April 10, 1970 (Letter from Mark)

I can't keep track of who owes letters anymore.  I think I owe you one though.  Can't believe that there are only seven more weeks of this year left.  It seems like it has gone by so fast.

Went to Renee's wedding last weekend.  Was a really nice wedding and she really looked great!  Morrey looked like he'd lost some weight so they really looked good together.  Her grandfather did part of the ceremony, then they had a cocktail hour, a sit down dinner and dancing.  Must have cost her dad a fortune.  Was the only one of the old group there.

I'm trying to get all my plans for the summer.  I've got a really great chance to get a job at the Warren pool which I don't want to do at all and it's only because my parents want me to come home.  But I've decided that I just want to paint all summer and sell some paintings.  I've got about seven for sure buyers and get a few more and it will really make it worthwhile.  It will sure be a lot better than hanging around Warren.  At least, I would be able to come and go as I please.

Have you decided what your plans are for the summer?  At least you've got an apartment in case you decided to hang around Buffalo.

Sherri's going to be spending the summer doing nothing, so it will probably work out great for both of us and get together a lot, cause there sure isn't going to be much around Warren to do?

Have you heard much from Mardi?  Thought that she might have been at Renee's wedding, but guess it was sort of a problem to get there.

Well, not too much more to say.  If you get a chance to make it up here, you're welcome to come up.  Not too sure there are any decent groups this quarter or not.  Write when you get a chance.

January 10, 1970 (Letter from Mark)

Well, I can assure you that Warren is out of my mind.  I try to keep it out of my mind when I'm home.  It was a nice rest -- that's about all I can say for my vacation.  I've got a terrible schedule -- 4 8 o'clocks, plus Saturday classes and in the middle of all that I work about 22 hours a week.  I don't know ho long I'm going to keep it up.  I've had a miserable cold for the past week and I haven't felt like doing anything, but the money is going to help out a lot.

Sorry to hear about your robbery, but I'm sure you're enjoying the new stereo a lot more than an electric typewriter.  I'm sure that I would, but it still was a rotten thing to do though.  A lot of kids had things stolen here at school.  I've checked with my parents to get some of my things insured.

Sherry and I are going to see Rosemary's Baby at the school theater tonight.  I've already seen it, but want to see it again.  Thursday night the New York Rock Ensemble is coming and Jan 28 Three Dog Night.  If you get a chance and have some money you oughta come up.

You remember Marilyn Schirck.  Emily told me she was 7 months pregnant.  She ran around with Penny Thompson.  Just thought I'd put that little piece of information in there.  I'm really sure you could give a damn.

Heard from Mardi and I guess she's still going out to Minneapolis.  Not too much more to say for now.

Write when you get the chance and if you think you can make it Jan 28 you're welcome to come.

November 12, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Glad to hear from you.  It's a Saturday night and I'm staying in.  The Brooklyn Bridge is giving a concert, which I don't particularly care for.  Next weekend the Moody Blues are coming, so sort of saving my money to see them.

Last weekend Leslie Stein came up.  She called Thursday nite and said she had a lift up.  We really had a good time, but she thought that most of my friends were plastic -- which we ended up arguing about.  She is really looking good now -- as a matter of fact -- she is really pretty.  Glad to have her though.  Weekends here are really sort of a bore now.

I've smoked about 3 times a week for the past two weeks, but it's beginning to be nothing and it sort of scares me about the way some of these people are.  One of my friends tried to commit suicide last week while he was stoned and a few of the kids I smoked with last year are dropping acid now.  It's sort of bothering me when I think what their life is turning into.

How would you like to come up next weekend?  The Moody Blues are here and I could get you a date if you wanted one.  But would like to see you if you wanted to come up.  Give me a collect call sometime during the week if you can make it.

I heard from Mardi.  She's leaving for Minneapolis on Tuesday I guess to go out and get a job.  Other than Mardi and you I haven't heard from anyone else from Warren.

I guess that I'm going home for Thanksgiving.  I know my parents will give me grief about my hair cause I decided to let it get long.  My parents are so straight that if it begins to go over your ears, you're automatically transformed into a woman.  Guess that's they way all parents are.

Well, I guess I'll be going for now.  Give me ma call if you think you can make it.  If not, probably see you at Thanksgiving.

October 30, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Sorry I've waited so long to write.  It's been really hectic and I haven't had much of a chance to do much writing this quarter.  It's hard to believe in 3 1/2 weeks I'll be going home for Thanksgiving.  I'm not really too excited about going home.  As a matter of fact, could really care less about home at all.  If I find a place to go , I'll go.  My parents are giving me grief about all sorts of things -- mainly hair cut.  Oh well.

Two weeks the Moody Blues are coming for a concert here at school.  Probably take the same girl that I've been dating since last year.  Nothing really serious though.  Not really ready to get tied down to anyone yet.

So how have things been going for you lately?  Still have the same roommates as last year?

I've smoked about five times since I got here.  Sort of turning into too much of a regular habit though.  So I think I'm going to cut down.  A kid across the hall committed suicide last nite.  It was really something.  It was hard to believe that someone you knew could actually take their own life.

