June 30, 1976 (Letter from Diane)

Photo credit:  Production Cars

Finally some rest and some time to myself!  I've been doing a great imitation of the headless chicken for about a month now and am paying the price -- literally & figuratively.  But things are getting back to normal.

This merry-go-round started Memorial Day weekend with a trip home.  My sister returned with me for a change of scene and to help me prepare for an influx of relatives the next weekend. I decided to finally buy a dining room set so everyone could eat.  Did you ever try to have furniture delivered within three days of purchase?  Not easy.  But we did it and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The next weekend I went to the shore for the first time this season & it was miserable.  The wind was very strong and it stuck to the suntan lotion on everyone's skin.  We did see the flower show there so the trip wasn't a total loss.

Then came the big excitement.  My father called to tell me that the car dealership he works for got in a slightly used car in great shape with the equipment I wanted and was I interested?  I was, so I went home, looked it over & bought it.  It's gorgeous.  It's a 1975 Matador coupe with a red body & a cream vinyl roof.  The interior is black with white bucket seats and it's air conditioned!  The thought of all those car payments is scary but the price was extremely reasonable.  Unforgettably, it doesn't get the gas mileage the Ford did and it has a smaller tank.  Not realizing this, I nearly ran out of gas on the Schuykill Expressway.  Total panic!  But I managed to get to a gas station in time, thank God!

On Mon., my roommate from Penn State and her husband came for a few days.  He's going to Fordham in the fall and they're apartment-hunting.  They left Wed  and Fri., more houseguests arrived -- five, in fact.  A friend of mine from Altoona Public Library, two of her children and two of their friends stopped in route to NYC and on Sat., we left for the Big Apple.  The purpose of all this activity was to attend the ballet starring Margot Forteyn.  The whole trip, particularly the ballet, was great!  I came back feeling like I had two weeks vacation under my belt.  Over the 4th, I'll be home again, my sister will be down for the Elton John concert next week, it's Baltimore after that and then -- Pittsburgh!  Bev and I are planning to go the weekend of the 17th (if Brook doesn't have to go househunting in Idaho then.)  I really hope that you can join us there.  Bev wants to go to Poli's.  Remember when you, Bill Louden, Grayce & I went there and the waitress was so horrified when we asked for separate checks?   Maybe Woman's Lib has made more of an impression by now.  So, please try to wrangle some time off.

I'm happy that you're finding your job likeable.  (likable?)  Incidentally, I'm sorry to have let my ignorance of dictionary-making show.  But then, it's difficult to know everything -- not to mention boring.  It would be terrible to live without learning.

Enough philosophy.  I'm going to wash the dishes & soak my feet.  That's the kind of thrilling evening I'm having between weekends -- repairing the damage and resting up.

See you in Pittsburgh?

June 16, 1976 (Letter from Larry)

It's a rainy nite.  We've needed the rain for about two weeks.  Everything was so dry.

I just got home from a retirement party for a lady who worked at Printz.  Dale & I went.  We stuffed ourselves.  We had a real good time.

The family from Sweden was here last week.  They were fun to be with.  The girls gave me their address in Stockholm.  I do plan on visiting them.

I received my first issue of New Times.  I read it cover to cover.

I enjoy my job now more than ever.  I'm getting the feel of everything.

I visit with Mrs. Crary a lot.  Sometimes we sit and talk for hours.  She's very interesting.

I was planning on having another garden on Quaker Rd. but I couldn't find enough time to get up there and do some work.   With my own garden, yard work, and the extra work at Fort Myers I don't have time for much else.  I like being busy, I'm happiest when I'm working.

Not much going on in Warren that you'd be interested in.

June 11, 1976 (Letter from Renee)

I know that your letter to me must have been over a month ago, and I am quite tardy in responding. I have been super busy with the closing weeks of school, final exams and such.  Today was my last day and now I am off for the summer.  Already I've been home for 1/2 hour and I am wondering where to begin and what to do with myself.  When I came home and saw that there were no clean clothes for the weekend -- I knew that I had found my niche for the summer - HOUSEWIFE -- and I really don't mind that title a bit.

It has been a very long and strenuous and frustrating school year for me.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the kids -- and always will -- but the administration in our school is piss poor (you should excuse the expression) and it has made the morale on the faculty reach a new record of all time low!  If schools had no administrators I am convinced we would survive, much less improve.  Well, it's all over now and am I glad!  Morrey and I have come to the decision that next year will be my last year teaching at my school.  I do not intend to quit working (I'd go made if I didn't), but I would like to open other doors and other channels which I haven't yet discovered.  I am seriously thinking of starting my own tutoring "program" as an alternative to classroom teaching, and I'm pretty sure that I can get plenty of kids from the system where I teach -- so we'll wit and see what happens.  Morrey is forging ahead with his job as a salesman.  He just recently went on commission so we'll either starve or eat caviar!  He's really happy in what he's doing and I am pleased about that.  We are hoping to be able to save enough money by next spring to buy a house, but I am super particular and I think it'll take us awhile to find the right place.  I have champagne taste with a beer bottle income!  I am very happy with my lot in life and I certainly have no complaints.  Morrey and I have a strong marriage and we are our own best friends which I feel good about.

I started going to Weight Watchers in January and so far I've lost 43 lbs.  I have another 60 to go but I think I'll make it.  I hope to be 126 lbs or skinny -- whichever comes first!  I really am proud of myself for doing it since I didn't think I would have the willpower to make it -- but I love the diet and don't feel that I am depriving myself of anything by sticking to it, in fact, I'm gaining a lot of confidence in myself and I feel better about myself for doing it.  I always wonder why I didn't try and succeed in losing weight before -- but I guess I just wasn't ready for it.  Morrey is already saving up a bundle so I can buy a complete new wardrobe next year -- and I can hardly wait for the day when I can go to the store  try something on off the rack in a "regular" size, and take it home with me!

We haven't made a whole lot of plans for the summer.  I doubt we'll take any sore of "vacation" since the summer is Morrey's busiest sales time and we need to "make hay while the sun shines." We will definitely spend a number of weekends at the cottage in Warren cause 1: it's cheap, and 2) we both enjoy being there so much.  I particularly enjoy taking a fun vacation during the school year vacations.  We've been going to Las Vegas twice in the last 1 1/2 years, and given the chance we'll probably go out there again this winter.

We're planning on going to Chicago over the 4th of July weekend to see my brother.  Hopefully, my parents can get away for a little while and go with us. My grandfather's health is failing and he cannot be left alone for more than a couple hours at a time, so if my aunt comes to stay with him for a while then they can come here to see us.

How do you like your new job?  Are things going well with you?  What do you hear from the "old gang" of ours.  I can't believe that next year will be our 10th year high school reunion.  How times does indeed fly by!

Well Paul, my laundry needs attention so I'll close for now.  Please write back when you have a chance.  Your letters are always so enjoyable for me.  Take care and be well.

June 4, 1976 (Letter from Harriet)

I was just sitting quietly under a tree, thinking of things, and my thoughts turned to you.  Tony told me that yo are really happy in Springfield -- that's so nice to hear.  I've never been in Springfield, but Massachusetts, especially the Berkshire Mountains, holds a special place in my heart.

I've been living on a farm way out in the hills, and it's making me feel great.  Living in Vestal, those few months, I really missed being out in the country.  I've definitely realized that this way of life is "home" for me.  I hope that when I eventually settle down, that a home with some land fits into the picture.

I've been spending my days taking kids on field trips, and my skin is starting to turn brown.  I will be teaching two more weeks, and then, hopefully, I will take a 5 wk. course in Geology.  I planned to go to school t=for that course in NYC and live with my parents, but City University was closed due to lack of funds.  There are going to be a lot of angry students in NYC if it doesn't reopen. Anyway, I'm going to have a lot of 3 days weekends and plan to spend a nice, lazy summer.  I'm going to try to come camping in Mass. sometime soon -- I want to go to Tanglewood.  Maybe I'll come to see you then. Stay happy.

