Change, the lone constant in life. Our world is constantly changing, sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. Every now and then, we take the time to look around and contemplate how things were, the "good old days."

Nostalgia is a powerful drug, one that we all enjoy taking once in a while, but it's best not to live in the past. Nevertheless, sometimes it's fun to take a look back through the eyes of today.

There's an email making the rounds that contains a scan of an article from Housekeeping Monthly from May of 1955, the article, entitled "The good wife's guide," had some pointers for housewives of the era to keep their mate happy. I'm not making any of this up, honest. Here's a peek at the good old days of 1955:

* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

* Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

* Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

* Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

* During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

* Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

* Be happy to see him.

* Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

* Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

* Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

* Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

* Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

* Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

* Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

* A good wife always knows her place.

I know what you're thinking. Sexist, misogynistic and hopelessly out of touch. Who would possibly do that today? Who did then? Perhaps the entire article is just a fake.

Perhaps not, at least some of it was true when I was young.

I recall in my childhood, a decade after this article was written, that we kept away from my father, the Chief, after he came home from a hard day battling against automatic transmissions and -- worse yet -- dealing with the public.

We did this more as a means of self-preservation above all else.

All I know is, the family in the illustration that went with the article looks happy in a "Dick and Jane" sort of way and we all got a good laugh here at the office.

As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@lemarscomm.net, telephone 712-546-7031, x40 or toll free 1-800-728-0066 x40.

Thanks for reading, I'll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.