Mary,
 
Thanks for the homage to Veronica P. Johns.  One of the really great
things about this hobby is you have a pretty good chance of meeting and
getting to know some of the "movers and shakers," renowned experts and
authors, or some just plain old characters (and yeah, John Bernard, I
think this shoe probably fits you).  I am sorry I never met Veronica but
she comes across in her book exactly as you describe her.  Thanks for
sharing,
 
Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA