My second meeting with Bill Gates

One thing Google doesn't have is Bill Gates. During my tenure at Microsoft I've not only had a chance to interact with him, I've had a chance to interact with him twice! That's right. I'm like two steps away from having Billy over to play bridge on the weekends.

My second interaction with Bill Gates was at Tech Fest, an internal conference where Microsoft Research shows off their wares. I was walking around the expo, like you do, when out of the corner of my eye I see Bill-frackin-Gates! He's just walking around with some technical assistant giving him a guided tour of the show.

Most people would freak out and maybe shout OMG SQEEE! I however, decided to play it cool. So I casually turned around - knowing full well that Bill Gates was facing me - and slowly walked forward. There was absolutely no way I was going act different or strange just because Bill Gates was behind me, and coming closer. Of course I was a bit nervous, so I walked a little stiff. To be honest, you wouldn't be incorrect for using the term 'awkward'.

Anyways, I then I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. Initially I was kind of pissed. I'm like, "Do you know that Bill Gates is behind us? Act cool brother!" I turn around and it wasn't some yahoo, but Bill Gates himself, in the flesh, had it was he who touched my shoulder.

Certainly this was so that he could give me an award. Or tell me how much he appreciates my work testing Visual Studio. Bill Gates probably has a track record of greeting random employees and telling them how awesome they are. Probably.

For a moment, which in my mind lasted a few days, we met eye to eye. And that is when Bill Gates spoke to me. Bill Gates literally spoke directly to me. He said, in his angelic, computer-visionary voice, "Excuse me."

He and his technical assistant then proceeded to walk around me and continue on through the crowd. I bet he still remembers me. I mean, I was wearing a name tag. He definitely wrote it down in his mind "Chris Smith, remember to give that guy his award."

Well Bill, I waited a few years, but you'll have to find me at a new address.