For Jane Hines, upon retiring

To: Jane Hines, at Her Retirement
From: Mac McKean

I never sent a newspaper column to Jane Hines that was on time. I guess this just continues the string. Well, actually, I think I had a different due date a week earlier than the regular people. And you know I thought she loved me best until, with the grace and kindness of a southern lady, she canceled me. Actually, Jane gave me a chance to write about computers. This was in the beginning, when folks were afraid of technology. I will never forget her willingness to let me write the way I think and talk. The folks at my last church called it “Mac Speak.” I used my daughter Ole Katie McKean to pull off many things. (Bye the way, it’s Ole Katie McKean Steverson now, and she bears our first grandchild.) I introduced my dog to many of you as well. It was a bit folksy, but I wrote that way because it was what came into my head, and to settle some folks who were terrified of a computer. I’ve been to a couple of General Assemblies since then, and at each one several people stopped, cocked their heads and asked about Katie and my dog. Nothing about me. I asked each if they had gotten a computer. Several had taken technology seriously. Some still had that fear but did use computers: they were forced to by family members to email. Jane, for me those really were my “glory days.” You encouraged me just to write in a way folks can almost hear my voice. It was your love and trust and your friendship that never went away, that allowed me to appreciate a part of who I am. I shall never forget. Jane, you are one of the good guys. There are so few. There are so few. There are just so few, Jane, that, to be a friend of yours, I do treasure and keep it in my heart, and you as one of mine.

God’s Peace and Grace, and my Love,
Mac McKean, HR