Haven't heard from Mardi or anyone like that.  I guess there's not relationship there anymore, so it doesn't bother me all that much.

Well, I guess I'll go for now.  Write soon.

October 1, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Sitting here in an Art&Civ.  The professor sounds like a tape recorder.  My schedule is really going to be hard this quarter -- 33 hours of classes, plus I've got a 4 hr class on Saturday.  Taking painting & compositions, drawing 2-d, figure drawing, typography, photography, and then art&civ.  The Saturday class really ruins all my weekends so I got a job working in the cafeteria about 15 hours a week to earn some money.  Pay 1.75 an hr. if I save enough I'm going to buy a car and if not I think I'll save and go to Europe next summer.

Had a great summer and I only wish that it wasn't all over.  Had a bore in Warren.  Only saw Marti once, never even saw Tina, mostly ran around with Gayle and Leslie and the new boy who moved across the street from Beverly Hills.  Ended up going to Surf about every other nite and to the movies.  Was really terrible and I'm sort of glad to be back at school.  I got my own room, it's in another new dorm.  Not to bad, most of the other rooms are singles and it sure makes school a blot better when living alone.

So how have things been going with you?  You didn't say too much about what you've been up to.  That was really a close call almost getting busted.  I know how you must have felt.  Had a chance to smoke last week but I decided against it.  I have to take tranquilizers and smoking just didn't seem to me as the right thing to do.

Oh, this lecture is a bore!!!  What a bore this is.  Thank heavens it's only a one hour class.

Hope you get a chance to make it up sometime this quarter.  With you working and my working I guess it would be pretty hard.

Renee is engaged now.  She went around flashing her diamond to everyone.  Really glad for her though.  My address is the same as last year.

August 15, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Boy the summer is almost over now and I've really had a fantastic time.

Last weekend Norman came up to get me.  (A friend from school.)  We went to his house and then to Hampton Beach on the ocean.  Was great!  Blood Sweat and Tears were there the weekend we were there.  As I look back over the whole summer it just looks great!  Some of the things that I've done this summer I never would have thought of doing.

The kids leave Aug 19.  Not too sure yet really what I'll be doing.  But I'll be home sometime around the 25th. School starts the 22nd of Sept. so I'd really like a little time to get ready and visit my parents and sister for awhile.

You sound as though you are getting very impatient for school to start.  Can't really blame y ou.  I know one thing for sure this summer I hate kids.  BOY DO I HATE LITTLE KIDS.

You never said what kind of car you bought?

Well, I don't have much time to really write a litter.  Take care and write when you get a chance.  I'll be home. EEK!!!

P.S.  They're having a color war -- work from 7:30 to 10:00.

July 23, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

I hope you got things straightened out around and got your car.  That's pretty great.  Next year you'll have to get up to RIT sometime.  I hope to have a car by Christmas next year.

Sometimes I wished I was in your place right now.  Here I am way out in the boonies doing nothing, but sometimes I reaqlly do have a pretty good time.  Last week I went on a mt. climbing trip.  Was pretty great!  It is really fantastic to reach the top of a mt.  This past week I rented a bike and went cycling and then went out on a canoe trip.  Some excitement -- right?  NO

Parents weekend was last weekend.  The parents are unbelievably rich.  Most had chauffeur driven cars.  One kids father came in a $22,000 Mercedes.  It was really beautiful.  It was like a Cadillac-Lincoln-Rolls Royce parking lot.  A few of the parents really impressed me the rest I found to be the usual plastic people.

Only 4 weeks left and I'm very determined that I don't want to go back to the same old "cliche".  Hear that Mike has a job at the States Hospital now.  Marti's head is still bruised.  Still can't figure out why Marti came back to Warren.  The Dr. is still in favor of having me come home, but I'm going to struggle through with it.  I'm on five tranquilizers a day now.  I hope it doesn't turn into a crutch.

I found a few people up there to turn on with.  One is the nurse.  It's really unbelievable.  She got some fantastic hash.  It was really dark stuff.  The only thing was that the medicine I'm on and the stuff I smoked gave me a really strange high that I don't care to really experience again until things are really straightened around.

Learning how to sail and went water skiing a few times.  I guess what I have really isn't a job.  It's really a lot of fun.  At least when I think of last summer at Gaughn's that it is a big step forward.

Still haven't heard from Rene.  Don't have her new address.  Send it please if you've got it. Would sort of like to find out what she's up to.  Well take care.  Write when you get the chance.

July 7, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

I really enjoyed your last letter a lot and a great deal of thought went into it.  Your analysis of yourself was very good and I can see how you see it.  I never was in the middle, mainly because I never felt that I really belonged to the group.  And after one year away from them I feel completely apart from them all.  But your letter really had a lot of thought.  And you really explore your true self which is really great.

