July 30, 1976 (Letter from Renee)

SURPRISE -- I've outdone myself this time by answering your last letter the day after I received it. I love hearing from you and reading your letters but I often wonder how your hands can stand writing for so long.  I would never "hand write" letters cause I would get them half done and give up because my hand would hurt!  I hope you don't mind the typewritten letters, but if it weren't for the typewriter I'd never write anything on paper!

My summer so far has been super enjoyable.  I haven't done anything I didn't want to do , and I've spent a lot of time by myself just puttering and reading which I think has done me a world of good.  Being used to the school routine and schedule I am constantly asking myself "what do I do next," only to find out that I don't have to do a damn thing if I don't want too -  and that suits me fine.  Morrey says I'm a different person in the summer cause I'm not moody, bitchy, or depressed. In September I'll start my Jeckyll and Hyde routine again!  (Excuse my spelling -- I'm off duty as an English teacher!)  I've been doing a lot of macrame and have enjoyed it a lot.  I go to the health spa a couple of times a week to exercise, and it really is fun.  I also go to a weight watchers meeting (53 lbs. so far!) once a week which takes a couple of hours out of the day, and the rest of my life is total unstructured which I love.  I have never experienced a summer vacation that has been so free of hassel and worry and I don't find myself running around to the point where I'm exhausted.  Some of my school friends might think I'm kind of a hermit or recluse -- but for the first time in my life I have learned to enjoy the solitude and quiet of just staying home and doing my own thing.  I wish I could go on like this forever, but I know that eventually I would be looking for something which would bring more substance into my life.  Before this summer I used to have to have a lot of people around me and I enjoyed entertaining and having something planned to do every waking minute, but I guess I've matured somewhat (or learned to like my own company a lot better) cause I really enjoy doing nothing and not having a whole lot of people around me.

Morrey is extremely busy "carving a niche" in the business world, and I must say that he hasn't had it easy cause the sales market is really shitty at the moment and competition is at an all time high.  I have every confidence that he'll eventually do quite well, and until then I will work to help us survive.  I am seriously thinking of quitting my teaching job next year and looking for something to do with the skills I have -- but Morrey isn't very encouraging about my giving up teaching, and he doesn't like me to talk so much about quitting.  I will start seriously looking for something else next spring, and if I can get another job I'll do it.  I feel that my creativity at this point in my teaching career is getting stifled, and a lot of the people I work with frankly don't give a shit about the program or the kids -- they just want to get through the day and through another year of it.  I feel that I have a lot to give and I'm not using my talents to my fullest potential.  Since no one working around me is doing much to change and they're really getting set in their comfortable little domains, I feel that next spring is the time for me to strike out and look for something more challenging.

I am glad to hear that you are thinking about paying us a visit in Columbus someday in the future. We would be delighted to have you as our guest and promise to show you the interesting sights and sounds of Columbus.  There are always placed to go and things to do so anytime you decide to come, just give me a little advanced warning and we'll arrange a fun time for us all.

In answer to your question, YES, Morrey and I definitely plan to be in Warren over Labor Day weekend, barring any unforeseen emergencies.  We'll stay at the cottage, so feel free to give us a call and come out for some Shulman-Prayzer hospitality any chance you get.

It was nice to hear that your parents still ask about me -- I'm quite flattered and glad that their impression of me was a good one.  They have always been so nice to me when I've called them and I think you're pretty lucky to have such great folks.  My parents always ask about you and what you're up to these days and I fell them in as well.  To answer your mother's question, No, I'm not keeping up with my singing these days, but hope to eventually get back into it within the next year.  One of my goals has been to lose the weight and then try out for some parts in local players clubs or musical organizations.  I dearly miss not having music to be a vital part of my life, and unfortunately Morrey has no musical talents or interests.  However, he has bought us Symphony season tickets for next year which I know I'll enjoy and he'll endure!  Because of Morrey though, I have taken an interest in sports and we frequently go to Cincinnati for a Reds baseball game, or to the Coliseum in Cleveland for hockey games in the winter -- which I've learned to enjoy.  For a while the only thing I enjoyed about a sports event was the hot dogs and popcorn -- but I have managed to learn some of the finer points of the games -- and now I really like it.  As a matter of fact, Morrey and I are going to Cincinnati tonight to stay for the weekend and we have tickets for a ball game Sunday afternoon.   We've been to the cottage a lot this summer and Morrey adores the place.  I like it too but there is very little privacy there with my Dad around, and Morrey spends most of his time in the boat fishing, so I have to go prepared with something to do or I go out of my mind.  My dad just loves to have us come and he goes out of his way to please us and make us comfortable which we really appreciate.  Morrey and my dad get along better than my father does with his own two sons -- and Morrey and my father buddy around a lot which is good for both of them in many ways.

