Steve Jobs: An Apple A Day Can't Keep Doc Away from Baby Boomers

Looking at Steve Jobs, knowing the surgeries he has endured and those that loom ahead, I think his days are winding down. I have never owned a Mac, never owned his stock, but I recognize a genius when I see one, when I see what he has produced.

Apple as a company gets rave reviews from its employees, much like Microsoft used to always do. The biggest reason was the boss. Both companies had a great leader and who doesn't want to follow in such footprints? Bill Gates and Steve Jobs rivaled to one-up each others achievements during a time when "a computer in every home" was just a dream.

Their dream, and they made it ours. Like watching Rock Hudson wither away, it is painful to see Jobs look so weak. Yes, medical miracles happen every day, and we hear that a lot lately; but, that is the thing about miracles---they are rare, the exception.

As Apple stock tumbles today, because no one can be another Steve Jobs for Apple, people on the inside know this is serious business. We sometimes assure ourselves, falsely so, that our geniuses will live, that famous people who are young and rich like Farrah Fawcett will not die , that strong men like Patrick Swayze will "beat it." People want to believe.

Illness strikes us all at some point in our lives, sorry to break it to you, Baby Boomers---you too will one day have to deal with cancer or some other condition that no amount of "fighting" will defeat. Those days spent at the gym? Nope, won't help you. Those expensive health drinks? Nope, nada. That specialist in Germany or France that saved such and such's life? Not going to save you. Hope? God? Faith? Montel's super juicer? Good luck with that. And welcome to the real world.

Apple is a strong company with good products and brilliant employees. It is going nowhere anytime soon. But I hope it is stronger without its leader than Microsoft has been. I hope Jobs included in his dream some old school reality.