About Purple,

Ardel will not let me put a photo of her here, no way, no how, period. The photo below is not Ardel, but an in-my-mind look alike.

Purple Computings first employee was Ardel in the summer of '83 in sunny southern California.

Within 3 months I had to quit my day job as a professional high paid software engineer to "work" for MY company full time because it was exploding with success and amazingly it did things my way! At purple year 5, in the middle of sky rocketing growth, realizing my business was running me, I "pulled the plug", picked up and moved the whole kit 'n caboodle to the woods, river, blue sky, green trees, no people, quiet, space, fish, life of southern Oregon. It was very expensive because I left no debt, no broken deals, nobody but me lost anything, I bought my freedom! In a thick pine forest, under blue skies, we had 2 dogs, 4 cats, deer, otters, ducks, a flying squirrel, non-flying squirrels, skunks, bear, beavers, cougars, eagles, osprey, fish, and even a porcupine!

On 45 acres of raw land we built a 3000 sq. foot shop with 40% office space and a small house about 250 feet from the shop. The house has a small deck in the back between it and the river bank which is about 63.6 above the river at a 45 degree slope. I built a funicular that runs on the 90 foot hypotenuse. It has a 6'x6' deck and can take 6 people to and from the river. Across the river is the 40 acre purple ultralight field (1997 dug a 5 acre lake). Just beyond the field is a 60 acre golf course with little people about 1/8 inch high.

Purple has 13 telephones attached (with wire, yuck) to a central key system. One is located at home, and the other 12 at the shop. We have 3 outside lines, one for Ardel and domestic things, one for the modem/fax, and one for Purple things. No answering machine to run up a callers phone bill. Call any time. If one of us is awake, not busy, feels like talking, and is near enough to one of our 13 telephones, we will answer, maybe. No-answer does not mean we are not here, it only means we can't or don't want to talk on a telephone at that precise moment, so try again later or send an e-mail, ... 541-479-8087

Purple Computing sold products to about 45,000 people & companies since it began February 18, 1983, was growing like crazy when I decided to cut back in 1988. I managed to wind it down over 8 years to almost zero without crashing and without making anyone mad (not easy!). Freedom costs a lot (more than money alone) Too much success can cost you freedom. Bill and I have a very similar past but I would NOT trade places with Mr. Gates.... well okay, maybe, but I would sell Microsoft to IBM and start some POP's.

mybest,
larry,

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