Dearest Aaron,

My, my, where to begin. I suppose Happy Birthday is as good a place to start as
any. So, Happy Birthday. I hope your day is filled with all the joy and love and
Apple products you could ever want. And if you need any inspiration, might I
suggest the magical new iPad 2 (I know for a fact you’ll like it, front and back).

By now, I’m sure by you’re probably wondering why exactly I am reaching out
to you. The Lion in the room, so to speak. Well, these last 27 years have been a
beautiful journey. Not just for you, but for me, too. For the both of us. Together.

Surely you realize that you and the first Macintosh computer came into existence
only four days apart. You on January 20, 1984. Mac on January 24, 1984. This was
no coincidence. Far, far from it.

As you may have guessed, Aaron, I possess power and knowledge that far exceeds
that of regular men. I also invented a time traveling super computer shortly after
starting Apple in 1976, so that’s handy too.

Which brings us back to square one, and the real reason I am writing you this
letter. I’ve seen the future, and it all rests in the hands of a young man named
Aaron Michael Dickey. Unbeknownst to you, I have been grooming you to take
my place for years. And should this leave of absence I am on turn into a
Command-Q, I need to know that you’re ready to power on.

So how about it? Are you ready to assume the position and take it like a man?

You have four days.

Sincerely,

Steven Paul Jobs

Apple Inc.
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010