I suppose you all are too young to remember Emily Post. I remember her because she wrote the book, “Etiquette,” in the 1920s. It was the book we young wives lived by in those days. If we doubted our abilities to set a proper table, Emily came through with the right answer. Well, to bring a long story short, I have been reading a book of her life. Of course, it is close to my life story as we lived in the same era. After each war, times and customs changed and she tried to answer the questions that young wives asked at that time. I could really relate to many of the things in the book.

One in particular was the story of the kidnapping and murder of the Lindberg baby. I could imagine a crook climbing a ladder up to the room where my baby was sleeping. I checked her several times during the night to see if she still was there. The wars, presidents, and generals mentioned were familiar to me.

Mrs. Post was a beautiful, smart woman and the book describes her so clearly. Her book sold well, and every few years she would update it. So many things happened during the 1950s. She had fans who would write questions about their problems for her to answer.

Easter is almost here. I hope we stop to think of its meaning. Spring flowers (a few that stood the cold) are blooming. I have some hyacinths that smell so good. Last year some of the family gave me an orchid plant and I was really happy to have it bloom again this year — a beautiful blossom on a stick. There are strange big leaves next to the ground. What a great gift.

— norma hannaford