Many thanks for the suggested reading list.  I will take it with me on my next trip to the book store and library.  I greatly appreciate your taking the time to fill me in on quality literature available and I intend to take your suggestions seriously.

We have a busy month ahead and an expensive one too with buying back to school clothes and going to the dentist for a lot of expensive crown work for me.  We're throwing a surprise 65th birthday party for my dad on the 21st of Aug.  and I have to get busy and send out invitations and plan the menu and evening's events.  I'll probably start back to school work with my team members the last week in August so from now till them I have a lot of relaxing and enjoying to do.

I hope you'll plan on seeing us over Labor Day and I hope to hear from you much before that.

Please be well & take care & have fun.

July 26, 1976 (Letter from Harriet)

Once again, I greet you with a letter!  I hope that I didn't sound obnoxious on the phone.  I did understand your situation & would have definitely done the same thing (gone to Pittsburgh).  It seems as if the starts are against us.  After I spoke to you, I decided that I'd do a super amount of work so I wouldn't have to study next weekend &  you could come.  Well, you know how that goes!  It's hard to do extra work in the summer.  Also, this is our last week of school & next week we have 3 exams in 3 days!  I guess we'll have to put it off again until August.  Do you still want to come to NYC or would you rather go camping?  Let me know.

NYC has provided an interesting summer for me.  I have been taking advantage of the museums, movies, parks, etc.  Not to mention ballgames, ballets, and concerts.  I have been meting a lot of interesting people and learning a lot from them.

Living in my house affords no solitude, and I have been forced to become a beach bum to be alone. It is nice, I can take my books there early in the morning and stay until it gets really hot.  I'm getting brown -- darker than I have ever been.

After next week, I will be a lady of leisure.  I intend to take a few short trips -- to Binghamton, etc. -- and then off to Rhode Island.  Let me know when you are free & hopefully we can work something out.

July 19, 1976 (Note from Grayce)

Hi -- Diane & Bev will definitely be here for the weekend of the 24th (this Sat.).  I'm just assuming that you can be here this weekend also -- no "no's" will be accepted under any circumstances! We just got back from Idaho & I've lots to tell you.  You can look forward to much ear stuffing!

I have one favor to ask -- if you are coming over Thursday night, could you possibly fix it so that you get here after 6 A.M.  You see, Brooks' been working a lot of extra hours & he'll be working that Friday too & I wouldn't want to disturb hi before he has to get up . *He gets up at abt. 7, but if you get here at 6 it wouldn't be too bad.  It's just that if I have to get up for 4 or so, this alarm will bother him, too.  Would this  inconvenience you very much?  Maybe you'd like to nap a few hours before you leave anyway?  Then you can play when you get here.  Is this ok?

Well!  Please come!  It will be so nice, we'd really like to have you.

July 18, 1976 (Letter from Denise)

Hi!  I know you know that Kenny's in prison cause I guess he told you.  I guess you have his address so when you want to write to him you can.

I know Kenny just wrote you a short note, so I write you a longer letter and tell you what's happening with Wendy and me and Dollar Date.

First of all, D. D. is coming along fine now, but not like it was in the beginning.  We're only making about 100 a month instead of 7 or 800.  Now I've decided to give it up.  I'm not getting anything out of it except a lot of hassles from a lot of people.  If you want it or know anyone who wants a business of their own, let me know.  I'll be more than willing to sign the license over to whomever wants it.

Wendy is getting older and bigger now.  She's a year old already.  She's learning a few more words than what she already knows.  She understands a lot more now too.

I got about 2 flys in here now that are really getting to me.  I'm trying to kill them, but they just won't die.  I'm slapping the heck out of them but they just won't give up.  I just got rid of them right now.

