November 3, 1977 (Letter from Mardi)

Thought I'd better write now before things get hectic around here.   Can't believe Mom and ( were saying things like "How big of a turkey should we get this year?" & "What do the kids need for Christmas?"  This year as been like a previous life somewhere -------

Glad to hear your spirits are better!  The extra money will also help!!  Refinancing is the 8th wonder of the world -- that word alone brings back memories.  Now, I hope the "roomie" situation works out.  I think guys have less of a hassle living together than us females.

I cannot believe Barb was discharged.  It couldn't have been four years -- no way.  How long is she & Lar going to stay in Germany?  Will they becoming back to the "states"?

The weather has been decent here & I'm really spoiled!  The next sight of rain or snow is going to make me cry!  We are hastily putting up storm windows & getting windows panes fixed & shooting the caulking gun all over!  Can't wait to see the heating bill.

Your relationship with Julia sounds like one of the best things that could have happened to you now. You've got two kids to get all your childish "activities" out with & a great woman to do all that lovin stuff with.  Hope all things stay "up" for you now!  Sounds like you're on your way.  Those "down periods" are great to look back on & make you more appreciative of all the "mellow" times.

Glad you'll be around for Thanksgiving.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather continues to be dry.  No now anyway.  That trip to NYC could be bad enough!  Good luck.

Wrote Renee a while ago after I got a short note from her.  I can just see Renee & Morrey cleaning, painting & papering -- it must be similar to Abbot & Costello!!

Barb should be leaving in about two weeks or less w/ no money & probably a lot of confusion! Things have been happening to Barb I can't believe -- but let me just say she's hit an all time low! I always thought Barb was really on the ball -- boy, was I wrong!  She hopefully will get back on the ball.  I don't know how she's going to do it.  She is going to live w/ Linda & Kinky I think or stay w/ her girlfriend in Boston, then she plans to get a job back at Children's & go to school.  I fear that she might stay in the same rut she was in before.  She's got to put her nose to the grindstone -- period.  So much said----

Everyone here is fine.  The twins went to Dr. B's yesterday & got their booster shots & today they were pure murder!  I don't blame them.  OUCH!  Ryan is crawling all over now.  Jeremy is moving much slower Y is the best of my three sons -- so far!  Matthew is very "trying" lately.  Of course, he's been good but he's been roughing it up w/ Ryan & trying to tell him anything now is like talking to a brick wall!  I understand his feelings but I can only stand so much!  This too shall pass-----

Oh, if Barb does get out of here next week she'll probably want to ride home w/ you @ Thanksgiving but I guess you'll be NYC bound so I will inform her.  Her friend Ann is getting married that weekend.  Why she doesn't just wait is another thing.  Actually at this point, I'd just wait till Jan 1, 1978 & start the year on a new left but w/ no job I guess she'd better get out of Warren now.

Wel;l, take care & I'll beexpecting to see you over Thanksgiving -- give me a call!

June 20, 1977 (Letter from Barb L)

Just thought I'd drop you a note before falling into bed -- hope your return to Springfield was pleasant.  I have been working my butt off lately in preparation for my week's vacation next week.  I am going to the Cape on Friday the 24th -- arrive in Hyannis 4 p.m. Will stay till July 2nd.  Maybe if you get a chance you can come down -- you will be welcome at Linda &^ Kinky's for sure.  I will be at Linda Johnson's, So Yarmouth, 617/394-1559.  Give me a call or I may call you at work.

I still don't know how I'm getting back.  If you are planning on coming for the 4th weekend -- let me know!  I will take the bus to Springfield and ride with you.  You, me, and the lobsters.  Mardi wants to do the lobsters on Saturday the 2nd.  If I am not back by then I'll put them on the plane in Hyannis & ship them but if we both come back we'll bring them.  Maybe we can talk her into doing it on Sunday.  I guess that's the day Reene was planning on having everybody up to the cottage. Why not switch days?  No big deal but Mardi wants to be sure & get the lobster I guess.

Yesterday we finally got the babies baptized.  I'm Jeremy's godmother & Gino is his godfather. Mardi put on a big spread.  Don't know how she does it all but she really came through with the manicotti and meatballs, etc. etc.

I don't have any other news.  Seems like all I've done is work.  Did go to Lilydale with Rita.  That's a story in itself.  Had a really good experience there.

I got a roommate last week -- Karen Werner.  She's young (20) but not too Warren, ya know?  I like her anyway.  don't know how long she'll stay.  She's having boyfriend troubles & will probably get the hell out of town soon.

Won't we all....

Patsy's boyfriend/future living mate is here this week.  The first couple days he just stayed high & cruised thru the Warren scene.  I'm out of grass -- boo hoo.  It's rough.

Well Paul -- take care & do give me a call sometime about the 4th weekend or just shoot on over to the Cape if the feeling moves you.

See you soon.

P.S.  Guess who called last week -- Terry (of Humboldt St. fame).  I gave her your address -- she's still too shy to call you though.  She's doin fine.

March 16, 1977 (Letter from Mardi)

A very quick note to let you know 5 of us are fine & doing very well.  We were SHOCKED to say the least but it is better we didn't know.  We are very well organized here & everyone has been so helpful.  The twins are identical & we have named then Jeremy Steven & Ryan Glen.  We couldn't agree on middle names so I took my father's & Marti took his father's name.

i will be hibernating till summer & doubt if I'll be out & about too much then, although I do get out of the house 2 or 3 times a week to do little things & visit so it has not been that bad.  Once they start sleeping all night half the battle will be over.  Matthew has been very good which is a blessing!!!  Hope I can get a letter w/ a picture out to you later.

