Greetings from Reno

Dear Sally and Bobby,

The weather is hot here, not like Christmastime at all. Baby Gene and I are buying you lots of souvenirs! I miss you and hope you are behaving yourselves for Carla. On Christmas Day she is taking you to see The Sword and the Stone!

Love,

Mommy

bathinette

To my surprise, I discovered that not everyone knows what a bathinette is! I asked Don to go through his slides to find a picture of one to show you. Here's a photo he took a few years ago at a neighbor's christening. Bathinettes are bathtubs for babies. (I'll have to remind Don to bring ours down from the attic.) Modern mothers prefer them because they're soft and shallow and safer than tubs and also serve as changing tables.

And speaking of modern motherhood, have you heard that Doctor Spock recommends bathing babies with soap and water instead of the old fashioned method of rubbing them down with oil? Too many "oiled" babies slipped right out of their mothers' hands! Could explain why teenagers these days are taking leave of their senses!

sometimes housewives know better than art directors

Have you seen Don's company's lovely new billboard for Popsicles? It's designed to be seen after dark. But why? Those night owl art directors. Don't they realize most of us shop during the day?

it's nice to have a husband with a glamorous job

I complain now and then about the hours Don puts in, but I like being married to someone with an exciting career. Because he's in advertising, he can bring home free samples like new Utz snacks and the latest lipstick colors from Belle Jolie. He also gets comp tickets for Broadway shows and new movies. We're seeing an exciting new film Sunday nite. "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." Everyone is talking about how great it will be. The director is the best in the business, Don says. He brought home a few extra tickets, would you like one?

how to fix a wobbly chair

Last night, I discovered a simple solution to the exasperating problem of wobbly dining room chairs. Wine bottle corks! Don brought Roger Sterling home for dinner and while I was in the kitchen, Roger out took his pen knife and sliced off a piece of the cork and slipped it under the troublesome leg. He says wine is the answer to most troubles in life. He's such a card, isn't he?

memories of memorial day

When I was a little girl, we called it Decoration Day. It was the day for decorating graves of people who had died in the Great War. Daddy used to get us up early to go visit soldiers' graves. He'd give us little American flags and we'd place a flag on each headstone. There was always a parade later. Everyone wore poppies in their buttonholes. One year, William got to be a marching drummer in it. He wore a gold satin shirt, blue trousers and a blue tam with a gold tassel. Oh, I was jealous!

the importance of getting dressed in the morning

I think it's as important for a housewife to dress up in the morning as it is for someone going into the office, don't you? How you look can affect your morale. Even your productivity! I find I get a lot more done if I'm feeling good about myself. And looking my best gives my spirits a lift, especially important in the doldrums of winter. Taking pains with your appearance also sets an example for children to follow, and household help, too.

Dressing well doesn't have to mean dressing fancy. I like to wear pants. (They make them with maternity bands now.) A simple cashmere sweater with pearl earrings is always a good look. And can be easily brightened with a colorful silk scarf.

Are you at home today reading this in your slippers? Go put on your face! You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel. Besides. You never know who might be ringing your doorbell.