Serving the IT Underbelly of Alaska, Part 2:   Edna

I've only related a couple of stories regarding my first year in the IT industry at Computerland of Anchorage, and there's more I'll write about that over time.   For the second part of this particular tale, I'll skip forward a year in my career to my second "IT" job, which was at the Radio Shack Computer Center in Anchorage, circa 1983 or so.

The Computer Center featured, of course, Tandy/Radio Shack systems.   While not as technically advanced as the newer systems coming out, I had an early "thing" for the TRS-90 systems because they were the first systems I'd seen available to consumers, in my local Radio Shack as a teen.    I'd dreamed of owning one for years.    The first personal computer I owned was a TRS-80 Color Computer.  It wasn't the greatest, but it had a nice processor to learn on and some interesting capabilities.

Working at the Center was not the same as Computerland; we did not have the marquee brands and I missed selling Apples and IBM's.   Still, The TRS-80 product line was more complete and had more mature software offerings, especially in small systems accounting software. 

One day, an older lady cam into the store.   She introduced herself as Edna, and said she was looking for a complete system for accounting and job costing .   We sat down and were soon deep in conversation.

I recognized Edna - not personally, but as one of a breed of touch, no-nonsense business people - and businesswomen - I'd met and worked with in Alaska since the first summer I'd spent there at 16.    Edna was very direct, no-nonsense, knowledgeable and firm - but polite and enjoyable as well.   

She told me that she had a club downtown and was expanding to a second club south of town, and that she needed a good system to track construction costs, pay bills and payroll for the new club.    Interestingly, she was not interested in training, though she said she'd never used a computer before.

"If I don't figure it out myself my daughter will help me," she said.    I got the idea Edna would figure it out herself.   

Edna was, however, interested in me personally delivering the system and setting it up.    "I want to see everything working when you're done", she stated.

I sold Edna a very fully configured TRS-80 Model IV system, complete with hard drive, tope of the line printer, ultra high speed 1200 baud modem, accounting and office software.    She gave me her business card, which only had an address on it, and we arrnaged a delivery time.   She bought the computer personally rather than through her business, which was certainly fine.

When the appointed day rolled around, I loaded up my car and headed to the address on the card, toward the downtown area.   

Upon arrival, I had to do a double-take.    Yep, that's the address...right across from the Sheraton.

Edna's "club" was the Great Alaska Bush Company, and Edna was Edna Cox, founder an famous proprietor, as my father told me when I related the story to him later.    "you don't know who Edna Cox is?" I can hear my very-well-connected-Alaska-lawyer Dad saying.

The Great Alaska Bush Company was and probably still is the most famous strip club in Alaska, practically an institution and world famous tourist  attraction.  While I can't say I'd never stepped foot in the place (a future blog subject featuring Fortune Systems), I had not frequented the establishment.   I took my first load of Edna's new computer in through the front door.    The club was open, but it was morning and there were no customers there.

I informed the bartender that I was looking for Edna's office.    He directed me downstairs, where I noted to prominent signs:   "No Admittance" and "Dressing Rooms".

Edna's office was about the size of a large walk-in closet, and was situated literally in the middle of the dancer's dressing room. .    The dressing room was quickly filling up with the performers, arriving for the first shift of the day and the busy lunch crowd.

Gentle reader, you may perhaps have never been to an establishment such as the GABC, but if you have then you'll recall the - er...- open frankness with which the performers pursue their profession.   This is nothing compared to their no-hoods-barred directness in the dressing area.    I was the subject of interest for perhaps 10 seconds until they figured out I was delivering something to Edna.     After that, it was like being surrounded by two dozen big sisters in various stages of undress, makeup, bickering squabbles, and bawdy anecdotes that would have been downright humiliating for the the poor customers from the previous evening who were the subject of much derision.    I blushed on their behalf.   

For the two hours that it took me to do what would normally have been 1/2 hour of setup, I learned more than I ever wanted to about the behind-the-scenes life of those performers, and have spent a good deal of the balance of my existence trying to forget some it.    Truth to tell, however, they all seemed like good people, starting with Edna, and I was on a first name basis with many by the time I left.   

Edna was very successful with her computer system and I only talked with her a couple of time after delivery.  She was also very successful with her second "club".    and I would say that's the most interesting delivery I ever made in 30 years of IT.

Happy Memo Day