Paula Johnson

Oquawka is a small town, about the size of Marcellus, just a short distance from my hometown of Galesburg, Illinois. It sits on the eastern shore of the Mississippi River.  It was at this place I first learned how to eat a catfish. … [Read more...] about Bits & Pieces: Norma Jean(e)

This past month, I was finally (after a year) able to visit family in Illinois. John, Sue and I had Christmas and birthdays to celebrate. We met in Galesburg for an early lunch and nearly 5 hours later, we finally gave up our seats. Two … [Read more...] about Bits & Pieces: Knox County Fair with Lili

by Paula Johnson As I get older, I am more and more grateful to have lived during the period of history in which I have. Not that the years have been all ice cream and strawberries, but the times of major innovation following periods of … [Read more...] about Bits and Pieces: Dental Hygiene Habits

No story that mentions “branding” is complete without a photo of Chuck Connors as Jason McCord in Branded (NBC 1965-1966), which was sponsored by Procter & Gamble by Paula Johnson If you have ever watched a Western movie or TV … [Read more...] about Bits and Pieces: Branding & Trademarks

 by Paula Johnson I don’t get to libraries as much as I used to do. They are/were magical places. In my years of college and grad school – pre-Google – I would spend hours “in the stacks” searching reference material for one class or … [Read more...] about Bits & Pieces: Unusual Libraries

by Paula Johnson One part of my guided/controlled journey through childhood included a few years in Brownies and Girl Scouts. My mother was a joiner, so I was enlisted to join scouting. Possibly to ensure that I attended meetings or … [Read more...] about Bits & Pieces: Girl Scout Badges

by Paula Johnson Do you have a food specialty or restaurant from the past that you wish you could conjure up just one more time? I have a couple, but every birthday, I yearn for one of Mrs. Gahee’s birthday cakes. The cake was good, but … [Read more...] about Bit & Pieces: Birthday Traditions

by Paula Johnson When I read, I am a visual person. I don’t mean that I just see the words, but that I visualize what I’m reading. I think that is why I am sometimes sad when the book ends – the people and places are gone, too.  Books … [Read more...] about Bits & Pieces: History as a Story

by Paula Johnson Thought I would try a little different format for Bits and Pieces with tidbits of information. I usually do a little quiz, but some things just need a little more explanation than a simple answer. 1. How many U.S. … [Read more...] about Bits and Pieces: New Trivia