Thursday, January 20, 1977 (Letter from Mardi)

Part of a Clint Eastwood double feature (the other being Dirty Harry) at the Eastfield Mall Cinema

Thought I'd better drop you a line while I have a few minutes here in the late evening!  Can't believe the end of Jan. is fast approaching!!  I will hopefully be in the hospital & skinny again the same time next month!

We are in the process of selling our little house here!  We are putting it on the market tomorrow. We have a chance to buy a duplex at Newcourt Place -- if you can picture or know where it is.  It's not a bad little area.  The house is large & the outside is in need of a good paint job & minor repairs.  Each half has a huge attic, 3 BRs, bath, large L.R., D.R. & kitchen w/ great possibilities! One half, the half we would take is in good shape.  We would paint & put in carpeting & baseboard heat.  The other half needs more repair to the walls but is in good shape -- we would paint & rent it for $160 or so & let the renters pay for the house.  The house is large enough that we could stay there with no problem but if we ever decided to move into a nice "new" home, we would have the additional income from both sides.  Anyway, we've talked it over w/ several realtors & bankers & we all agree it's a good long term investment.  There is some yard & what there is, is private & for 2 kids it's nice to be off a busy street.  Anyway, it all depends if we can sell this house for $17,000 & get the duplex.  Occupancy would be on a 30-60 day basis & our half of the house would at least be ready to move into, clean & new.  Marti will then have plenty more work on the other half!  Wish us luck -- I already told him I wouldn't be able to help at all w/ two kids & as far as packing anything it won't be such a hassle just down the street & all will be ready to be put into cupboards & closets etc.

Anyway, the main reason I sat right down tonight & wrote to you was because Yolanda gave Mike F. a call tonight & we got the story on him & his new marriage.  He said you knew but I didn't actually know if you knew at Xmas time or not!?!?  I just wondered if I should even mention it to anyone at all.  He said his parents didn't know & I'm not going to say anything.  Marti would never say anything anyway.  Does Barb know about him?  I guess I wasn't really shocked -- I think we briefly mentioned this type of situation 2/ Mike years ago but not taking it seriously !  At least he's happy & sounds content for a change.

Glad to hear your Christmas vacation did your "spirits" good as Yolanda mentioned.

The weather has been freezing & below freezing.  Mon. Tues. Wed. it never quite made it to 0!! The wind chill really hit everyone hard -- & it looks like fruits & vegetables will be sky high.

Barb has settled into her apt.  I gave her some odd pieces of furniture I had.  The apt is really nice for her.

Guess Joan is pregnant, feeling fairly well, he & Bill are having problems.  Carol & Terry were telling me how absolutely unbearable he was over Christmas weekend.  Guess he continually complains & Joan has said he hates it here now & wants to move back to Atlanta?!!!  Don't know how Joan gets such "problems".

Mother has been sick for two weeks w/ a cold & flu - -luckily she escaped going to the hospital & recovered peacefully at home.  She is much better.  I visited w/ her tonight.  Marti had a slight cold. Matthew & I have been very lucky so far.  I'm through w/ work now & have not been out too much.

Well, hope all is well w/ you & drop a line soon!!

January 19, 1977 (Letter from Yolanda)

Paul it was real nice to receive your letter today in the mail, because I have been home sick for weeks with teh flu or what ever you want to call it.  I think I had a sinus infection, aches, pain, fever, upset stomach, back ache, sore muscles.  You name it I had it.  Brother I would not wish this on my worst enemy.  I am much better, although I am still on medication.  I'm hoping to to back to work on Mon.  The doctor claimed I had bronchitis.  I better get real well soon because I have to get ready for that new baby & I don't want to be sick or have any germs so that any baby else gets t his because it's just terrible & when you get older it gets harder to fight.  I have not even seen my mother since all this. My brothers & kids & neighbors have been real great by bringing things into me because I have not been able to stick my head outside in this cold weather.  

The weather has just been sub-freezing for so long.  Today it was up as high as 21 which is good. Heat wave!  Lately is has been zero & below for so long.  Look at Miami, Fl.  They even had snow today. That is getting bad, especially all those people that go down for that good old sunshine.  That is bad for the citrus crops.  Even up in Springfield, & all over the mid-west & south.  Can you imagine the Mississippi River freezing.

Paul I really enjoyed that lovely dinner you and Renee cooked up at Mardi's.  I could eat some right now because I have hardly eaten during my sickness.  I had lost my sense of taste & smell for three days, but it's all back now & I even lost 5 lbs, so food sound good about now.

Thanks a lot for Mike's address & phone no.  I shall drop him a few lines, too.

I hope & pray the rest of this year is better.  It has started out bad as far as weather & sickness is concerned.  Maybe the rest will be better.  Take good care of yourself & stay warm & maybe by the 4th of July we'll celebrate & have a good time. Thanks again.

