April 23, 1974 (Letter from Chris)

Sorry it's taken me so long to return your letter, but a number of things have come up which have kept me from sitting down.

First off, I've left my job at the Great Gatsby (where I had been transferred) to find a happier working environment.  For the last 3 weeks, unemployment has been my only occupational activity.  It seems it was easier to get everything done when I was working then it is now.  Between going to unemployment offices -- this office, that office, and job hunting  I put in more work than I did working at the restaurant.

My other time consumer is trying to find an apartment for the summer and fall.  Cheri and I are going to move.  Her mother is moving back to Buffalo, so we have to find separate apartments. This is not all bad however -- since things have been getting very tense at times between Cheri and myself.  I will probably look for a place with Zeb, a friend of mine from Pakistan -- and his girlfriend from Tahiti (or is it Haiti).  When I find where I'm at -- I'll send you the address.  

Right now I'm listening to Beethoven's 6th and my two canaries, that think it's an opera.  They make more noise than any pet I've ever had.  I was going to roast them at first, but I've decided to prove my superiority by tolerating them.

I think you told me two (or was it three) times before that you had broken ties with her.  I just read an article in Cosmo about men like you -- who possess weak, obsessive women until they are no longer needed and then casually discard them until they are needed again.  You always were a monster Paul!

Getting back to reality -- I hope your job this summer -- whether in Boston or N.Y. -- is enjoyable. Either way I'm sure it will be better than a Buffalo summer.

In your letter, you ask about a noticed changed in my social life.  Yes, it seems that all I do is work, go out for a drink, come home, go to sleep, do my odds and ends for 3 or 4 hours, and then start all over again.  My day off is almost always a different combination of the same 5 activities. Visit Cheri's relatives, do a laundry, go to a movie, cook a meal, get stoned and watch TV.  That's about it.  It really gets to be a drag.  My life is so "normal" and "regular", I can predict Cheri's stomach aches, headaches, menstrual cramps.  I am very slowly beginning to break out of that.  I am not strong enough to do it all at once -- I suppose because I don't want to hurt Cheri -- or myself.  Getting separate apartments will be the beginning.  Then if I can find a nice job -- most other problems will work themselves out.

So Paul -- when you get around to it, write again -- let me know where you'll be this summer.

I'll send you my new address as soon as I know it.  Take care.

April 12, 1972 (Letter from Mardi)

Thought since I've got the time, I would drop you a quickie here.  What the hell were you doing home?  Do you want me to show you the letter you wrote telling me you were going to Boston over Easter again?!  Good mind.  Barb was expecting you.

As you may know, we have a new address.  You didn't have to tell my mother Mrs. Olson was a bitch -- I told her we moved because it was less expensive (true! it is!).  The couple in the back of us were even going to take her to conciliation court.  She has got to be a witch in disguise!  We are finally settled though and the place doesn't look bad.  We have to get bedroom furniture like a dresser and a couple big chairs somewhere.

So when are you going to be heading Westward Ho?  Did you find any transportation yet?  Did you talk to Mike while you were home?  I can imagine he's in another state of traumatic panic, since he hasn't heard from the Peace Corps or anything.  My mother said he was even thinking of going to California again.  Maybe he'll get there this year?  All is going as smoothly as it can here.  Bill is going to school at the U at night and may find a parttime job -- so he can keep unemployment!  I'm finished till this fall and our great bowling season? will be over in a couple of more games so I'll have more time to myself?  I'm still waiting to hear from my mother on the plans for Florida.  I'm going if it kills me!  I can use my big return from my income tax -- $52.

I had better close now -- sorry about teh short letter but I'm getting swamped here at work -- my public needs me.  Take care and write.

March 4, 1972 (Letter from Mardi)

Glad to get your letter the other day!  Too bad you're not going to be here for the big Rock and Roll Revival #2.  It's going to be something else.  Get this -- Chubby Checker, Freddy Cannon!!!, Little Richard, Joey Dee and the Starlighters, Jerry Lee Lewis etc -- ra real freak show!  I'd love to see it.

Haven't been able to get to any movies with Andy out of work.  It doesn't look like he'll be able to find a job too soon!  His first big unemployment check Mar 4t\h.

Hi Paul:  How's things in "B", stop by on way to Calif.  Look for new address. Bill.

We are evacuating the premises on or before April 1st.  Andy and I finally just blew up and started birching at the landlady and told her to get fucked and drop dead; what a fruit!  So now it's looking in the want ads for both a job and a place to live -- feel insecure lately?  I'm tempted to just take off for Florida or something.  I hope I have the will power to save at least #200-300 by fall.  If I can swing it I really would like to move to Florida for next winter.  With Mr. S down there I'm sure he can find me a place and send me wants ads -- it's a thought I keep in the back of my mind, mainly because it probably won't happen!   Hope everything goes well for you this summer!  Like Bill said be looking for a new addr in May!!!!
Well I must go and feed my little melon -- at least I didn't have to work today!  Such ecstasy!

