BILL GATES !! I MET HIM !

I resisted putting this post for quite some time. Can't any longer.

I MET BILL GATES !! The KING of the software industry; the richest man in the world !

Yes thats right ! I met him, spoke to him and even shook hands with him!

There are cults of Microsoft haters and even Bill Gates haters. I guess they are all jealous.

People may say what they want, Bill Gates has been a childhood hero for me.

Meeting him was a dream come true for me.

Although I had an opportunity to see and hear him when he was in Bangalore and had visited our company. But at that time, there were tons of security guards around him, and a huge delegation following him. Approaching him then was very difficult.

Alright, here's how my rendezvous went:

There was a product launch for Microsoft, and it was to be held in the Shrine Auditorium, Oct. 14, 2004. Our university had passes for the students to attend the event. Bill Gates was to be there in person and give a keynote presentation, launching the product (Digital Entertainment Everywhere, MSN Music, etc...)

How could I miss an opportunity to see and hear Bill Gates speak!

I attended the launch seminar. After the launch, all attendees proceeded for an exhibition of all products enabled with the newly released Microsoft product.

My friends and I, we looked at the products and were about to get back to university. We were passing thru a lobby and there was Mr. Gates walking towards the exhibition pavillion. With just two security guards in tow.

There were hardly any other people in the lobby. I grabbed the opportunity (chance pe dance), and approached him. Told him that I am a Computer Science grad student and meeting you has been a childhood dream; and that you are a hero for a lot of us.

He politely smiled and said, "Kool, which university do you go?"

I said, "USC" (and I was wearing a USC t-shirt). So he smiled again and said, "Yeah, I can see that."

Thats all ! He moved on to the pavillion then.

That was my 15 seconds of fame with Mr. Bill Gates.