Libba Patterson

Photo by Molly Harrell

Magnify

My work: Teaching law students about poverty, justice, and the Constitution.

My passion: Children (mine and others’).

I love: Summertime, when the living is easy.

My favorite possession: A pouting doll that my Daddy picked out because it reminded him of me (as a child, of course).

My best bargain find: It’s hard for a bargain queen to pick just one.

My hometown: Camden.

I’m thinking about: Remodeling the kitchen (Perhaps I should stop watching HGTV.).

Words I live by: “I am kind but extremely firm.”  (a quote from Mary Poppins that perfectly captures my management style)

I am most proud of: How well my children turned out.

I’m inspired by: The beauty of nature.

What keeps me awake at night: The amount of hate in the world.

One thing I never want to do again: Drive an SUV through the streets of London.

If I could be totally wild, I would: Be a G.O. at Club Med (their oldest, I imagine).

I am guilty of: Spoiling my grandson.

Right now I’m reading:  Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The one item that has changed my life: The computer.

Favorite website: Ebay.

Last major purchase: New patio doors to connect my office with the garden.

The nickname I wish I had: Madame President.

My theme song: Hail to the Chief.

If I could do it all over again: I would appreciate Richard Nixon more. 

My favorite body part: Eyes.

The food I could eat every day: Popcorn.

The food I never want to eat again: Boiled okra.

The most important thing I ever lost: Frances, my sweet little cat.

The best thing I ever won: Outstanding Alumna Award from Agnes Scott College.

My best friend says I am: “Unexpectedly funny.”

I still can’t get the hang of: Texting (my thumbs won’t move that fast).

I wish I’d known: How little good it does to worry.

The world would be a better place, if only: People would listen to me.

I’d like to learn to: Dance the salsa.

Something most people don’t know about me: I’m always taking pictures, sometimes to the chagrin of my subjects.

My mother always said: “Just wait until you have children of your own …”. I found out what she meant.

The worst idea I’ve ever had: Taking a bus from Tucson to Mexico City. 

The smartest woman I know: Anyone who can figure out how to survive on the $260 that we provide to welfare moms.

My first job: Babysitting for my little sister.

What are you most vain about? My lack of grey hair.

Whose diary would you most like to read? Maria Belen Chapur.

What do you fear the most? Ignorance.

Best one-liner you ever heard: “This will only take a minute.”

Early bird or night owl?: Night owl, definitely.

Favorite color and why?: Garnet  (Go, Gamecocks!).

I feel strongest when: My loved ones are in trouble (Just call me Mama Bear).

When I grow up, I want to be: “Still crazy after all these years.”

At the end of a long day, the first thing I want to do is: Relax with my garden.

Always... Treasure your girlfriends.

Never... Spend so much time taking care of others that you forget to take care of yourself.

I wish … I had time to read more books.  There’s so much I want to learn.