May 29, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

After re-reading you letter, I had a strange feeling that I was not even remotely acquainted with the writer.  I felt as though I were reading someone else's mail -- but this lasted for only the quickest moment.  Mulling this over, I seem to come to no conclusions about what it could mean -- none that seem valid or even reasonable to me, anyway.  Maybe I am just in another of my many peculiar moods?  Any thoughts?

I had heard about Immroth's death and meant to tell you in my last letter , but my mind must have been in limbo when I wrote the letter because it completely escaped me until after I mailed it.  (I don't seem to be very coordinated today.)  It seems such a waste that he died when he was just getting things settled more.

The concept (& feeling) of death has been on my mind quite a bit these past few days, because I feel that I had a narrow escape myself on Sunday.  We went whitewater rafting as planned.  I had an unexplainable feeling of apprehension (which was completely out of proportion to a normal situation  because I usually love to do anything connected with water) all week before we went.  But I just told myself that I was being foolish.

The first few rapids we went over were really exciting -- an incredible experience.  Then we got to one that we couldn't quite control.  (There were 4 in a raft & we didn't have a guide, or anything) it all happened so quickly I can't even remember falling in the water.  But the water currents are so full of force, you are simply pushed the more you fight, the more the current pushes you around.  I don't know how long I was without oxygen, but it seemed quite long.  I even remember thinking I was definitely going to die & trying to resign myself to it.  I felt badly because I didn't get to say goodbye to Brook, but I remember hoping he wasn't going to drown too.  After thinking this, my head reached the surface & I was in calmer water, but was still not able to swim, or control the direction I was going in anyway.  I immediately saw Brook and the other guy from our raft, but neither were close to me at all.  I still could not breathe, and I began to hyperventilate, I just couldn't seem to get any oxygen.  I finally had enough presence of mind to cover my mouth with my hand & breathe in CO2 which helped a lot, but I was in deep water & it was really hard to get to shore because of the water's pull.  Luckily, there was a guy fly fishing not too far from me.  He had on wading pants & he came over as far as he could & I came over to shore.  The poor guy had to carry me out because my legs just wouldn't stand up.  By the time Brook, John, & Sandy were back at the raft, and they came over to get me, I wasn't thrilled about getting on again (you don't get to get in, you have to sit on the tube & there's nothing to hold onto!) but we had to go a little while longer to get to a stopping point.   At the stopping point, Brook fell out again, but it wasn't a bad spot so he wasn't too upset.  It was the most exhausting experience I've ever been through in my life.  I got out with the other 2 girls at the midpoint & all the guys went the rest of the way together.  They could control the rafts a lot better than we could, so they didn't fall in anymore.  The whole thing is supposed to take 4 hours, but that day it only took 3 because the river was so fast and treacherous.  I don't think I'll ever do it again, although it was a nice feeling to do it once.  At the beginning of the trip, I said a silent prayer to Neptune.  I suppose he heard me.

I have slept (probably to forget the experience!) an incredible number of hours since we got home on Sunday night -- so has Brook.  That first spill really affected him, too.  I think he was worried about me, because the first thing I said to him after I got my breath was "I thought I died".  (He thought he was going to die, too.)  We both have had slight fevers for abt. 3 days also.  I'm not so sure it was worth all this!  I'm sorry I keep talking about it, but it really made an impression!

As for exploring the psyche, for which you asked fresh ideas -- I don't think I have anything new to give.  I suppose everyone has their own methods though.  Usually I find that trying to explore makes the knowledge elusive, but if I just drift along in my usual way, keeping myself as open as I can, intuitive knowledge seeps in.  Sometimes, it seems to come directly, and sometimes, no, it just kind of sneaks up on me.

