Scott Brister, mastermind of our LRIRightNow database libraries and our in-house IT specialist, recently presided over an LRI employee retirement ceremony. It took us hours to get back to any productive work…!
Mac X. Serve, a faithful, hard-working part of the LRI family, retires today with the gratitude of all of us here and those he served so well over his 14-year tenure hosting the LRI Labor Libraries.
Scott Brister, who has worked alongside Mac X. ever since he was plugged into our workforce, recalls fondly the early days when Mac X. started (up).
“”I remember his first day. So anxious to start serving. We couldn’t feed information to him fast enough, he was that eager,”” said Brister. “”He said he had felt boxed-in before coming to work at LRI. Since then he’s been such a stalwart guy—hardly missing a day in close to 15 years. I don’t know how he did it, frankly, but he definitely served us well.””
Mac X. and Brister had their difficult moments, though. There were times Mac X. was reticent to try new things.
“”He didn’t like changes in operating systems, so it was difficult to convince him to update his methods. And he could be a bit of a blowhard, but when you’re going full speed 24/7 for that long, you need something to keep you cool. I mean, it was as if he was always churning at 5400 RPM. Things are definitely going to be a lot quieter around here””.
Brister’s admiration for his long-time work partner is evident in other things. “”Sure, he’s hard on the outside, but inside he’s soft—where it’s needed. And what a great sense of humor. I never get tired of his favorite joke:
11000101 0010010?
10011101!
“”So funny!”” chortled Brister.
In the end, however, it was his inability to understand today’s more demanding security needs that finally made Mac X. realize it was time to ⌘-Q and shut it down.
“”Things kinda passed him by,”” Brister lamented. “”But nothing will outweigh the steadfast, servant attitude of Mac X. I’m going to miss him.””
Mac X. is uncertain how he will spend his retirement. He loves to read and write and read and write and read and write, but isn’t sure if he’ll be able to find a suitable outlet to make that happen.
We all wish him Godspeedtest.
A retirement celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Mac X.’s office. Join us if you like as we tip our glasses to Mac X. and spill coffee on his keyboard one last time.