As for me, I'm just waiting for Kenny to come out.

When Kenny went to prison it was Feb. 19, 1976.  That very next day, someone broke into my place over here, held me at gunpoint and took $130.00 in cash and 2 oz. of reefer. The following Sunday, which was 2 days later, one of the buys came back and stole my desk calculator, my camera, 2 oz. of reefer and the ear phones to my stereo.  These two guys were some of the people that Kenny was dealing to.  I know who they are, but I can't prove it to the police.  Ever since then I've been scared to stay here by myself.  The first place that I find that's half decent, I'm moving out of here.  I don't feel safe here any more without a man in the house.

Wendy ust went to sleep now.  It's afternoon nap time, and I think I'll get some work done upstairs.

Let me know what's happening with you.

P.S.  Sorry about all the greasy spots.  Wendy got hold of the letter.

July 15, 1976 (Letter from Cheryl)

Sorry it's taken so long to ans. your letter, but alot has been goin on.  Saw George for 4 days last month and it was so good to see him.  He really enjoyed seeing & being with the kids and believe it or not him & Shorts got along good.  Everyone took it good except me.  I wanted to go back to him so bad & wanted him to stay but he couldn't.  He already broke his parole.  He left and we haven't heard from him since.  I just hope he's okay.  No one has come lookin for him yet either.  I wonder why cuz they usually do.  Maybe they figure their better off without him.

We went to West Yellowstone and it sure wasn't like all the years before.  No one was there I knew except one person and millions of pigs.  They even had guards there from Deer Lodge, with dogs.  We didn't stay there, we went camping.  Had alot of fun doin' that.

Georgie's birthday was the 7th and we had a big party with cake, ice cream, presnts & spankings. Sure was fun -- he was 11.

We'll be movin in 30 days but I'll still have the same p.o. box number.  What happened is the landlady's son just got out of the navy and he's gonna buy this place and she wants to move in here.  She gave us an eviction notice and the whole shot.  So everything we put into this place we're tearing up, or down or takin' with us.  It was a junk pile when we moved in, so that's the way she'll get it back.  I don't mind leavin the house, it's the area -- the mountains & peace & quiet -- but we'll find something (I hope).

So how ya doin?  Real good I hope.  Still goin' to junk stores?  They opened up 2 new ones here and they got some neat stuff in em.  But we got to much stuff already.  It'll take a u-haul trailer to move us & our junk.

Well, I've gotta go -- only have 2 pieces of paper left and 2 more letters to write.  So you take care of yourself and write back sooner than I did.  If I hear from George I'll tel him hello for ya.  Bye for now.

July 14, 1976 (Letter from Barb L)