Camp so far is really great.  The kids are spoiled rich, but it's not too bad.  I've been having trouble again with my insides.  Yesterday, I went into the clinic and I've got an intestinal infection.  They should really invent a plastic digestive system.  But I'm back on my diet, and the Dr. also feels my nerves also have a lot to do with it.  So he has me on tranquilizers and some other pills, but it is really the best I've felt mentally in a long time.  I really feel extremely weak right now.  The Dr. thinks I should go home, but I'm not about ready to leave and go to Warren.

Good luck with all your tests and everything.  Are you going to stay up in Buffalo after the quarter is over?  You'd be a fool to go home.

Went to Hampton Beach my last day off and then to Boston.  Had a really great day.  It was really nice just to be away from the kids for a day.

I've got a connection up here now and a few of us are going to get together and smoke.  We've got to be really careful though. We'll probably do it on our day off.  I know I'd never do it here at the camp.

Well, I guess I'll be going for now.  Only have one hour of free time a day and it's really impossible to write anything.  Write soon.

June 28, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Well here I am at camp now.  It's not too bad.  I'm in a cabin with kids 7 yrs old.  They're not too bad, they they are really hard to discipline.  I'm working in the cabin with a kid from Denmark.  He's not really a kid, but he's got a really cool accent.  In arts and crafts I work with a kid from England.

I've done a lot of thinking about kids and Warren for one and I would like to see you once in awhile when I'm home, but as far as the old group goes well, you might say I'm thought with it.  It had its point one time, but now it's nothing but a rut that stereotype people like Mike need.  Of course I don't want to forget people like Rene and Marti, but the group is just not my bag anymore.

I'm going to New York City as soon as camp is over so I hope I don't have to spend much time in Warren.

It's good to hear how you fell especially about Warren and Mike.  There is one kid on the staff that smokes (grass) and all the others are super strait.  But it's beautiful country and there is a lot of really nice things to paint.  Tomorrow I'm going to Boston for the weekend I guess with a couple kids from camp.  We get one day off a week so it's not that bad and every other nite we get off.

Well, don't' have much time to write.  So I guess I'll go for now.

April 9, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Well, I just got back.  Don't really know if I'm glad or not.  Guess I am.  I'm not really content when I go back to Warren.

It was really great though seeing Mardi and everybody.  I guess Mike and I got along all right, but Mike can really bother me.  Just something about him that makes me feel as though he has to dominate the whole place.  As though we're there cause of him and I really don't like him for it.  Maybe I just imagine it.

I really had a good time Saturday and Friday.  Surf Club is really a lot better than it was last summer.

Before I was even unpacked some kids were here and wanted to know if I wanted some grass, but to me it's only something for the weekends and I'm not about to get hooked on it on the week nights.

You'll have to come up April 25.  There is really a lot going on at school and I think you'd have a good time.  So if you want to come just write cause I'd really like you to come up.

Not too much else has happened since I got back so I guess I"ll go.  Write soon.

March 27, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

You wouldn't believe how busy I've been.  There is only 4 more days left in this quarter.  The work load has sort of been cut down.  I finished my last term paper, so it's really nice just to get rested up.  Wednesday my mother and dad are coming up to get me.  Can hardly wait.  Don't really want to go back to Warren, but I do like to go home every once in awhile.

This weekend Steppenwolf is here, but tickets are $4.50 and my account is getting really low so I don't think that I'll be going.  I might take a bus and go to Karen and Steve's.  She wants me to come over before she has the baby.  I guess afterwards it will be too much trouble.

I got the job I wanted this summer.  I was really excited about the whole thing.  I got a call on Sunday nite.  He told me that I had good recommendations and wanted to know if I still wanted the job.  I thought the camp was in Connecticut, but that was only the winter address, but the camp is in New Hampshire on Lake Sunapee right in the center of the ski area.  The catalogue really shows some great views.  Just the locations are really exciting.  New Hampshire always was my favorite state.  So I'm really looking forward to this summer.  After working in Gaughn's last summer, this summer is really going to be great.  I start June 18 to the end of August.  I hope that I get a chance to see you before I leave.

You'll never guess who I got a letter from.  Mike with all his humblest apologies.  I still don't know quite what to make of it.  I think it's another of Mike's tricks.  I think I'm going to wait awhile before I answer it.  I'm going to try to think of the right thoughts.  Mike isn't that kind of friend I need or want.  I won't be home this summer, or anymore for that matter and I don't see any need to hold on to a cold friendship with Mike.  He's too caught up in society and social status, bragging about everything he's been doing on campus.  Mike I guess needs that kind of stuff to hang on to.  He's still has the bright idea that he is going to be an artist.  It takes more than just a statement (I want to be an artist).  Baldwin-Wallace isn't the greatest art school, either.  I've told you before that Mike lacks a lot to be an artist.  I'm not saying that I'm great, cause I"m far from it, but from working with professional artists for a year I know something of what they demand and how they are.  If Mike would get down off that cloud which he has placed himself on maybe he could be something.