January 16, 1977 (Letter from Bev)

Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford

Sunday, January 16

Happy New Year!  Hope you enjoyed your holidays and your vacation from work.  I'm really sorry that you couldn't come in December, but the Brandywine River Museum and Longwood are still her and can be visited when you can some.

I don't remember how much I told you about my new job, so forgive me if I repeat myself.  I started working with Wyeth on Dec. 6th and so far, am quite pleased with the position.  I have a clerical assistant who is invaluable.  I don't think I'll ever take a job again where I don't' have some help. This library is smaller than my former library, but is used much, much more.  There's always someone in doing research or just reading the journals.  The big problem is space and I hope to alleviate that a bit by weeding the collection.  I just got some new stacks and this will help crowded conditions somewhat.  It's going to be a real challenge to get the place in shape and have it running my way!  My predecessor was not a trained librarian and had run the library for 25 years using some very strange methods.  You should see the card catalog!  I was so confused the first time I looked up something.  The filing was really screwed up and the cards are arranged in a most unconnected way.  Some don't even look like catalog cards!

The Wyeth plant where I work employs over 1,000 people and most of these work in the plant on the line.  Since such workers have to run on a very regimented schedule, the rest of the employees, office workers, etc., are also subject to the same rules and regulations as are the plant workers.  I didn't like the regimentation at first, but have adjusted now.  I have to take my break at 9:30 & 2:30 and lunch at 12:30.  Where I worked before, I went for coffee and brought it back to the library whenever I wanted to.  I guess I was truly spoiled.  Now I'm not even allowed to eat at my desk, which really is reasonable.  I go to the lunchroom now for breaks and lunch and do enjoy getting out of the library and talking to other people who don't drop into the library.  The food in the cafeteria is all subsidized by Wyeth and is dirt cheap.  Everyday you have your choice of a platter or casserole or 2 different kinds of soups, sandwiches made-to-order, various salads and desserts.  Platters, which consist of meat, 2 vegetables, roll & butter, cost $.70.  Not only is the food cheap, but it's good.  If they're serving something that I really like, I eat my big meal for the day there and just have a salad at home for dinner.  It really saves money.

The whole plant shut down for the week following Christmas and fortunately for me I was able to move then.  I moved here on Dec. 28th and am so glad to be living so close (2 mi. away) to my job. Moving was no fun!  I never realized that I had so much stuff.  I had boxes and boxes and boxes of odds-and-ends and made countless trips up and down the stairs.  It really tired me out and I'm so glad that I had the entire week off to get moved and settled.   Two of my friends from the hospital used a U-Haul trailer to move my furniture.  They didn't have a difficult job and in less than 3 hours I was all moved in here in West Chester.  My apartment is so much bigger than my former one.  I have a nice sized living room,k dining area, kitchen, bath, bedroom, and 3 huge walk-in closets. I'm on the 1st floor and also have a small patio.  I have room outside to plant flowers around the apartment and am looking forward to the spring.  Luckily for all my plants, I still get a lot of sun and didn't have to get rid of them for lack of sunlight.  The only problem with them is space.  I used to have very wide windowsills, but now I had to buy a little parson's table to accommodate the plants. My father is also making me another table so I can get the remaining plants off the floor.  I hung two plants by finding the beams in the ceiling.  That was an education in itself!  The only problem is that the beams re not in too ideal of a location for sunshine.  When the builder constructed this apartment he did not have plant lovers in mind!

Diane is coming to visit next Sunday, if it doesn't snow.  We have had a very bad week weather-wise with a lot of snow and unusually cold temperatures.  I guess you've had your share of now, too.  I'm quite ready for spring and I know that I haven't even seen the worst of winter yet.

My parents gave me money for Christmas and I'm planning on buying a bicycle.  Then when the weather gets nice I can ride it to work. The exercise will be good for me and will be a change from jumping into the car and driving off.  I might even try walking it some Sunday to see how long it will take me to walk 2 miles.  That would be great exercise!

I'm sure that I'll like living in the West Chester area, once I learn my way round.  Chester County is full of historic spots and I'm still quite close to Philadelphia.  I hope you can come sometime in the near future.  Let Diane or me know when a good time would be.  It might be best to wait awhile since the snow is so unpredictable.  Give it some thought, okay?

I hope you're getting along okay and are braving the winter.  Keep in touch.

January 13, 1977 (Letter from Barb N)

Hello.  How are you?  I'm fine.  Not exactly feeling comfort inside but I am pleased with my progress since I have been back to Naples.

My flight back wasn't too bad but I found it uncomfortable sitting up and trying to sleep.  None the less I managed to get some sleep. Nobody mete me at the airport but I guess it was expected.  I never wrote to tell them that I was coming back the same flight as I had originally planned.

I went out & partied the first few nights that I got back but I found myself to be sliding back into the same rut as when I left.  Darrell was the one who make me think that I better change now before I find it too hard.  He only played his game on me too soon.

I set up my bedroom so I will be able to get at my sewing, knitting, cloths, etc easier and leave the room in order.  I bought a card table and I have my sewing machine all set to be used.  I also plan to have my macrame work handy.  So now is the time to be creative.

