Ann Landers and her twin Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby) were born Esther Pauline Lederer (Ann) and Pauline Esther Lederer (Abby). No wonder why they changed their names for their columns!
I do love the combination of Esther and Pauline!
What did Maude Flanders mean by this?
https://preview.redd.it/ubkid8wnsmm51.png?width=660&format=png&auto=webp&s=c08e4d8ee8bde8d7ef0b80e9a600a4a24a5370d3
I found this 2017 article from a Rochester, NY newspaper talking about how commonplace male nude swimming was in public schools up through the 1970s. But the thing that really caught my eye was the Ann Landers column from 1974 that is referenced and reproduced in the article. It seems to me to sum up the attitude toward communal showering in that generation. A 15 year old boy writes in to ask advice since he is uncomfortable showering nude with his classmates. Instead of showing compassion and understanding and offering some kind of compromise solution, Ann Landers scolds him and suggests that he see the school counselor. The last line is the classic: You have a problem, Son. This is basically why I chose to do the minimum I could to technically follow the rule but shower as quickly as possible. I don't think it would have done any good to complain to the teacher or my parents. Everyone just did it. It was normal.