Was that April?  Seems like a month ago at the most!  No explanation will suffice for my not writing all this time.  It's a matter of discipline.  I have been thinking of you -- especially since I was not in Warren the whole time.  Let's see -- May -- I interviewed for a new job here -- teaching at the new Day Care Center that Children's Services is starting-- gave my notice at the workshop and quit there at the end of May.  My friend Linda had called me from the Cape & wanted me to come for the summer but I didn't know about the job yet, etc.   I did to up there the 1st two weeks in June & helped her with the kids & restaurant.  Didn't write any letters but I know I should have called you. Weekends there were impossible to get away from however since that was the work time & week days were free.  I really didn't know how long I was going to stay -- if I had a negative reply from Children's Services I intended to stay there.  But I had no reply the whole time so I did come back June 20th.  The time on the Cape was really good after the hectic month of May trying to finish up my work at the workshop & training somebody, etc.  During the middle of the second week I almost decided to stay -- it was such a temptation to go back to that life in which I was so happy & contented in the past.  Why did I come back to Warren?  3 reasons:  the possibility of the job that I really wanted.  Harry & Sanchez were here, & #3 -- the perennially illusive reason -- a relationship with a man here!  It always happens to me at in-between changeable times.  I started going out w/ this guy here in April -- young (22) and a Warren person, although saved by the fact that he's a freak & has been away before.  Another Taurus named Rick -- of course.  I don't know if you're familiar with him -- Rick West.  He's the cousin of a deaf-mute girl at the workshop.  He's Warren but he's not -- anyway, it's a good relationship coming at a time when there was nothing else to hold me here.  Seems it's in my karma to be in Warren for awhile longer, although I felt so much more myself while away.  I can't even explain it!  I did talk to Rick (Gray) on the phone while I was there -- he called Linda's & we had a nice friendly conversation.  Unbeknownst to me, he came to Boston Airport the day I was leaving looking for me -- the nite I arrived home he called again.  I really had thought he did not want any contact but I guess it never changes.  Also when I returned home I got the letter from Children's Services -- no job.  Turned out she hired all certified teachers in order to get her grant money.  So here I am -- 3 weeks later -- I volunteer at the workshop 2 afternoons a week & am unemployed.  I've applied for unemployment & will find out about it Friday -- probably will not get it due to quitting my job.  I have some money left but did spend a lot on my vacation (enjoyed every minute of it!)  I really don't want another job in Warren right now.  Would love to go back to the Cape next month or even September.  If I get unemployment I will be happy with having some income.  I've been busy reading, doing macrame, going to the workshop & hanging out with Rick.  It's easy to shed the Warren work ethic in two weeks on the old fun-loving Cape!  Of course I see Patsy a lot -- whose now working as a bartender at Cole's Landing & of course Mardi about once a week.  I did the 4th of July parade w/ her & Matthew & Yolanda.  Martin is still working at Levinson's & hating it.  He's been talking about moving to Phoenix, Arizona but probably won't.  Mardi took a week in June & few to Minneapolis! Far out, huh?  She stayed w/ Mary (David Brown's old girlfriend who now lives with "Stone" -- Bill Peterson.)  After spending some time w/ both Dutch & Bill she then returned home with no appreciable traumas, much to everyone's surprise.  I guess Bill is really mellowed out -- lives in a nice place, works steady, quit smoking cigarettes (unbelievable) and appears to be calm and collected.  Dutch is a suburban husband living in a big fancy house & appears somewhat melancholy & quiet, according to Mardi.  It seems that Mardi has begun to accept what and where she is & is no longer trying to go back to a Minneapolis past.  I think the security here is what she needs & she realizes this.  She seems a lot more content anyway.  No word from Joan to anyone, not even her family.  In May her father called her & found that she's living w/ a guy & does not intend to come back.  Next time anyone called the number had changed so no one even knows where she is.  I really don't understand what all the secrecy is about -- how bad is it to be living with somebody??  Who knows?  I just hope she gets her divorce in the process.

Well, there's the news -- I just saw your mom yesterday "over town" & she wondered if I had heard from you.  Your life sounds "wonderfully secure" indeed -- a first for you!  Looks like it could be beneficial to you.  I do want to get up there & visit.  There's a guy in Warren from Boston (friend of Martin's, work at Rexnard) who drives back & forth occasionally.  I can ride w/ him later this summer as far as your place, if you're going to be around.  In any case -- we will meet again, my friend, even though it didn't happen in June.  Meanwhile you continue your Springfield existence & I'll continue my Warren romance (incongruous terms!)  Hope you had a good time in Pittsburgh w/ the library school reunion.  Take care -- I will write again.  I'll call you if I have a chance to come up -- send me your phone # if you're not listed.

Peace!

Harry & her "itchies" say hello!  Also Sanchez.

July 10, 1976 (Letter from Ken)

Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution

As you can see via this return address, I am in Federal Prison.  Doing 5 years!  Was arrested for manufacturing   Have 5 months in now.

Denise, Wendy (Squeege) and I are as tightly together as ever.  Your Goddaughter is doing just fine.  Had her 1st birthday this past June 24th.  She is a real sweetheart.  Will send you a picture if you want.  Please understand that my spirits are very high for happiness & freedom is a state of mind.  Dollar Date is also doing real well.  Remember, the offer to take on Dollar Date is always open to you.

That was really something you got into!  What can I say.  I'm glad you didn't get hurt too bad.  I know you wouldn't do something like that, even for me.

I hate writing letters, so I hope I did O.K.  Remember, any time you decide to return to Penna., my securities are open to you in all perspectives.  Even though I'm in here, my home, business etc. are solid, and anytime you are welcome to move in, visit, or whatever.

Your friend
"Fellow Truth Seeker"