August 20, 1977 (Letter from Cheryl)

Sittin' here spacing out, & was writin' letters to everyone so here I am writing to you.  It's been almost a month since I heard from you, longer since I wrote you.  Hope this finds you in good health, and stayin' loaded and not working to hard.

We're all doin great here.  Shorts still works in the mine, and still likes it; the kids are getting' ready to go back to school the 29th, and I'm looking forward to alot of time on my hands, come then.  Don't really know if I'm gonna like it or not tho.  Guess I have no choice tho.  I'll figure something out.

We went to Billings about oa month ago, then last wk.end we went to Missoula.  Had a really great time & saw "Star Wars" which is really a good movie, bought some albums & went to the "top Hat" & heard a really good country band.  Saw my aunt & uncle & one of my cousins which I hadn't seen in over a year.  She'd gotten married since I saw her last.  Marriage seems to change people for some reason.

My brother popped in about 3 wks ago and it sure was good to see him.  He's gonna try and get on in the mine, which he'll probably do, cuz he's worked there before and all the college kids are quitting next wk.  Summer is always a good time for me.  People come to see us or we go to see them.  Too bad it's so short.

We're going to Banff National Park over Labor Day and I can hardly wait.  None of us have been to this part of Canada, and from what I here it's really beautiful up there.  A lot of mountains and big trees.  Should be a good trip.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Our pot crop is really bad.  I've had it planted since May and it isn't even 3 foot high yet.  We've had a really hot summer, too, but from all the other plants & fruit trees up here on the hill; it seems like they only grow & produce every other year.  So, if that's the case, next year we'll have one hell of a good crop.  At least I Hope so.  Not that I'd wanta live in the big city but from what you say, your crop is doin' really good.  Wish I had some of your green thumb on pot.  The dope situation out here is really good the past 2 weeks as far as speed.  There's been a lot of it around, and for a good price, but we try and stay away from it any more.  Well, as much as we can.  Mostly just on the wk.days.  The weekends get pretty wild.  It's one hell of a party and a lot of fun.

Haven't heard from George in a long time, but I know from his ma, he's still in the joint & not doin so well.  Guess the warden sent his ma a letter with a bunch of questions, so she wrote back and they sent the answers to the shrink there.  They think he's crazy.  He is, but it's not good for any one to know it but his family.  Oh well, such is life.

Was glad to hear you had such a good time with all your people & friends.  Too bad you couldn't take a long vacation & come out here to visit.  It isn't nothing like the big city, but it's nice & mellow & the people are great.  I'd like to see you again, one of these days.

Well, we're goin' to visit somne friends so I'm gonna go for now.  Take care of yourself and write soon.

Just out of curisoity's sake, how much does pot go for?  An ounze (the spelling's not right) it's goin for $60 here for Columbian.

June 13, 1977 (Letter from Cheryl)

Sittin here waitin for the old man to come home from work so I thought I'd drop ya a few lines. Haven't wrote in a long time, so I hope your still at the same place.

So how have you been doin?  Good I hope.  Have you gotten any time off from your work since I last heard from you?  It's the time of year for it.  I wish I could go hitching some place, but the urge will pass.

What's ya do over Memorial Day wk. end?  We went to this place called Camp Tuffet in Mont.  It's on Lake Mary Ronan. Sure was pretty up there.  Caught alot of salmon & they sure were good. Then on the way back we went threw the buffalo range.  Saw alot of em & got alot of good pictures.  Kids sure got a big kick out of it all.

Last wk. end was the annual "Lead Creek Derby Days" carnival & it was wild.  For 3 days there's a carnival, fireworks & a lot of drunk crazy partying people.  It really brings the people out of the walls.  We spent about $60 on rides, games & food but had one hell of a time.  Was drunk the hole time.  Not stumbling drunk, just fun drunk.  But I'm glad it only comes once a year.

Well I finally heard from George last month.  He got busted for 1st degree burglary in Portland. Guess they dropped the charges & just charged him with parole violation.  Got a questionnaire from him today -- he said that everyone thinks hell only get a yr. to 18 mo. but I bet he's there alot longer.  They've got the new prison all finished now too.  He had a lady in Portland & had been with her for a year almost.  He said he don't think she'll wait for him.  I don't either, not being that far away.  Unless you live right in Deer Lodge it's hard to wait a long period of time for someone, no matter how long you've been with em.  At least me & George are still friends.  I just wish he'd of kept his shit tog. & out of the joint.

Have you got any pot plants this year?  I've got about 60 up & they're all doin pretty good.  Have had alot of rain & hot humid weather & they really like that.  Just hope they don't get ripped off this year.  They have a habit of disappearing the past 2 yrs.  Is there alot of speed back there?  Boy I wish I had some.  For awhile it was pretty heavy but now no one has got any. I didn't say that cuz I wanted you to send some -- that'd be stupid.  I was just curious.  I really don't need it anyway, cuz we're trying to have a baby.  Been tryin for a couple months but nothing so far.  Maybe this month.

Some people we use to live with are back in Conn.  Jeannie hadn't seen her people for 5 yrs & when she left it was just a little town.  Now I guess it's really big.  She don't like it too well either, but they don't have gas money to come back.  I'd sure hat to be stuck back there.

Well, Paul, I've gotta go.  Don't think I'm gonna make it up till he gets here.  He's on nite shift for 2 wks & stayin' up from 8:00 A.M. til 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. ya get a little tired.  So take care & write soon & let me know how your doin.  Bye for now.