Paul, I would really like you to come up next quarter.  I'll call you some nite when I get back and we could make plans. I can get some marijuana or hash if you want.  From experience it is a lot better than drinking. I think that you would really like the experience, there's no hangover and there is hardly any ways to tell that you have smoked.  Some weekend when there is really a lot going on at school.  This is just between you and I.  I think a lot of people would really be shocked if they knew I smoked.  Mardi and Renee for a couple.

Well I guess that I had better go for now.  I'll be home for two weeks, but you might as well wait until I get back to write, cause I know when I'm home I'll just want to get rested up.

Write when you get the chance.  My phone is 464-3461.  So anytime you're in the mood give me a call.

February 17, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Only have 3 more weeks go to.  Can hardly wait just for the rest.  I've had it.  I've been up very night of this week until 3:00 and it really get sort of tiring, exhausting.  Plus I have to get up at 7:00 every morning.

You wouldn't believe all the assignments the teachers are piling on us.  Some of them are really exciting and I can really get involved with the problems and let myself show, but there 's isn't enough time.  Last week we had to make a wall tapestry or weaving (it took me 42 hours to finish the whole thing), and then I only got a B+ on it.  My mechanical drawing course is the ruffest class I've got, you're probably laughing, but it's a basic for physics and geometry, plus architectural drafting.  Each plate takes about ten house to do.

You know Paul I really liked your last letter.  There was something about it that exposed something that I never knew was there.  You probably know what I mean.  Seemed strange to hear someone else cut up Mike besides myself.  I always felt that I was the only one that couldn't stand the kid.  It always seemed that everyone was always afraid to tell the kid off.  Seemed like everyone just sort of followed him around and did what he wanted to do.  If he wanted to shit on em, everyone else did to.  If Mike never wanted me along, no one else e3vfer stuck up for me, so half the time I never went.  Then it really bothered me, but I've done a lot of growing up and I've had to face a lot of things that I've never had to and now all these things seem odd to me.  College has really helped me a lot, more so the kids at school.  It's strange, but I need to know offbeat people. They always say that artists have something strange about them and all the artists sort of stick together and most of them are pretty strange. Mike was never the right type of person for me.  It seemed in high school everything was all for status -- you had to be in a clique, go to Jamestown, go to all the parties, dances, basketball games, and all that kind of garbage.  Most of the people were really afraid to let their true selves out and that was my problem.  They never did what they really wanted.  Oh well, just talking.

Got a letter from Mardi the other day and she was telling me of her plans to come and see you.  She's homesick, I think.  She's already counting the day.

I went down to my sister's last weekend.  I was going to give you a call, but where they live it's long distance to make a call to Buffalo.  I took the bus on Friday.  I went right by U of B.  It's a nice-looking school.  It really looks sort of Ivy League.

Just had my room inspection.  I got an excellent.  You wouldn't believe my room.  It's really cool.  There is stuff hanging all over.  It's like a museum in a 15 x 12 room.

I agree with you.  Sometimes I really wonder what I'm doing and isn't my life going to be worthless.  But I know that art is really what I want.  It's something that I have become so involved in that I've forgotten all my worries about everything else.  Whatever you do, don't give up.  You've got a lot of brains and a lot of talent.  You are probably twice as smart as I ever was that's for sure.

I've sort of given up drinking for good.  Mainly because my ulcer and because it never made any sense.  I sure remember the summer when you and Mike kept shoving that damn beer down my throat, or trying to get it down.  Just because it was the thing to do when you get to college.  Maybe at a Pa school, but not in the schools in New York or at least the schools in the city.  I didn't smoke this weekend at all (I was at Karen's).  I got some hash for this weekend though.  You probably think I'm turning into some sort of drug addict, but I'm not and never will.  Drugs are much better for a person than alcohol and some day it's going to be legal.  Drugs are really common here -- especially among art students.  I think they could really help you.  When I say drugs I just mean marijuana and hash.  After that forget it -- then it's dangerous.  You get high, but not like alcohol.  It's a great high.  You have a better understanding of the things around you and the best part of them is that you really find yourself.  My one professor said a creative person should smoke marijuana to let the true self show.  It's really helped me a lot.  I'm not using it for an escape like alcohol.  It's something I only do maybe twice a month and it's usually when I'm in a mental conflict with myself and it really helps me to get out.  There are so many fake stories written about drugs, and anyone who finds out someone is on drugs, well that's it for them.  It's not true at all.  I've smoked maybe six times since I got to school.  The first time it never hit me.  But now I can smoke and really turn out some great stuff.  I'll probably smoke once or twice more and quit.  You'll have to try it though Paul.  You're the type of person that would really go for it.  Maybe it will be a down for you though.  Some people it effects different than others.  But you'd really like it.

I trust  you enough that you wont' say anything about this to anyone.  You're the only person from Warren that I've told and you're the only person from Warren I want to know.  Rumors have a way of getting started.  You might tell someone then someone else and pretty soon my parents know and I've had it.  They don't understand any of this and it would just make trouble.  So please don't tell anyone at all. I haven't told Mardi, or anyone else cause I don't think they'd understand.  But friends are for secrets and to be trusted.  I guess I told you cause may be you could understand me a lot better if you knew.  So please it's just between you and I.

