I started programming with punched cards, writing Fortran for an IBM 7094. Over time I developed some great computer skills like reading EBCDIC directly off a punched card, interpreting ASCII from a punched paper tape, and keying in (via switches) the boot sequence for a Data General NOVA from memory.

It seems like I've learned a new programming language every year for the last 40 years (anybody remember Z-80 assembler, Pascal, ADA, Lisp, Algol, PL-1 and APL?).

I love embedded systems. Nothing finer than a micro-controller connected to hardware that does something real.