some other items as well, but those are the ones that stick out. I will round them up in the folowing week and mail them to you assuming I can get your address off of your posted resume.

-Josh

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:58:20 +0000

Josh - dude ya, the memories. It was a hard couple of years wasn't it? You more so than me no doubt. If you take a look at the scans, your name is on there with Dan Harmon too... wonder what ever happened to him?

Thanks for leaving the comment. Good memories in with the bad.

By: Josh Munford

Josh Munford — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:46:23 +0000

The reason I “haven’t written any” comedy stories (which I can’t recall ever writing)

Wow the memories.

I remember you writing a short comedy about a caveman that was certainly hilarious. It must have good been if I still remember it! You were probably 11 or 12is. I forget the title or the caveman's name, but he was definitely chased by a saber-toothed tiger into a tarpit. There was a punchline about a rock and a hard place in there that cracked me up.

I think they call those the good ol' days. "Fire up the wayback machine Mr. Peabody"

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:30:46 +0000

Oops… check my history. Jurassic Park didn’t come out until June of that year. Wouldn’t have affected this letter.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:26:43 +0000

Mom - I think you are right on about the genetic engineering part. Either you just planted that memory in my brain or that's exactly what I was thinking. I remember that trip pretty clearly.

I think, though, what sealed the deal was Jurassic Park which came out that year. I'm fairly certain the combo of those two things made that my life's pursuit. I remember talking with Martin Jischke (then president of ISU) about the field and the degree at ISU my senior year of high school.

Shortly before I made the final college decision, though, I got interested in hacking, and thus chose computer engineering over genetics.

And then I got a BA in Psych and Religion... and work as a Web designer... go figure.

Fairly certain I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be though.

Proverbs 16:9 strikes again.

By: Mom/Sue/Grandma Sue

Mom/Sue/Grandma Sue — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:20:14 +0000

Matt, This brought tears to my eyes. I remember you telling me about writing that letter. I never got to see it until just now. I think they were collected and sealed in the time capsule that same day.

1992-93 was a rough year on you and I am so proud of how you handled the difficult times then, and the wonderful man and father you have become now.

I'm just wondering about the genetic engineering part...I'm wondering if that was because we had taken your sister, Jenny, to the Mayo Clinic the summer of 1992 and they did Genetic tests on her to try and diagnosis her disability. The doctor was discussing about how in the future all health care would be managed with genetics and eventually they might be able to turn disabilities around.

What is that old saying, "the walls have ears"? I didn't realize how much you were taking in about all of that.

As for the music part...I just have to laugh. We tried having you take piano lessons, but you wanted nothing to do with learning chords and playing scales. You just wanted to play music...and you did...and you do. ;D

Love you always and forever! Mom

By: Donita

Donita — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:25:01 +0000

Amazingly creative in you thoughts and writing. But that doesn’t surprise me. You and Ahren have very vivid imaginations. You were quite a twosome playing D&D. I have bee thinking about you and Nancy. Has your second child come into the world yet?