 I have a friend who has been in analysis for 2 years.  Since I never could afford to be (and I'm also not sure I'd want to be) I like to hear little tidbits about her self-discoveries.  (I don't know if I could stand all that concentrated knowledge about my horrible self!)  Usually, I like to take her little insights and file them way mentally for my own use in situations later on.   I file them under, "Wacko, heal thyself!"  The self-discoveries seem to center around 3 emotions -- fear, anger, guilt.  It seems we are to ask ourselves constantly why am I afraid?  Why am I angry?  Why do I feel guilty?  As for fear, I think sometimes it's a protection.  Regina says absolutely NO!  (It's just an impediment to a fuller life.)  What do you think?  I think we need a few impediments.  My philosophy seminar entitled FREEDOM succeeded unconvincing me that it doesn't really exist! (But my seminar on Death did not have the same effect!)  I suppose there are degrees of freedom. Everyone has their own idea of what a cage is!  I know that all this is strictly incoherent, but since my ideas on these things are only nebulous (at best, even)_, I guess they really aren't in a state to be conveyed?  (But, of course, I won't be quiet yet!)  As for anger, I feel that I should really repress that -- no matter what anyone says.  I hate to fight with people.  Guilt seems tied up with this in a complicated way, too.  Regina says her shrink tells her to "forgive herself", and I can see that it's necessary to an extent -- just so you can live with yourself, but I don't think it should be too automatic.

Oh well, I've rambled on long enough, I think.  Take care of Tweety.

P.S.  I wish I could get more interested in non-fiction sometimes, but some of it strikes me as less real than fiction.  Non-fiction appears flawed to me in that whatever reality it communicates is diffused by "the facts" impeding the essence.

May 25, 1976 (Letter from Larry)

Thank you for the birthday present -- even though I haven't received an issue yet   Mom told me it was New Times.  I wanted to get a subscription myself but didn't want to spend the money.

I bought a dresser today for $15.  I got it at the Watson Home.  It's big so it will hold some of the clothes I had laying on a chair for almost a year.

I wish there ere a few good FM station here to choose from.  Right now I am listening to WBNY.  It's the easy listening station next to QFM.

I've been doing yardwork after supper but tonight it is raining so it gives me a chance to write some letters.

I watched the Ali-Duran fight last night with Mrs. Crary.  I've been going in to see her two or three nights a week.  I like being with her and she enjoys having the company.  She gets lonely having to be by herself all night.

That's all for now.

May 18, 1976 (Letter from Diane)

Bet you thought that since you hadn't written for so long, I'd answer quickly!  Well, I tried, obviously unsuccessfully, but a lifetime of procrastination cannot be turned so easily aside.

Congratulations on the new job!  It sounds very interesting.  And people tell me that Mass. is a beautiful state.  Most of all, I envy your lunch hour and a quarter, particularly when vying with the Bicen. crowds for a waitress' attention.  The size of the staff there surprises me - -writing and revising dictionaries must take more than 32 people.  Or else they're very industrious.  Anyway, I hope that you'll continue to be happy there.

To be very honest, I have put most of my last six months out of my mind.  At least as far as work is concerned.  It seemed like one crisis after another.  The climax of the whole mess was reached when four people were laid off and many, many more were downgraded.  Two engineers went from grade 9 engineers to grade 4 technicians.  In a way, it was relief -- the notices were originally supposed to be out in March & no one knew who or how many would be leaving.  Morale was zero. (Now it's 10.)  Now the fun begins with a couple of people considering civil service suits.  And we may go through it again in Oct. with the beginning of FY77.

Other than work, things have been going rather well.  I'm nearly ecstatic, actually this week, I'll pay off my school loan and my couch.  I'm planning on buying in order, a stereo, a dining room set, a Lay-z-boy, and a car.  That should keep in in debt for awhile.  Of course, if I'm laid off in Oct, it means bankruptcy.

I understand what you mean about trying to summarize six months in one letter.  It's futile -- but I am still upset with you for not calling or stopping by while you were in Philly!

Bev & I are trying to set a date for visiting Pgh.  Now it looks like the middle of July.  Any chance you could make it?

One favor -- please don't let them use "impact" as a verb!  Government has been using it that way for a while but now I see literates using it in magazine articles.  I feel like "impacting" them!

Enclosed is an addition to y our collection.  And this time, don't take so long!