I've got another paper due Thursday so I better get busy.  Well write when you get the chance.

February 11, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Seems like it's been months since I heard from someone from Warren.  You're the first person I've got a letter from since I got back I think.

Yea, I went home for a weekend.  Had an all right time.  Just mainly rested up though.  I didn't even get a chance to see Gayle.  Probably won't get home again till Spring recess.  Right now I like school so much I don't care about Warren.

I finally got a single room.  It was really something how I got it.  There was a waiting list of about 500 kids, all I did was get a ruptured ulcer and that was a good enough medical excuse to get one.  It's just great though!!  The room finally looks like the ones in the catalogue.  Has brown carpet and all dark green furniture, has sliding glass doors and a balcony right off lounge.  Like it better than my room at home.

Last weekend had sort of a party in my room.  Just like having my own apartment.  Wilmer Alexander and the Dukes had a concert then we all came back to my room.  Was really great.



You've got to come up sometime. There is still that girl who wants to go out with you.  I don't' think you'd like many of the art majors though.

They had a narcotics raid at school; they caught 4 pushers and about 100 other kids -- was really cool.  In my art class only three didn't get caught including myself.  All the narcs were running all over trying to get them all.  Most of the kids were real heads and a few were main liners.

My old roommate as it turned out was a drug pusher -- marijuana mostly and some hash.  He didn't get busted though.

You wouldn't believe my floor -- almost all the kids are art majors and total head (acid).  The whole hall smells like grass and incense.  It's really cool.  None of the kids are straight, or normal.  You know it's funny, but people that are total straights really bother me now, especially people like Foster.  I hope to hell he writes cause I got a great letter I'd like to write back.

That's one thing great about being in art.  You don't meet all the status conscious people like Mike.  Mike may want to be an artist, but he lacks one thing - the soul and emotion of an artist, which he'll never get.  Mike could never make it as an artist.  The first place he's got no talent and he couldn't adjust to being around other artists cause Mike sucks and I think he's be told by too many people that he did.

I don't know -- it's my mod to cut up Mike.  Just the way I feel now.  I guess now if someone bother me I say so.  I'm not afraid to stick up for myself anymore.  I've settled my mind now and I know what I want from people and what I expect in return and he isn't what I want.

Coming to Niagara Falls on Friday to see Karen.  I was going to stop over last weekend, but I didn't go.  I decided to stay here at school   Had a better time.

I quit drinking.  It's a waste of time and the hangovers aren't worth it.  I'm finding a better substitute.  Doesn't even taste good, beer shits.  I learnt to like it, but hell who wants to gag and get all blotted like a fish, when you can get high in about 10 minutes with no hangovers.

I've got a job this summer.  I think I'll be art instructor for children at a private boys camp in Connecticut.  I think it would be really great and I'd get lot of money for it and it would be lots better than coming back to
Warren.

Well not much more has happened since last heard from you, at least to write about.

Paul, some of the stuff I write.  Please just keep it between you and me.  Rumors start easy and I sure don't want any going around.  Even the things about Mike.  My paranoia traits are showing.  But please just keep it between us and don't write anything and say anything to anyone else.  I trust that you won't.  Write soon.

January 10, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Thought I'd get a letter out before this weekend cause this weekend is really going to be mixed for sure.  Saturday is the day everyone is supposed to move into their new rooms.  It's really going to be a big mess.  I guess I'm moving on Saturday nite, but I don't have any idea who my new roommate is going to be.  Just so it is someone really decent that's all I care about.  The school is finally pretty much done.  The union is finished, the art building is finally almost done, but it's still pretty much mixed-up.

I'm transferring I think to the Philadelphia Art Museum.  It's a really great school and it's small.  All I care about really is art and I would really like it a lot better when all there are is art students around.  Guess I'll have to wait to the end of the year and see how things go around here.

Was really great being home for a month, then to come back here.  Was really depressing for the first few days.  This place would depress anyone I think.

About 500 kids transferred out of here this quarter.  Like about half my friends have left.  My classes only have about 15 kids in now and some only have 8.  The teachers really get to know the students well.  My English teacher is really an acid head.  The first day I didn't believe him.  He talked about tripping and he asked the kids if any of them had ever tripped.  I didn't believe it.

I'm glad Mike and I got to talk New Year's Eve.  At least I understand Mike a lot better now.  I know that Mike and I will never be doing a lot of stuff together anymore.  But when I'm home I'll at least be able to see him and talk to him without worrying about what he's thinking.  It was really both of our faults that we never really got along.  Maybe now that we understand each other, when we're together in a group we can at least get along without any sly and sarcastic remarks.

Well gotta go.  Write soon.

November 8, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Today's Saturday and I had to do my laundry so I thought I'd catch up on my letter writing.  They finally got some laundry machines working around here.  I've been living out of the laundry bag for the past week.

I've only got two more weeks till I get home for Thanksgiving.  I'm going home the Monday before with Mary Jane Miller.  I'm going to have to skip four days of classes to go though, don't know whether I can afford to miss all those days.  I'm liable to change my mind and just go home on Thursday and that's all.

