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Spring 1941 Chapter 12:

The bombs are really beginning to rain down - ER Murrow is reporting that people go to bed ready to run, they are wearing their best clothes to bed so that they are dressed for death, ready if your closet was gone in the morning... Have you ever dressed for bed in your day clothes and why?
Personally I have dressed for daylight when camping... everyone's gotta get up in the middle of the night. The first few major hurricanes I went through I also dressed for in case I had to be "ready" for something. Not sure what I would have done in that rain and wind, but I was "ready" lol.

Emma runs into Jim Tom Winthrop the first time with the baby Maggie loss since the first time Will left and Maggie lost her life in childbirth. Did you hold your breath as the closed in the gap on the street as they approached the other? I did. I felt better and breathed again when Jim offered to let her see the little girl strapped to his back. --- Little Maggie.

I felt a sense of understanding from Jim Tom when he talked about both of them being "left behind". I guess this is one of those times when people take what you mean (as well intentioned as it was) they take it completely wrong. Did you feel like Emma's words slapped you in the face as hard as Jim Tom probably did? I physically bowed up in astonishment when she lashed out at him! I saw it as him extending his hand in what was an awkward first meeting after the fact. With a few breaths I came to realize the fear and anger that Emma was slapping him with. How did you first take this??

We come across Otto Schelling, again for the first time in awhile. He tells Emma he likes the houses to be painted in white trim... you can see it a long distance... and looks out towards the bay. I think he hopes his wife can see it from where she stands "across the pond". Or is he the really a German and wants to signal his homeland that this is where they should strike? Does he offer to do this for Emma because he needs work as she suspects - although he works at Harry Vale's gas station, or is it to have someone see the first houses on the bluffs? Did this chipping paint that gives way to rot as Otto told Emma - does it make her feel even more like her world is coming apart at the seams, and starting to crash??

Emma wants to "tune in" Will on the radio and hear his voice. Have you ever felt this way?
Personally I'd have to say yes, and mine too was during several recent wars while my husband was away. If I missed a message from him some how, I'd leave it on the machine and play them over and over in the evenings before going to bed. Anything to feel closer. Her radio was my answering machine as I too use to stand there arms crossed - a feeling to keep me strong - while I listened in the enveloping darkness.