I am doing yoga 2-3 times a day.  I do the three exercises you showed me in the morning.  After work I do leg stretching and in the evening back stretching.  My middle back hurts and I found it difficult to sit in one position and type for more than five minutes.  Tonight I will soak in the bathtub.

I'm making my dinner which consists of carrots, onions, green peppers, rice, spinach, and tomatoes sauteed in olive oil.  After my dinner or during I have a glass of wine to aid in digestion.

I'm glad to be back but I'm not all that happy.  I'm going to find a new direction.  I hope to meet some different people who offer a little more in life.  I'm not counting on it tho.  I will just let it be.
I might go skiing this weekend with some girls at work.  I have to do errands so I'm not sure if I'll go.  I think we'd have a lot of fun tho.  I'll see how it goes tomorrow.

It was great being home with the family at Xmas.  It really warmed my spirits.  Now I know in my mind that my life is lacking a part to make me more at peace but I can't say what it is.  I will just have to keep my feet on the ground trying to keep a direction that is my own path.  I'm set to leave to start out to better roads but the time is not right for now.  (But we both feel the same I'm sure.)

Take care brother Paul.

I hope to see you soon.

I didn't go skiing this weekend.  I didn't make it up in time to go.  But I had a good day with somewhat.  Richard came over (he is a guy I've know by face but not personally) to look for hash with me.  First off he hit a car almost the same time that I just missed clamming into his car.  A few seconds later I was trying to get around a double parked car & I hit it.  Fortunately, I did not do any damage but the driver wanted my name etc.  While we were exchanging autographs I caused a traffic jam.  By this time my friend finally came back to see what I was doing.  His car wouldn't start so we had to tell his roommate.  After leaving his house I was turning my car around when my car fell into a ditch.  (Only my front right wheel.)  This was no ordinary ditch.  It was about 20 inches deep.  Our day was pretty much that way but I had a good day.  I managed to buy my hash.  The first smoke I've botten since I've been over here.  In fact I'm going to smoke a bowl now.

I had a good time with Rich yesterday.  So I hope that I will meet some of his friends.  We had some homemade vino that his landlord gave to him.

I might go to Munchen to see Pink Floyd in concert next month.  It should be interesting.

That's all from me.

January 12, 1977 (Letter from Grayce)

Saw this movie at the Pleasant Theater in Northampton on January 6

This person (to use the Buddhist locution) is at this moment in pain.  Actually there is something very comforting about pain in the o/ sense -- it's proof that we are actually ALIVE in a world where it's sometimes none too evident.  I mean th is not purely in the physical sense, of course.

The reason for the pain -- which is, in truth, beginning to subside -- is the extraction of the wisdom teeth (horror of horrors for a philosopher!) on the left side -- the right side will be done on Feb. 12th. (I can hardly wait to feel ALIVE again!)  We went to the dentist before Xmas & he told me in no uncertain terms that those teeth were not to stay in -- there simply was no room there for them. By the way -- by coincidence, our dentist went to dental school in Philly & we had quite a nice chat before he examined me -- an hour long chat, to be exact.  After an hour, I gently reminded him of hte purpose of my visit -- it was pretty funny, I thought.  On Saturday I went in -- a nervous wreck --I've never had a tooth pulled before & had lots of visions of the Medieval methods I'd read about.  (Naturally, I didn't sleep for several days before.)  But one whiff of the ole nitrous oxide & it was never never land for me.  I was conscious during the whole time, but not so one could notice. I think he talked to me, but I only remember smiling a lot.  He said (I remember only this) that I probably wasn't a heavy drinker because he gave me a very low amt of the oxide & I was already in another world.

Actually, part of this has been fun for the following reasons:

1. Milk shakes (but I'm getting hungry for some solid food -- mashed potatoes can get pretty boring after a while.)
2. Being waited on hand & foot (which isn't really necessary, since I can walk -- but far be it from me to deprive Brook of his pleasure in taking care of me (heh, heh).  Aren't I generous?
3. Not being pinched on the cheeks (a favorite habit of Brook's - -but not of me -- I'm afraid!)
4. Loss of 8 pounds (hopefully for good)

Oh well, I'm fairly optimistic for being a "sick person" -- huh?  I think tonight I'll be able to eat something resembling real rood, but I almost feel afraid to -- in case it would hurt.  It reminds me of an argument about the weakness of will we discussed in philosophy once:

--Agathon looks at the Athenian pastries.

--Agathon remembers the indigestion caused him by the Athenian pastries (As in my case, not indigestion, but sore gums!)

--Agathon wants to avoid eating the Athenian pastries (& he tells other people so.)

--Agathon east the Athenian pastries!

