Many years ago my wife, Susan and I were picking strawberries at a “you pick” place east of Frankfort. We were fortunate to do our strawberry picking beside Frankfort’s popular ex-Mayor Mary Jane McMahon who served as Mayor from January 1976 to December 1983.
We had lots of time to talk while picking those strawberries, so I asked her “Mary Jane…what is something you learned while you were in office that was not obvious at first but turned out to be really important?”
“Wow” she said. “That’s a really good question, Russell. I am going to have to think about that one.”
One minute passed. Two minutes past. Finally, after three or four minutes of silence, she said “I think I got it!”
I was eager to hear her answer.
“You know, Russell, It is amazing what problems you can solve over a cup of coffee”.
She went on to explain, of course, how that concept became so important to help her…and she gave an example or two which I do not remember. But I remember the lesson she taught me that day.
”It is amazing what problems you can solve over a cup of coffee”
Thank you, Mary Jane.
Mary Jane McMahon was the first Frankfort Mayor to be elected to consecutive terms, Frankfort’s first female Mayor, received the Sagamore of the Wabash TWICE, nominated “Woman of the Year” by the Indiana Republican Mayor’s Association and was a volunteer at Clinton House and Pink Lady volunteer at the Frankfort Hospital.
It truly IS amazing what problems you can solve over a cup of coffee.
:>)