Still haven't heard from Mike.  Don't even know how school's going.  Don't care either. Mike was always a sucky friend anyhow.

Last night I had a blind date to a fraternity party at the Treadway Inn.  Had a great time.  The girl I was with was an upperclassman, but she didn't care and we just danced and drank and had a great time.   Think I'm going to pledge Phi Sigma Kappa.  That's the one I like the best and the guys are really great.  Some of them are in art & design.

Still haven't got moved yet.  We did get bunk beds and desks, so it isn't too bad.  Just hope they hurry and get this place done.  Lots of kids are really getting pissed.  We've had a couple pickets and that kind of stuff, but it hasn't done much good.

Tonight I'm going to 4 frat parties with Flower.  We just go to one and then hop from one to the other.  It's a lot of fun.  By the end of the night you can hardly stand up.

My sister Karen and Steve came up on Tuesday and spent a couple days here.  He was looking for a job up here and he had a few interviews at Xerox and Kodak.  Would really be nice if Karen and them moved here.  Then I could go and visit someone once in awhile.  Cities can be really cold places sometimes.

You'll have to decide when you want to come up.  Sometime after Christmas maybe.  Janice still wants to go out with you.  Keeps asking me when you're coming.

Well, guess I'll go for now.  Write soon and see you in a few weeks.

October 31, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Sure hope you've got caught up on some of your work by now.  I know what it's like.  I missed one day and it was really bad.  We just finished our midterms this past week.  I pulled a few all nighters, felt really bad the next day but got a B on the exam.  All my art professors never give exams, but they really grade our projects hard.  So far I've got about an A in all my art courses, just hope to keep them up there.  It is really hard though.  This weekend I've got four assignments that are due on Monday.  Going to spend at least 24 hours trying to get them all done.  Going over to my cousins on Saturday and going to try to get some of the stuff is really impossible to get anything done around the dorms.

I'm rushing fraternities now, for the next six week.  It really takes up a lot of time for sure.  Just hope I can keep it all up.  Thinking about Phi Sigma Kappa, but haven't definitely decided yet.  If I get too busy I'll have to quit I think.  Hope I don't have to though.  Everynite all the pledges have to study together and it's hard trying to work that way.  Last weekend I went with "Flower".  She's a real hippie, we were both high before going to the party and after the party I got so high I didn't know what I was doing.  My senses were a whole lot stronger and had the greatest feelings.  I really loved it.  This weekend it's practically like a party all weekend.  Look forward to it.  Have a date with an at major, sort of a hippie, but a lot of fun.  Most of them are, so what's there to pick from.  Gave up on Melissa.  She tripped out too much.  She was on acid and all that stuff.  Pot's all right, but that's it.

Only have 3 more weeks till Thanksgiving.  I'm really looking forward to the vacation.  Think I'll just get rested up.  5 more weeks until Christmas vacation.  My mother wants me to get a job, but hell with that idea.  I want a vacation.

Well, guess I'll go.  Write soon and I'll see you at Thanksgiving.

October 17, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Just thought I'd get a letter out before I went home tomorrow.  We've got a three day weekend so I'm taking the bus tomorrow afternoon home.  Really looking forward to it though.  The confusion and especially all the work really gets to you after awhile.

I've got an ulcer now.  I went over to my cousins in Rochester Saturday and all Sunday and Saturday night I had an ulcer rupture and it was bad.  Threw up blood all night and had to go to the hospital.  They took x-rays and put me on a really strict diet.  No pizza, pop, chocolate, potato chips, all the good food I can't eat anymore.  Really bad though cause when you eat in the cafeteria you don't really have to much food to choose from.  Oh well guess I'll just have to make the best of it, like everything else here.

The work has got me so bogged down.  I don't believe all of the projects they give us and they are terrifically hard.  Really hard sometimes to think of ideas especially when everything has to be creative.  A project I would like to spend three weeks on I've got only three days to do it.  It's no wonder all the art majors are crazy the way they push us for creativity in all our stuff.  We've got graded on our first two weeks -- so far I've got a 3.5 average -- which is a B+ so it's not too bad, the rate I'm going, I don't think I'll be able to stand it by the end of the quarter.  I'm living on pep pills to keep me awake.   I've only got about 4 hours sleep for this past week a night.

My roommates have to be the biggest bastards on campus.  They're such sucks that I can't even stand to walk in the room at all.  They never do a thing, go to bed at 8:30 cause they're just too tired to stay up.  They hate modern music, they hate to have the radio on, they hate girls, they hate modern art, they're religious fanatics, don't drink, don't care about frats, turn lights out at 7:30.  They're such pricks I can't stand them.  I'm always working in the girls dorm.  That's where Melissa always works so I usually work with her.  But it is really bad trying to go to your room and do something you just can't do it.  I've always got to leave and go someplace else to work.  There is only about three weeks left till they move us and I put my name in for a single, or an art major.  If I can't have an art major then I want a single.  After these bastards I want a single.