Reasons for this paradoxical phenomenon include the enmity between desires, rational preference & moral evaluation (doing what is thought "right").  These wants are different but all present at the same time.  The agent is free to act out which ever want he is conscious of -- the strongest usually being desire which is usually strong enough to prevent the other -- lesser -- wants from arising. Clear as mud?  I'll spare you all the details.  But it's a good argument to remember in times of temptations!!

I miss seeing you too.  It's hard to believe we've only seen each other 2x since GSLIS -- & 2 short & strange times, at that.  (Which feelings I mentioned to you in my letter following your last visit to us.)  It's just that it's almost like seeing you in a dream those 2x -- I don't even think I acted my right part then either, because it had the qualities of displacement which dreams have.  But I do feel very close to you & value our fine relationship very much.  Maybe someday we will see each other on a more regular basis -- who knows what will happen.  I sometimes do, but not in this case.  Maybe it's better not to know too much.  In some things, I don't want to know, like in death. I think about it sometimes.  I know you think I'm just afraid to get old, but really that doesn't enter into it.  I'd like to think I'm not that vain.  Mainly I think about it because on 1 of my grandparents has lived past 49!  This is reality-facing.  I mean, they say that your lifespan is based on inheritance.  My mother's parents both died of cancer -- my grandmother at 44 & my grandfather at 49.  This is not too encouraging & my father's father died at 49 of diabetes.  Am I being too morbid?  I don't feel morbid, but perhaps this is why I like to believe in reincarnation.  It's pleasant to think that death isn't the end.  It also brings up a possible answer to y our question of why we want to know someone intimately & others not at all.  I really feel that people we like immediately & are drawn to are people we've known in another life.  You may have been my father in another life or I your mother, or anything.  It's possibilities re almost endless.  I've recently read an account of a woman who was "regressed" by a hypnotist to find out who she was in a former life (some scoff at this, but not I!).  She remembered her name -- lived during the 18 century NEAR where she was living at this time.  (I think that's interesting.)  So this may explain something about time as well as space!  She looked up this other person's name & it was found that she'd been found guilty of poisoning her husband by some thing she put in his food (a common practice at that time, also). And -- this is really scary! -- her present husband was very suspicious of her cooking & was always asking what as in things she'd made.   Isn't that fantastic?  So he must have been her husband that she'd poisoned.  They tried to hypnotize him but he didn't believe in it & wasn't a good subject.  Maybe she just didn't want to know.  Is this a reasonable assumption?  I wouldn't want to know if Brook had murdered me in another life.  I'd be too afraid of history repeating itself.

I'm currently reading all of Iris Murdoch I can get my hands on.  I never heard of her prior to this but it seems that besides writing novels she's a philosophy don at Oxford.  So her style & subject matter often appeals to me.  I just happened to be drawn to one of her books at the library & ow I cant stop!

As for potatoland, we seem to be very at home here (maybe because of experiences in a former life?)  Neither of us has had to change our lifestyles very much -- except that I have to drive places, which is still foreign to me.  I feel like I'm in a space ship when I'm in that car & controlling it.

Actually, we've always lived fairly simply.  I like to spend my time reading & on my various hobbies which happily sometimes coincide with Brook's & Brook hasn't too much time, but he uses his spare time constructively.  We were never much for going out, except for dinner occasionally & there are so many nice places to go here for dinner (very surprising to us -- we never expected it) & also most re reasonably priced -- which helps!  It's a nice place & I feel so content.  I am going to get a job eventually, but I'm not sure when or at what & I'm in no hurry (especially since I'm scared to death of driving in the ice & snow!)  (We have had about 2 ft. of it in the past week.)  I hope something interesting will kind of drop out of somewhere.  (I know that's unrealistic) [But I still hope!]  Well, I guess that's about all for now!

December 31, 1976 (Note from Connie)

Gee -- I just wrote, didn't I?  So what's this?   Just in the mood, I'spose.

Thought of you this morning when I sat down at the piano.  Went to Seattle (of course) for Christmas and had a frantic, terrific time (of course).  But I didn't have any chance to play a piano there.  Except for my 4-yr-old niece's toy piano -- bleech!  Managed to squeak Chopsticks out of that -- how it hurts the ears.  I tell ya, my out-of-tune piano sound like heaven now!  Got a new piano book for Christmas -- what fun I'm having!  I remember when I first got the piano I really had to struggle to get any "music" out of it at all.  But it goes easier and easier all the time.  I don't' play well, and I can't go fast at all, and I still have trouble counting out the beat -- but other than than Rubenstein move over!

Trust you had a terrific Christmas surrounded by family, as it should be.

Have a really good New Year -- full of good times and dreams come true.  (You eve gonna make it out this way?  -- better hurry -- I'm not gonna be in Cheyenne a whole lot longer!)

Take care --

December 19, 1976 (Letter from Sandy)

David Pugsley gave us your address this summer & I meant to drop you a line -- but true to fashion -- I've procrastinated.

You must have had a bit of trauma before you left Montana.  Trish Tavenner called me a few months after we left Helena and said that she figured we had offered you asylum becuase she knew I was planning to send you our address to offer our guest room if you were snowbound on one of your Helena trips.