Got a letter from Mike & I've heard from just about everyone!

Take care & drop a line as to what is happening in Springfield.

February 23, 1977 (Letter from Barb L)

An evening trip to Amherst to see this Robert Altman film.


Yes I am writing you a letter on this fine spring-like day.  When the weather changes it's always time to get in touch again.  I always enjoy hearing from you -- your letters are so complete as to everyday life.  It's nice to revel.  Well, I have an event to announce -- ready?  Mardi gave birth to twin boys on Saturday the 19th!  Far out huh?  Baby A and Baby B have since been named Jeremy Glenn and Ryan Stephen.  I don't know which "Marty" was more in shock -- I think everyone was!  It was totally unexpected by all concerned.  Mardi had no trouble though -- she looked good even the same day.  Jeremy was 4 lbs 12 oz & Ryan about 6 1/2.  I went out Sat. Nite w/ Martin & Gino to celebrate (?) -- he still was in shock -- doesn't know whether to buy the new house & spend all that time fixing it up & have Mardi alone w/ three kids for a month or what.  I think Mardi is going to get into this a lot more than she did w/ Matthew.  She's breastfeeding the twins & feels like a first-time mother.  She comes home today & of course Yolanda is taking a couple days off work so things will be under control.

That was the big event of the weekend -- another one was Timmy's graduation from nursing school.  To celebrate all these occasions I gook Monday off as a mental health day.  We don't' get any holidays at all & I thought it was time for one.  Had to go to class that nite anyway.  I probably haven't told you (since I haven't written!) -- I'm taking a class at J.C.C. -- Film Study & Appreciation.  Went & borrowed the money from the bank to take it (duh!).  I really enjoy it & I like to have one activity during the winter.  I have gone from Auto Mechanics to Karate to Films.  You can't say I'm not open-minded!  I've found that the emphasis is more historical & technical than I thought it would be.  We're still on the early films -- Eisenstein, D. W. Griffith, etc.  We probably won't be seeing any new films.  I think our prof. has seen every film that was ever made.  He's very knowledgeable & really nice so it should be a good experience.  Orson Welles is coming to JCC the 30th of March & before that I have to give a report on the "Significance of Citizen Kane". 

What else have I been doing?  Seems like I've been planning a lot of parties!  First, the Youth Group (high school kids) & I gave a party for the workshop people & kids from special classes.  We had a band play & had a big time!  That was in January.  Then I had a party in the apt for Patsy's birthday.  Then I had a shower for Mardi, which turned out fine even though it was not your "traditional" shower.  All we did was eat!  I made all this groovy stuff -- it was fun.  Joan came up from Franklin too. (You know she's expecting also -- this summer?)

I've also been having ups & downs w/ Rick.  We're pretty much broken off normal relations but it's too early to tell which way it will go.  We have a definite difference of opinion in some very important areas.  (Bet you couldn't tell this was coming when you were here -- duh!)  To further keep things moving, Patsy is moving out this coming weekend.  She's moving into Grace's apt & will pay 1/2 of what she pays now.  Her finances are a mess & she's trying to get out of the hole & save money to move back to Minneapolis in June.  So I will be alone for awhile, going broke but I'm sure something will come up & change things.  That's been the pattern for the past year.  As soon as I get settled in one frame of mind everything changes.

Well, I'm at work &^ it's time to go do the mail.  I will do it & eat lunch & finish later.  I want to go out for a while too.  It is so warm out.  I can't believe it.  After the month of January this is like summer!  54!  See you later.

Back at the old job -- which is non-existent right now -- we're in limbo waiting to hear about funding.  For a month I've just been hanging in there.  That's why I'm doing the Grandview mail.  Gives me something to do.  This state of having no work to do is a new one.  If I have no work I'd rather not have a job at all & at least have the time to myself.  There's a meeting on Monday the 28th.  I should know by then what the story is.

It seems like I'm very busy lately outside of work but actually nothing of importance is happening.  The way this winter has been I've hardly been out of town all winter.  My plans outside of the day to day aspect of things are vague.  I know I should be out of Warren before next winter & I will be.  The idea of going back to school in Boston has been considered but not to seriously.  My attention is not on career matters now.  Seems to be focused on the personal.  At times when I see myself clearly I see how much needs to be done just on myself, but you have to live the other aspects of life at the same time too.  Seems that you always get that feeling around mid-winter that nothing will change so you just sit back & watch the tube or make yourself an ice cream sundae & let yourself have a few more cigarettes than you really need.  In order to get more fully into this mood, I bought a TV (used) last week & I've just been grooving out lately on old favorites -- MASH, Sat. nite, etc.  I guess I'm set for the rest of the winter.  Are you coming at Easter?  One visit before summer would be nice.  Th is was definitely not hte winter to be here!  Springfield was probably a hassle but be glad you werent' her w/ no roads.  Call me sometime if y ou get a chance (collect from pay phone) -- # is 726-1860.  Take care & keep writing!

I forgot to tell you "the latest" -- (Oh how gross -- I'm getting into gossip.)

Yolanda has a new boyfriend.  He's from Pgh or Erie & has a camp here.  From what I can tell, it's a really nice relationship & she seems to have perked up considerably!  Ain't love grand.  Even its invitations [?} aren't too bad, for a time.