Friday night went to a pot party.  Wasn't really that bad.  I thought most of the kids were very disgusting and very immature.  Especially the way they acted.  But a reefer has the greatest smell especially when the whole room is filled with smoke.  It's almost as though the whole place is filled with incense.  I didn't smoke any though.  It isn't harmful, but some of the effects aren't anything like alcohol.  It's like a great high feeling, but there's no sickness or vomiting.  Right now I don't think I want to and I hope I stick with it.  There is really a lot of that that goes on up here especially with the art majors, but there is one thing I know I never want to get on dope, or anything like that ever.

Heard from Mardi last week.  She likes school a lot and she has a job, but I think it is really a hard adjustment for her in Minneapolis.

Still haven't heard from Mike, but I could really give a damn.  Don't need any more friends like him.  That's one thing I learnt up here is how to pick friends and if I don't like someone don't even speak to them, or I tell them what I think of them.  I'm not about to take any shit like I had to take sometimes last year.

How would you like to come up for a weekend sometime?  It only costs about $2.50 by bus.  I have some really beautiful girls in art & design that would really like to go out with you.  They wanted to see my senior pictures so I was showing them all and they saw yours.  I described you to them and they really want me to have you up so they can go out with you.  The one girl who really wants to go out with you is in art.  She has blond hair (natural whitish), blue eyes, she is really beautiful -- she was a debutante and she comes from a very well-to-do family but you would have a great time with her.  She's Melissa's roommate.  So just write and tell me when you want to come if you do, but wait till I get my permanent room.  But I know you'd really like her.

Mary Jane Miller is going to transfer.  She really can't stand this place so she's going to leave.  Really can't blame her.  This mess is really getting to much.  They keep having pickets all the time for these problems and stuff we're supposed to have but don't have.  We're going to get a 30% refund though for all this confusion.  We still don't have any heat and most of the places still no hot water.  Just about all the conveniences you would like aren't ready.

Sounds as though you're really bogged down.  Probably worse than me.  I'm really glad I don't have to sit and study math and chemistry and all that stuff.  You've really picked a ruff course as far as studying and testing and all that stuff.  Sure hope you keep the grades up and not flunk out, so do I.

Well, I guess I better go to bed before my sucking roommates start yelling at me to turn out my light.  Wouldn't want them to get made or anything.  Well write soon.

P.S.  My roommates masturbate every night.  You can hear and see them bouncing up and down as though they were laying on a girl and they breathe really deep as though they're fucking the pillow.  They must think I'm blind as a bat if they think I can't see them, or hear them.  I sit over in bed and have to hold my nose to keep from laughing out loud.  How's that for a couple of dillies?

October 10, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

You'll never guess what I did.  I went to a barber and had my hair styled.  I look like Mia Farrow with blond hair.  I still can't believe I did it.  My hair is about 1 inch long everyplace on my head.  It's blondish brown -- and everyone says it's Mia Farrow of Man from Uncle.  I think I look like a skinned rat.  Paid $15 to get it done.  Just wish you could see it -- funny is the word.  Next week I'll be in Buffalo on Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00.  I'm going home Thursday after classes because we've got a three day weekend.  So I guess I'll go home for a visit.  My mother will be shocked out of her mind when she sees me.  She probably won't even recognize me at all.

This weekend Aretha Franklin is playing.  I'm going to miss it though.  I'm going over to my cousins in Rochester for the weekend.  Just hope I can get something done over there.  I need more room to work which I sure don't have here so I hope I can get a lot of my projects done if I work over there.

The work I have to do takes forever to do and they give us so much to do.  They're trying to increase our output and creativity.  I've done more in three weeks than I've done all last year.  Really is a lot to do.  Some of it is very nerve wracking trying to do it.  I'm becoming very nervous and jittery, too.  My hands never quit shaking.  I could really use a rest.  Like I only get 4 or 5 hours nite sleep which isn't good, and I've lost 15 lbs. so imagine what I look like.

Really sounds as though you're having a great time.  At least you've got some cool roommates.  I get to pick my roommates for next quarter, haven't really decided who to pick yet though.

October 3, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Sounds like you're having a great time at school.  I really do like school now.  Now that I've met hundreds of kids and we've all sort of formed our own groups and we have the greatest times.  This past weekend I went to the American Breed concert and the Friend & Love.  Next week Simon & Garfunkel are coming and the Union Gap on Oct 19.  I hope to get a chance to see them.

I'm dating Melissa Beard now.  She is in art & design.  She has eyes like Liz Taylor and hair about 4 ft. long.  It is really beautiful.  She has an apartment in Greenwich Village.  Her parents invited me to come to New York City the first weekend in November.  I'd really like to go.  Her parents are very well off and she's gone to a private girl school all her life.  We think so much alike we could almost be twins the way we think.  She's smoked pot and all that, but she isn't anything like a hippy.  She's a yippy - that's what they call a hippy that dresses nice.  She is really sharp though.  You'd really like her.