Your stay in Montana must have given you plenty of material for short stories if nothing else.

We are really enjoying Helena.  I guess the percentage of people who pursue literature & theater is nigh because of the big government payroll.  A new bookstore called Another Roadside Attraction opened two months ago.  A movie theater showing only old & classical films opened last spring. After some of the movie the audience becomes a discussion group -- were presented with a lecture after Citizen Kane.  And a new repertory-type theater has just remodeled the old library which had once been a Unitarian Church in 1990 & has marvelous acoustics -- leaded glass -- much stonework.  The buildings here just blow my mind.

I have a great job -- 9 educable kids ages ages 10 to 14 -- good administrative support!

Skip enjoys his job so much -- does not like all of the travel -- but hopefully he will work into a desk job as time goes by.

As you can see, we have a new addition.  His name is Ryan Hawks -- he is northern Cheyenne and we have had him for 6 months.  We hope to legalize things next month.

Kerry has adjusted to Ryan's presence although he went through the usual jealous stage and once said "Let's give him back to the ladies."   Now he thinks it's great to be a "big brother" as long as Ryan leaves Kerry's books alone.

It is such a delight to have both of them living with us -- we've certainly been lucky.

Peace, Sandy

December 14, 1976 (Letter from Diane)

Portrait of Andy Warhol by Jamie Wyeth

Credit:  WikiPaintings

I sort of expected that you would weasel your way out of the house party.  But having your sister fly all the way into Boston so you would have an excuse is a big drastic, don't you think?  Never fear!  I'll do it again sometime and this time it will be a surprise.

Since this time of year is supposed to be cheerful and happy, I won't discuss jobs at length.  However, I was very surprised when you wrote that you hated yours.  It was going to last several years.  Is it the money or something else?

Let Bev and/or me know -- when you can visit.  The Longwood Gardens display was spectacular and the Brandywine River Museum featured trains & trains plus Jamie Wyeth's portrait of Andy Warhol & Andy Warhol's portrait of Jamie Wyeth.  The pig was there, too.

Oh, yes, you missed the excitement Sunday morning.  Everyone overslept and was racing madly about a 11:00 a.m., blissfully unaware that Rosie & Larry's 2 yr. old son had played with the dials of the clock radio and set it 3 hrs. ahead.

Enjoy the holidays!

Portrait of Jamie Wyeth by Andy Warhol

Credit:  WikiPaintings

December 12, 1976 (Christmas Card from Kathy and Gary)

Your letters are always so refreshing -- we both enjoy hearing from you so much.

Gary's old boss -- Ernie from the Magnovox place visited us in Sept -- was a pleasant surprise.

We decided Dec. 5 to take a quick trip home to Pa for Christmas.  I'm going to fly out the 19th, Gary the 24th, and we return the 28th.  I have the week before Christmas off without choice, and Gary doesn't feel he should take more than a couple days off.  If you should get to Warren, please give us a jingle.  Afraid we won't get much chance to run around.  Anxious to see our families and close friends.

If we don't see you over the holidays, I promise a nice letter when we get back.

December 11, 1976 (Letter from Harriet)

It's 1:00 AM.  I've just come home and decided at the time was ripe for this letter to happen.  Paul, I was really touched by your letter.  I never expected it.  I didn't think that I'd ever hear from you again.

Paul, do you remember when we met, just about a year ago?  Although the attracted was physical, for sure, the spiritual aspect was there, at least for me.  If you remember, I told you that I had been having bad times and that I was not that happy those days.  That was an understatement.  When we met, I thought that you could make me laugh & bring me out of the depression.  I guess our distance aborted that from happening.  I had just spent a relationship with someone trying to draw him out -- getting at the feelings and emotions that were deep down under. That experience really drained me.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm feeling better these days, more confident about myself and happy about my life.  I feel, though, that I'm exhausted, tired with trying to get someone to tell me about themselves.  I want someone to look closely at me, try to understand my inner workings, and draw me out.  I hope that you understand.

What I'm saying.  I'm not sure that a relationship between us could work.  Instead, let us keep the friendship that should have started in the first place.  I'm going to California for a few weeks & will be back in January sometime.  Write & tell me what you think.  Have a Merry Christmas -- will you be in Pennsylvania?  Tell me what you are doing with yourself -- this year you will not be having a traditional 10 day vacation -- those days are over!  As for me -- finals are here again!!

P.S.  Have your heard from Tony??

December 11, 1976 (Letter from Connie)

I really hadn't written, eh?  Well that shows you how bonkers I really was.  The problem boiled down to the fact that after being so far from everyone and everything I most love, for so long, the idea of being even further away, and apart, upset me.  As awful as it sounds, I would look upon the Eiffel Tower with empty emotion.  Huh.  Looks just like the pictures. I was upset and confused, and upset and confused about being upset and confused, and on and on.  Was a bummer.