Good morning to  you, good morning to you!  How are you this morning......yuk!  No one should be subjected to mornings...One of these years Nelson you'll (maybe) suffer the same fate.  See you soon.

February 10,1972 (Note from Mardi)

Hi honey!  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  Everything is OK here.  Andy still hasn't found a job and things are quite rough right now.  So what's new.  Please write soon.  Our mail is coming by dog sled now -- it's the only thing that can get through.

January 28, 1972 (Letter from Mardi)

It was good to hear from you yesterday!  I had just arrived home after an evening of "bowlerama".  I was going to write to you about three weeks ago and have been in a daze since then. School has me in a fog as usual.  But I actually look forward to classes to give my mind some mental exercise -- I really enjoy it all, which I've been trying to do for a long time.  Now whether I can pass or not will be another problem -- it's about this math class I have.

As usual, my Christmas trip back was uneventful!!!!?  Sure.  You definitely know the circumstances, that fateful Sun night.  I must say I'm sorry if I seemed upset but I was so fuckin pissed about the weather and how to get back I didn't give you a fond farewell.  After you left my mother and I managed to make a dozen phone calls and what I did was get a reservation from Jamestown to Buf and then from Buf to Mpls.   Then we got Tim Lucia to take me to Jamestown.  So just before I was ready to leave Mon afternoon the airport calls and says my flight will be half an hour late getting to Jamestown!  I'll still make my connection in Buf -- get to Jamestown and the flight is 50 min late -- so now I'm thinking "Shit, the planes are not going to make it!"  At 3:05 pm the plans lands -- I'm to be in Buf for my connection at 3:45 sharp -- I made it!  The flight from Buf to Msp was late getting in -- thank god!  Otherwise it would have been a mere five hour wait in the Buffalo airport!!!!  The flight from Buf took 2 hrs. because we were heading into such strong winds!  But I was home and had the ravioli heated by 6:30 pm.  It seems like 1 yr ago already!  I'm glad we got to see Tina and Rusty, that was about the only people I really wanted to see.  I would have like to have seen Mark but I don't have too much to say but hello, how ya doin?  I can't get to Joan, I'll never figure her out.  She seems to do everything backwards to get at her goal.  She doesn't want to go to school but she's going, she wants to settle down...  I'm glad she's going to finish anyway -- I hope.  I really didn't like old Freddy over Memorial Day -- he seemed very defensive towards me -- maybe it's my imagination but Freddy gave Barb the same thing.  I think everyone's "group" has dwindled down!  I don't' think any of us need as many people as we used to.  The few we have are close enough to love and "worry" about.  I'm one for intimate talks and walks, and stupid little tings.  But I like getting out as much as I can with the crowd, not among the crowd.  What am I babbling about?  I was thinking if I can get some money saved I could go out to Boston over Easter too.  It's just a thought though.  I want to get out there and see Barb and all the places.  It would be good a time as any I suppose!

Anderson quit his job!  Neat?  He's been "unemployed" for two weeks.  And boy is the money problem tight 00 just when we were coming out ahead -- he quits!  He was getting screwed on the job anyway.  Monday he finds out about a salesman's job at Grossman's Chevrolet.  IT really would be a nice job because he is so out-going and can really hand out the B.S.  He would have a car then too and other advantages -- like a paycheck!  He's been playing hockey about 4 night a week -- hockey hockey hockey.  He's had 1. a black eye, 2. a bashed up nose, 3. a stick across the mouth, 4. a puck in the arm, 5. a sprained thumb, 6. a cut forehead.  Every time he comes home I'm afraid to answer the door and find out what is broken. David lost 3 teeth last game and big goalie "Andy Anderson" got in a fight but Thank God the referee stopped it.  "He can flu......."  So, if that job doesn't come through it's taxi driving for awhile.  This spring we want to move and get a dog and all. But we are really going to have a bitch moving if we even find a reasonable place.  I want to stay in the same area though. I like the lakes and parks etc., which Bill could care less about!

Everything has been find though all in all!  The weather has been a bitch!  Could you believe -65 with the wind chill!  It had been that way on and off for the past two weeks.  I talked to my mother last week and she continues to talk of going to Florida.  If she does move down, which I am hoping, I am really considering the possibility of moving down there myself!  I love Mpls. and the city but------this weather!  The move wouldn't be for quite awhile yet.  I don't' think it would be a bad move!?

 Well I must close and get busy here.  Take care -- I love ya too honey.

Think we are going to see "Straw Dogs" tonight (or is it Dog?)  I don't want to see the ending.  Oh!  Finally read QBVII it was a good book, not as good as Exodus but good reading.  When it finally came out in paperback I had to read it.