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Cub Reporter Monday

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This is a submission from Pat Johnson.  This is her great-granddaughter, Addison Mae on her first birthday.  

I have spoken about Pat on this blog before.  I worked with her at the Mary and she left when the rest of us took early retirement.  She is a wonderful, funny,  thoughtful lady who happens to have a couple of quirks.  First she is a rabid Cubs fan.  That is a disease that seems to inflict a lot of people, and seemingly there is no cure.  Secondly, she likes me!  Imagine.  

This gives me another opportunity to sing her praises.  She isn't like me,  she didn't find a Lazy-Boy and plop down when she stopped working.  She kept on working at  Bridgeway in Galesburg and volunteers her time for Red Cross.  A month ago she was   in New York/New Jersey helping to get the place straightened up after Hurricane Sandy.  She was on a 2 week tour of duty and has been all over the country whenever a disaster happens.  And she's just a little thing, you could fit her in a shoe box.  But she's out there doing what she can.  Amazing woman.  Yes, Virginia, there are heroes walking among us.    

Note:  I have put a picture of Pat on this page but she is as camera-shy as J.D. Salinger, and will be upset.   She is a beautiful lady who does great things for this world simply because she wants to.  She is petite and short, but stands like a giant over me in all the ways that make us good.



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