The job still goes well.  I got frustrated because the cataloging goes so slowly.  But when I have to be reference librarian, cataloger, cataloging clerk, circulation clerk and page, all rolled into one, what can you expect.  Can't seem to catalog more than about 75 books a week, and that's too slow.  Did I tell you that I've published two subject bibliographies?  Really didn't have any idea of the enormity of the project, when I first took it on.  Well, now I know.  To do a really complete job is very time consuming.

Ran to Seattle, of course for Thanksgiving.  Had a really terrific time, as always.  Ran around trying to see everyone, go everywhere, do everything.  I really get strung out by the end of the week, but of course I love it!  There's so much to do there, and nothing here I really care to do.  Odd, what?

But then, Wyoming and I walk to the beat of different drummers.  After a year, I don't really have what I could call close friends.  Oh, drinking buddies, and people to go to lunch with, but not people who just come over, or to do silly things with (like playing pinochle til 3 AM, or to have a mock English tea with.)  For the longest time I thought it must be me.  But the weirdest thing happened the other day.  Get this.  My friend Terry and hubby and six year old son were all born and raised in Wyoming (about 200 miles from here); hubby graduated from the University at Laramie; they've lived in Cheyenne about about two years; son goes to preschool here.  Both Terry and Rocky are young, personable, cheery people, good partiers (an important thing here), into things like church, and clubs, and classes.  All the ingredients for knowing everybody, wouldn't you say.  (This is a long story, so hang on.)  Well Terry was talking about going up to Sheridan for Christmas, the other day, and the problems they'd have with the animals.  She didn't want to put them in a kennel, and she was worried about leaving enough food out for them for the week.  But couldn't you have someone come over to feed them, I asked?  Well, Cathy (Terry's cousin, who lives in town), is going to be gone that week.  The dog doesn't like strangers, Terry said, and she was afraid the dog might bite someone.  GOOD GOD!!  Do you realize what that means?  Other than Cathy, there's no one in town the dog knows well enough not to worry about -- and that means that Terry and Rocky don't have any really close friends here either.  What a mind blower.. It's not just me.  The rhythm of Wyoming, at least as I've been able to understand it, is that you know people, and party, and go places, but emotionally at least, all but family keep their distance. And I mean, almost literally, blood family.  That's not what I'm used to at all, and up to now it really confused me.  I'm used to people becoming very close, relatively quickly:  with someone you really click with, after just a few weeks, you're running back and forth to each others houses, raiding each other's refrigerators, you pop over for a minute and stay all week because everyone's having too good a time to leave.  Just that whole nonchalant relaxed scene.  It was always like that for me in Seattle (and still is), and it was becoming that in Montana by the time I left.  Getting bit by the family dog is the very least of your worries:  when he barks, as sometimes happens, it's just "Oh shut up, Samm -- don't you recognize me?"   I kept wondering why no one called, why I never felt that the climate was receptive for me to call, or to over, or to invite folks in.  I kept thinking it was me.  No.  I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with this, it's just the way things are here, that's all.  But now, knowing that, it's easier.  I'm not saying I'll stay, but at least now I can flow with a little easier  Until I can leave.

I really love that card you sent.  Don't recognize the scene -- it is "Bringing Up Baby?  Only saw that once, years ago.  If it's not that one, must be something rather like it; one of those marvelous silly romps with Hepburn-Grant (one of my favorite teams).  I'm still so envious of you with all your access to great films.  A few show up here on the toob (shopped all to hell).  And there are a couple of good movie house in Denver, but that's 100 miles away on often iffy roads.  Would you believe I'd never seen "King Kong"?  Caught half or it on TV last night (the last half) - -most interesting.  My friends her think I'm really odd because I won't see stuff like Earthquake, or The Omen, and prefer GWTW or King Kong, or even Bambi. SO I'm weird, so what?

When I was home at Thanksgiving I had a marvelous 4-hour lunch with an old dear friend.  Again people here think it's really odd that I could enjoy spending that much time with a person 50 years old (she was a high school teacher of mine, and has since become one of my two or three Most Influential People, like Ethel Hill).  Ah, what a good time we had (at Boondocks, as luck would have it).  Just to have the time together.  She said something too, about time, that I must pass on to you.  She said that it's commonly said, and most people think, that the most important thing we have is our health.  Health is important, surely, but the most important things is time.  Time to think, to enjoy, to be with the people you most love, to do what you most enjoy.  Health is important only because it gives you the time.  How obvious of course, but I'd never really thought about it quite in that context before -- and how suddenly that idea jerks everything into focus.  It isn't just a cliche -- life is too short to spend minutes, let alone years wasted, wasting the time. Oh, I've gotta get out of here.  The years I've wasted here, off in the boondocks, away from all I hold dear.

