Jenny and Addie Sue at Crow River Press.  Over the past 25 years, there has been but a handful of passengers who have ridden along to Hutchinson with the editor in her old red pickup truck, so early on Wednesday mornings.  Granddaughter Addie gets a ride in the newspaper cart when Jenny goes with her mama in recent times.
Most of the time the passengers are girlfriends who keep the editor in focus for the hour up and the hour back.  In the old days some of my favorite passengers included Father Elstan and also Allan's mother, Vera Orsen.  I'd have to wait until Father finished saying Mass on those Wednesday mornings, and I knew that he was cutting short his homily to keep me from being late. 
When Allan's mother, God rest her soul, sat next to me in the pickup truck, she talked up a storm since she had my undivided attention both coming and going.  Because Vera would witness me stacking and lifting and throwing mailbags, she'd always tell people how hard I worked.
Sometimes in the middle years, I'd drive my red pickup to Hutchinson all alone and drink coffee and write letters to Jenny and Nick at college or Mom and Dad in Texas.  That was before I wanted to spend every spare moment in the Camera Room and Mail Room at Crow River Press!

To the Editor:
We're having an Open House for our mother, Snip Steinberger of Victoria, and I'm enclosing the invitation for her special day to put in the paper.  Also enclosed is a memoriam for my father Todd.  Thanks so much for helping out with these items for my family.
Diane Pfarr
LeSueur, Minnesota

In Memoriam
In memory of Todd Steinberger, Victoria resident who passed away ten years ago, on June 22nd, 1994 ...
There is a bridge of memories from here to Heaven above
That keeps you very close to us; it's called the Bridge of Love.
As time goes by without you, and days turn into years,
They hold a million memories and a thousand silent tears.
Sadly missed by his family.

To the Editor:
Hi, Sue.  I don't know if you remember me, but my husband Gary is a friend of Jenny's Chris.  They went to college together.
Well, I recently picked up your May Gazette at the Macken-thun's grocery store here in Waconia ... and just have to tell you how very pleasantly surprised I was.  I did not know you were the editor of the Victoria Gazette!  Such a great paper.
I really enjoyed reading it from "back to front" ... hee, hee.  And so cute to see Jenny's doodles in there as well -- the little girl chasing baby ducks?  That couldn't have been little Miss Addie, could it?  That barn in the background sure looks famili-ar!  Jenny is always sending me such cute pictures of everyone.  I really enjoy that. 
Your paper is such a refreshing change, filled with wonder-ful positive stories, humorous thoughts ... very uplifting indeed.
One article in there I just was very touched by, "A Mother's Role" by Pastor Lemke, page 16.  Isn't it so true?  So often mothers today don't see their worth by "just being a mom"  and how truly important and fulfilling our job really is.
Here's a picture of my little girlies for you.  Evie turned five in February, and Gloria will be two in June.  Have a wonderful day, Sue.  Peace.
Laura Mattson
Waconia, Minnesota

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