At the Gates

Do you ever think one way about someone famous, then they do something or you find out something that changes your idea of them?

I just ran across an article online from Vogue magazine about Melinda Gates, wife to Bill, co-namesake to the world's largest private charitable foundation. She has been the "and Melinda" to Bill for many years. She was a Microsoft employee since 1987, where she worked on projects like Encarta and Expedia, according to the article. They were married in 1994 and together they have three children. She became a full time mom two years after their first child was born.

I suddenly find her fascinating.

She isn't usually the one most media outlets go to first. Face it, Bill can be pretty animated when he is excited about something. Melinda, meanwhile, appears more subdued and behind the scenes.

In the Vogue article, Melinda is interviewed specifically about their foundation and the goals and aspirations the world's power couple has with it. Talk about lofty ideas. Disease, Hunger, Financial security in 3rd World nations. Makes my lunch time conversations look like gibberish.

Warren Buffett has promised the foundation the bulk of his wealth too, so it isn't just the Microsoft millions, billions, trillions, whatever it is. With the world's richest man pledging to join to cause, there is a lot of high end money going into this project. Maybe they can afford loftier goals.

I liked the way Melinda looks at all her work. She values the role she has with her children, yet recognizes the responsibility she has to make the world a better place because of the wealth they have. She looks to the long term to see the goals they have for the foundation and how they might meet them. There is a lot of dedication and drive behind those goals, and the same dedication and drive seem to be behind Melinda as well.

One other thing I enjoy in looking for a moment into her life is the real-life sense she seems to have with her kids. They need normalcy, not a glass case. They need to get along in the world without a bubble of indulgence. She nailed that concept, didn't she? All kids need that. And there are many more people, with no where near the wealth the Gates' have, that can't figure that out.

I caught myself smiling as I read about the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation and about her more personally in this article. I smiled because there are still bright people out in the world trying to do their best and helping others with the blessings they have been given. Too often we only hear about the greed and unscrupulousness of the super rich. Certainly there are more that try to do good in the world that we don't hear about. I am glad Melinda opened up a bit and shared the good they are doing. That gives me hope. And a wish to do a little better in my sphere of influence. Our spheres are not equal in size, but our influence might be comparable. I hope.

http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2009/02/gates-of-heaven/