In that same line, I talked to Lynne Stevenson the other day.  She's now at Carroll of course.  We agreed that three years in the wilderness, cut off from everything is long enough, is enough dues paid to our profession, enough apprenticeship.  Now it's our turn to get instead of just give.  She'll be quitting Carroll, moving back to the coast, and going back to school in the summer.  And I'm determined to move back to Seattle late summer or early fall.  (Time is short, because of all those Rocky Mountain passes I wont' drive over in the winter with everything I own in the backseat of my Volkswagen).  Unfortunately I can't very well live in Seattle and keep my terrific job here.  So I'll just have to try and find something halfway as good.  I'm going to start looking after the Christmas rush. It's out there somewhere, I know it is.  And I'll find it.

Now you'll probably be thoroughly disgusted with me for this, but here goes.  (But then again, you probably would understand.)  In the ever present search for easy answers, and always  being afraid of making the wrong choices, and wanting the future known and not stumbled over, I went to a psychic in Victoria B.C. over Thanksgiving.  Pam had gone to see this woman before, and had been helped and impressed.  I'd felt I was drifting and stagnating at the same time, anxious about choices made and to be made.  And besides, I figured it would be cheaper than going to a shrink. So I went.  It was terrific.  Whether she read my mind and told me what I wanted to know, or what, I don't know, and I really don't care.  From her at least I got the illusion of objectivity (which you'll never get from friends), and it all sounded great.  She kept saying that I was a very strong person, one of the strongest she's ever met.  (I'd been told that before, by friends, but always thought, this insecure, indecisive lump is "strong"?  Come on, now...)  But maybe I'm stronger than I've thought. And she said, of 1977, that it would be a very good year, with things popping all the time.  That I would move back home, and have a great job, with more money and more responsibility (ugh!) , but that I would be able to handle it much better than I think I can.  So.  (She' didn't say I'd meet a "tall, dark stranger", but she did have good things to say in that line, too!)  All that I really wanted was a pat on the head and a little encouragement to keep me going,k and that's what I got; just a nice objective, You done good so far, just keep going, and, What was good will stay good, what was bad will get better.

(Good grief, this isn't a letter it's a tome!)

Am jetting off the 18th for Christmas.  (I make a decent salary, but Continental Airlines gets it all.) Besides the usual rushing around seeing people, I have all my Christmas shopping to do in three days.  I never get stuff here, it's too much of a mess hauling all that on the plane.  And I refuse to spend four days driving, so I fly.  Pretty stupid, wouldn't you say, to spend all that money flying Thanksgiving and Christmas?  I agree. Fun though!  It's common knowledge that I just plain don't have good sense!

Was just reading through your letter again.  I feel bad that the job isn't going so well anymore.  We both know how impossible the public library thing is anymore.  Hey, just had a thought (and tried to call you -- do you have a phone?)  I know of a public library job in Bremerton, Wash.  A friend of mine is leaving her job there to get four months vacation as a school librarian, so her job there, (or lat least some slot there) will be open, at the Kitsap Regional Public Library.   You could contact the head, Irene Henninger 1-206-377-3955.  Or you could always go back to Montana.  People don't seem to last long there, so there's usually a pretty good turnover....(a joke, a joke).   Would you like me to let you know if I hear of any PL jobs?  Fortunately or unfortunately about the only places I have any contacts are Montana and Western Washington.

As for that piano thing, I'm not very good, although I enjoy it immensely.  But then, considering that I've only really been playing since April I'm not too bad (flattering friends insist that I have natural ability).  I mark it off an enthusiasm.  As for duets, well I do play a mean duet at chopsticks....

As for reading, I go literally months between books these days.  Just can't get into it, or much of anything else these days besides TV and my music.  Sounds dreadful, don't you agree.  I have a bad case of ennui--

My favorite Mae West line is "When I'm good, I'm very, very good, and when I'm bad I'm TERRIFIC."  What a marvelous line!  The best I can say about my letters is that once I start I just keep going, but I have a hard time starting.  In other words, don't wait for me to write, please.

Take cre, and enjoy your Christmas with your family.  And we're going to have to make a point of getting together for those duets!

P.S.  Please forgive the typing, but you can't blame me for the spelling. I have a poorly educated typewriter.

December 10, 1976 (Note from Grayce)

I'm afraid I didn't get around to the calligraphy I had planned for this year.  Spent too much time on the ornaments could be the reason.  Laziness could also be the reason and a more likely one.  Oh well....maybe next year?

Did you get to visit Longwood Gardens with Diane and Bev as they said you would?  I hope so, but I'm sure they would understand if you couldn't do it financially.

We got an early Christmas gift/late housewarming gift from one of my friends from Villanova who's living in Reno now -- an encyclopedia of the Old West.  It's really a neat book and I've had lots of fun with it so far.  It's called Wild and Woolly and it's by Denis McLoughlin who's British, so reading about the West from his point of view is pretty different!  It's a very un-prosaic encyc., if you'd be interested.

