Looking back with a letter.

A photo of Addie's children. In 1953 my Dad (on the far left) would have been 15 years old, so I'm guessing that this photo, with no date on the back, is pretty close. From left to right: Briggs, Suzanne, Drew, Brent and Glade Hall. 

I found a letter today that was written by my grandmother, Addie Hall to her mother-in-law, Carrie Hall. I LOVE the little details that we can glean from everyday letters like this one. 

1. It looks like grandma most likely was dealing with what we now call anxiety. She was raising six children—the baby is not pictured here, and my grandfather traveled (a LOT!) Gratefully, her mother-in-law came and spent some time with her. 

2. Thankfully, I have never had to worry about measles or scarlet fever. We really do take modern medicine for granted. The vaccine for measles wasn't introduced until 1963 and Tylenol was just beginning to be marketed in 1953. It wasn't available for children until 1955. 

3. The technology that is now an ever-present distraction was just getting started in 1953 and already, Grandma knew it exercised a mysterious power over her children, ha!

Carnation, Wash.
April 29 1953

Dear Grandma Hall, 

I'm at last sitting down to write to you. I was going to do it as soon as you left but you know how it goes. I was so glad you got home alright. I hope you weren't too tired. I surely did appreciate your coming out, it helped me so much just to know someone cared. I surely have had a time of it. I am going to another doctor for my nerves and he is helping me a great deal. I hope I can be well enough to come home in June but you never can tell. Joan Whittles boy friend was here to visit us and he seems to be such a nice boy. he said they were going to be married in June, so we might try to be home for the wedding. We'll probably be home about the 10th. 

The children surely have been well. They have had both measles and scarlet fever here buy they have missed both of them. Leness  is thinking of going back East next Friday for a week. He has been gone quite a lot lately. 

We finally weakened and bought a television. It surely does help to keep the children quiet. Well, I had better close. Hope you are both well. Don't work too hard now. All you have to do now is take care of yourself. Write soon. 

Love, 
Addie

I challenge you to find a letter from years ago and see what you can learn. You might archive this information online or include something you learn on a scrapbook page!