I've had two chances to smoke pot, but I haven't yet and I don't think I will.  I'll have to learn more about it.

Guess what?  I've learnt to like beer finally.  I went to a party Friday and all they had was beer.  I drank it and it didn't really taste bad.  Saturday after the concert I went to a beer blast.  It was pretty good.  I don't know why I've hated it all this time, it's really isn't' that bad.

Melissa and I are going drinking Friday and Saturday to a beer party.  They finally got buses going into town every hour so it really isn't that bad trying to get into town.

My bank book is getting low from all the art supplies I have to buy:  $250 for one quarter.  I don't believe all the stuff I have to carry around.  It is really bad it must weigh at least 70 pounds.  The homework is ruff.  The problems they give us are really tuff to figure out and I spent about 12 hours a day in classes, or in my work working on art.  If I can make it through this course I know I shouldn't have too much trouble finding a job.  Sure keeps me bogged down though.  This weekend I have to do a precision drawing of a parking lot full of cars, a precision drawing of a Victorian house form life, I have to build a sculpture of geometric shape and do a name composition.  They all have to be very precise and in good composition.  I'll probably spend all day Sat and Sun trying to get it all done.  If you get one project behind you're sunk.  The competition is really ruff.  Some of the kids are in art scholarship from N. Y. City, and Philadelphia and they're fabulous artists.  It's surprising that I even got in.  My art professors told me that everything I've done so far has been done as though it will be a masterpiece, which was a compliment and did give me a little boost.  Don't think I'll be able to get home till Thanksgiving cause I'll be so busy.

My new roommates are real dudes.  I'm never in my room so I don't have to spend much time with them at all.  I'm always at the girls dorm, or everyone else's.  They go to bed at 8 o'clock, don't drink, hate girls, religious fanatics.  They had a big fight because I don't go to mass and I'm not even Catholic.  The one stinks and the other reads his Catholic book before going to bed.  Real bad.  The two are here permanent, but I should be moved out real soon I hope.  I only have 4 or 5 weeks left in this room.  The one I call pencil sharpener and the other Father Enos.  One smells like a stinky old pencil.  They are clean and tidy, but I don't like them at all.  I all ready have my next roommate picked out.  He's in art & design and we should really get along great.

Have you heard from Mike lately?  He's the only one I haven't heard from since I got here.  Oh well, don't really care if he doesn't I guess.

September 25, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Well things seem to be looking a whole lot better now than they were a few weeks ago.  I guess it was just the adjustment and confusion and it took awhile to get used to it.  I'm in my permanent room now until my final permanent room is done.  Which should be by Thanksgiving.  There is three in a room.  My roommates are normal kids (introverts).  I haven't seen them except at night.

I've really met loads and loads of kids.  I have a date Saturday night to see the American Breed with an art student.  She's a model with hair like Mia Farrow.  She's nice but very different as I find all art majors are. I'm really finding that it is an honor to be an art major (painting and sculpture at this school) there are only 125 of us.  Everyone of my friends is in art and design.  There is only about 500 girls on campus now and of this 70 of 125 are art majors.  Which makes it really nice.  All the boys are hippies.  All of the art kids stick together.  It is really hard for me to associate with kids other than art & design.  Most of the kids consider the art kids as unique, truly individuals, and for the most part hippie-like thinking.  I eat with all these kids and do everything with them.  My two best friends are hippies.  One is form London, England and the other from New York City.  At dinner all the art majors sit together and talk about anything they feel like.  Some are into pot and others aren't.  I've expressed my views on smoking and they respect my views and really understand.  It's really surprising how these kids think and fell about everything.  They are considerate and most of them well bred.  Most of them dress mod, or really grubby.  I at least think they've accepted me for the way I am now and the way I dress.  Their clothes are nothing like what you find in Warren, for the most part they are from wealthy families.  But I like these kids and I'm starting to become very content with these kids.

My classes are starting tomorrow at 7:45 - Western Civilization and then I'm downtown every day till 5:00.  The art students are the only ones that have any classes downtown so this is really going to be great.  My classes are going to be really hard, but to me some of the problems are really challenges.  The push for creativeness and originality is really tough.  All the color scales we have to create, paint, and use.  Figure drawing, 3-d design, 2-d design, abstract formations, and on and on re the list of the classes I'll be taking.  Some of them are really over my head.

It sounds as though you are really having a good time at school.  The dates and everything.  Your roommates seem really great and you probably have a great time with them.  It sure sounds as though you have a great time of it [unintelligible] and everything.  There isn't too much drinking so far because it is really far to go to a bar.  Starting next week they'll have buses into town at night.

Sounds as though you're really having a lot of dates.  Lots of kids up here have friends that go to the University of Buffalo.  I envy you for being there instead of here.   You're at least with friends you've been used to all your life.  That's more than I've got.  It is really hard on me mentally (if you only knew) to know that these kids are going to be my best friends all through school.

Well, at least I'm not in the sea of depression I was before.  I really do like school and everything.  I'm becoming more and more serious about my work and trying hard to become creative and I just hope I can succeed.  Write soon.