There are 2 guys outside banging on our house.  A few of the pieces of wood trim were slightly warped & they are responsible for 1 y ear.  I have a feeling that this banging will do more harm than good.  They just don't build things the way they used to, I guess!  It's not only the craftsmanship that's not good anymore, it's the materials, too.  They can't wait for the wood to dry properly because of the wood shortages.  Soon, we may all be living in cement structures!  (Or maybe caves again.)  There is a man in this area who has built a cave-like home (it cost him $15,000) & he even has his own energy generator!  But the power company is still going to charge him (even more than when they supplied his power because there's some stupid law about holding power in reserve for people who generate their own!  Individualism may soon be dead in this society, I fear!  It's punished so much!

Well, anyway...we wish you very happy holiday with your family.

December 7, 1976 (Note from Tony)

This will be just a short note to confirm your reservation at the Puritan Lane Hilton for Friday, Dec. 11, 1976 and possibly for Saturday Dec 12-- for a party of two.

I'm sure you'll enjoy our delightful oceanside resort.  Past cards & t-shirts with our insignias will be available at the main desk.  Pleases -- not pets or children.

If you have any special needs which we could arrange to fill please let us know at least two weeks in advance.

December 3, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

The weather here has been so gorgeous -- (knock, knock).  I keep telling myself it can't last another week but keep hoping that it will.  (The ski resorts outside of town are really hurting, though, so I suppose it's awfully selfish of me not to want this to end for the inevitable winter.)  It get awfully cold at night -0- sometimes slightly below zero -- but during the day, glorious sun!  It has not even drizzled for about 2 months.  (I've gotten some really pretty dried weed bouquets.) Some days it's cold, of course -- (20's or below) but some days it goes up to 55 or 60!!!  And it's just perfect.  I've never experienced such an autumn & probably never will again, so I'm trying to keep a clear picture of it.

We got our wood in for the winter this week.  Wood is awfully expensive here.  I suppose because they have to get it from somewhere else -- there being no trees!!!  (Which I miss.)  Brook & 2 of his friends at work were going to go up to a forested area & cut their own down, but the cost of renting a chain saw & trailer was almost the cost of having someone else doing it & delivery it, and they would have had to make 3 trips, so it wasn't really worth it.

People here must have money trees if not the other kind, I think!!  We are the only people in our neighborhood who have only 1 car (regardless of family size, everyone has at least 2-3 cars!)  Also, everyone has -- either a big camper, a boat, a pick-up, a van or all of the above!!!  They clutter up their driveways with all these things I can't imagine why anyone would want all that stuff.  It would drive me crazy, just to have to take care of it.  Also, it's so wasteful.  Every one has their own car. No car pools are even thought of.  When are people going to wise up?  It just sickens me sometime.

Maybe I am too harsh.  I can understand 2 cars -- especially if people work at different times, but very few of the women around here work.  They are much too busy having seven kids each. They're worse than Catholics!!!  And so many men here just assume that i you are a woman, you are just certainly good for nothing else!!!  Maybe I am too sensitive!!!???

Here is an example of the condescending attitude.  I wanted to buy Brook a jigsaw for our anniversary.  So I went (alone, since I wanted to surprise him) to a tool place & was looking at the different types they had.  Immediately, this guy comes up -- all smiles & says (no kidding) "Why would a sweet little girl like you be looking at these saws!"   I told him I was buying a gift.  He just assumed that I'd know nothing about what I wanted & tried to sell me something I didn't want.  I told him I wanted a 2-speed drill, not a variable speed one because I thought the 2-speed one was more stable, although less expensive.  He was surprised that I'd think of that.  But after my getting what I wanted, he did suggest that I bring my husband in & make sure it was the type he'd use before I actually bought it!  Arrgh!!!  Oh well....I'll stop making your beard grow with this subject.

We found the Pocatello Zoo last weekend.  We didn't even know there was one & came upon it by accident.  It's such a neat little place & we had a good time.  I really like the environments that most of hte animals are in.  Some of the cats are in large "cages" and have all these rocks in the background to climb on.  It's a very pretty setting.  I've heard that the Zoo at Idaho Falls is terrible. They have lions in cages that would be for a few birds & they can hardly walk around.

Did you know about Bev's new job at Wyeth Labs?  It's in Westchester & not far from Villanova. As a matter of act, I know the woman who was the librarian there before, but I'm not sure if she's still there or not.  I'll have to ask Bev the name of the person she's succeeding.  Bev will remain in her present apartment til February (or maybe January)& drive the 25 miles. I guess she wants to look around teh area.  Apartments there are very expensive as she will find out soon, so I hope she can get one that fits in with her budget.  Wyeth has a reputation for paying well, though, so maybe it won't be so bad.  The only thing that she's not too pleased with is 2 weeks vacation instead of the 3 she had at Delaware State, but she feels that the fringe benefits will make up for the extra week.  It's so good that she got this job.  I'm sure she'll like it & it seems like it will be more of a challenge for her than the other was.

Well, I suppose that's all for this time.  Have you heard from Barb yet?  I guess you can't wait to see her.  You'll probably have lots to talk about.  How long will she be home?