July 14, 1974 (Letter from Tony)

This letter, rather than being a flowing image filled masterpiece of letter-writing, is designed for informational purposes only.

I'm leaving Walla Walla, by bus, Aug 9 or 10, and I could go to Lake Spread Eagle if you'll be there Aug 11 or 12th.  Or I may go directly on to Columbus  Ohio to see my sister, and go up to Colden, possibly through Pittsburgh or Warren.  I expect to spend a little more than a week in Colden, then go on to Portsmouth, N.H. to visit my friend Jerry.  From there I'm going to Boston to see Michael and travel with him to the wedding.  If you were at the Cape, say from Aug 20-30, I could see you there.

There is a possibility of side trip to Montreal to see Ralph Pearson, who I believe is working in the Queen Elizabeth (Hilton International) in that city.  I probably will be doing the Greyhound Ameripass trip so my travel plans can be adjusted pretty easily.  I hope to run into you somewhere along the way.

P.S.  I enjoyed your short stories very much.  A more detailed discussion can be had when we get together.

P.S.S.  Marmul went to Atlanta, Ga. with old George Pakin, the Albany gambling man.

September 18, 1971 (Letter from Ralph and Al)

Well I guess you just said to yourself I'm having a good time so fuck everything else, fuck school I'm staying where I am and I'm going to dig and I really hope you still are digging whatever you're doing and I wish you the best of luck in hoping everything goes just great for you.  (Amen)

Right now Ralph, Tom and myself are back into the old swing of school and I myself am not digging it at all but c'est la vie because I don't have the balls to do what you did you sly bastard Nelson.  Anyhow after this year no more school for this kid for awhile.  Maybe a return to Europe which was really a fine trip.

Just to make you feel a little bit nostalgic, I'll describe a few bits about good old Buffalo.  Our apartment is cheap but the landlord sucks and he lives downstairs.  The other day the old buzzard came up and tacked a list of rules on the kitchen wall including no girls overnight then he told us no stereo after 9:00pm and no "niggers": over.  Too fucked up.  School's still the same I don't think it changed a bit since last year.  We found a way to call anywhere in the country for free so send me your phone number if you have one.  Anyhow send me a letter because I'd like to find out if you get this letter and I'd like to hear form you.  If you forget the address is 251 Jewett Avenue.

I'm still a vegetarian freak and Ralph I think is heading that way too.  I still haven't indulged in the evil weed although it might become necessary soon.  I might also proudly say that I haven touched a cigarette either.

What else?  Perhaps a word of advice and wisdom from the great seer and prophet mystical fucked up yogi maharishi, me.  As you ramble through life brother whatever maybe your goal keep your eye upon the donut and not upon the hold, but don't take that too seriously for the donut maybe stale and the hole nice and sweet.  A little abstract thought I felt like adding.  You know symbolic philosophy and anyhow I thought it sounded good.

And now a word from Ralph.

Greetings!  Blind Faith on the grammophone, right now.  Marmul and I sitting around doing next to nothing cause ain't got no car to split for Poverty Hill - remember that tract of land that Student Assn. bought south of here.  Had a good summer at Chautauqua -- good people, good times, and good payola.  In room $ something in 4230 Ridge Lea, there's some dude named Doctor Ono.   You'll never guess his real name.  No hit.  Dr Ono is alive and well in Buffalo.  Was able to register for photography for non-art majors -- I'm finally excited about a course -- after 4 years.  If this weren't' my last year, I would have packed in school.  The two weeks between the end of my summer job and the first day of classes were really soul-searching.  I actually came close to thumbing out West or flying east to Europe. Buffalo's the same old shithole -- just as easy to get into a rut, altho I'm confident that I'll be able to avoid that predicament.  Photography should help -- I have enough equipment to set up a darkroom her e-- so once I learn enough in the course, I'll have a very enjoyable pursuit to keep me going.  I'm really looking forward to it.  Seeing old friends this year has been good.  Many people have changed over the summer but I guess that's only normal.  My summer had the effect on me of making me blase and nonchalant and non-caring about even more, pretty things -- a lot of my uptightness has diminished and disappeared.  Runnin' lo on paper.  Tom isn't here right now (he's in Batavia), but he'll drop you a line soon.  Keep in touch.

June 25, 1971 (Letter from Al Marmulstein)

I hope you're having a good summer.  I met a friend of mine from school in Amsterdam and we met two guys from Israel in the Hague.  We chipped in and bought a 64 red Volkswagon.  Right now we have a dead battery here in Paris, but for $200 we couldn't go wrong.  It probably just needs water.  Yes, they really do have dope clubs in Amsterdam. Hash is only at the most $1.00 a gram but I'm still a good boy.

Leaving for either Munich German to find work or possibly Spain to sit on my ass on the beach in a day or so.

After I become rich from gambling at the Riviera I'm going to buy a castle in Denmark.  I'll let you know when so you can come over the work for me.  After all I can't clean the whole fucking castle by myself.  Anyhow if you're still working in the Blu Galaxie keep washing those dishes.

Have fun I'll see you in a few months.