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.

July 17, 1970 (Letter from Tony)

Well, here I am in all my splendor and glory, and in answer to your questions, yes, no, and only occasionally.

This has been a strange summer so far.  When school ended I was working 4 hrs/night at Buf. General.  I lounged in the sun the rest of the time.  Then came the post office job and I was working 12 hrs/day and sleeping 6-7.  I grew rich and retired from the post office.  I am now working 5 hrs/night at Buf General.  During my off hours I am trying to catch up on things like letters, laundry, etc.  So far it's been very good, as soon as I grew tired of my current situation, it changed.

On Mon I'm going to sign up for a 3rd session course, Industrial Relations 301.  Also I'm going to go thru a book on my own that should help me with the math I'll need for my Eco course this fall.  It has the clever title of "Mathematics for Economists".

I'm in the music room.  All by myself.  I really miss your stereo.  It was probably one of the finest stereos (stereoes?) I have ever known.

It sounds like you're really enjoying yourself.  That's good.  Here it's OK.  My social life is continuing at the same fever-high pitch.

Thanks for the money.

I didn't have time before to look for apts.  Rich, a transfer student from Ohio State, got the lists from University Housing and he called most of the places.  There wasn't much there, but I didn't expect there to be.  There's a place on Custer I have to check out, I'm going to talk to Mr. Mann, the guy who owns Herbie's apt. and see if he has any others, and I'll be checking the News, and the Amherst Bee (wow).  Are you sure you don't want to go back to Allenhurst?

I just talked to Kenny on the phone yesterday.  Vinnie called him to explain to him why he can't pay his rent just yet.  Vinnie's thinking of selling his car, he's still got $1,800 payments to make on it.

My bicycle's still fine.  I rode it to work Monday, right down Main St.  I was scared shitless.  Bad.

Zelda and Jane are leaving Sun nite for Europe.   I got a letter from Sue, she's really enjoying herself.

Mike worked for 3 wks in a factory then quit in a dispute with his boss.

Another strange aspect of this summer is the people.  It's rare that I talk to someone who has smoked, let alone see any of the stuff.  Everyone drinks a lot.  Next week we're having an office party out in the country and everyone is planing to get really smashed.  These people are nice, but they are a better fit for the early 60's than the 70's.

There are a couple of other college age kids that work with me nights and we sit around the plot the revolution.  Actually, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my politics and I think that a commune or a free store is much more effective than a demonstration.  How's that for heavy, deep, out a sight, and right on?

This campus is really nice during the summer, when it isn't raining.  There are a lot of trees, a lot of grass, a lot of room.

You probably heard that Ketter was picked as president.  Could be trouble this fall.

I've started the world's largest collage on Herbie's bedroom wall.  I've got 3 pictures up.  It could take awhile before I finish it.

If you haven't noticed, I've run out of things to say right now.  So, farewell sweet prince, until we meet again.

June 29, 1970 (Letter from Zelda)

It was really great hearing from you.  Especially since you seem pretty happy and quite well set up.   I meant to write to you the4 first day I got your letter.  I even went to the music room and listened to the Moody Blues to get in the right mood.  But you know the old story I just didn't sit down and write.

Though things sometimes are a bit of a drag, it seems like there is a lot to tell.  (Considering I haven't seen you in over a month, it seems likely that something has occurred.)

I'm sure Tony has filled you in on somethings.  Buffalo is the summer is pretty nice.  There is actually sun, trees grass and all.  The campus is really very pretty and peaceful. I often just sit around on they grass and pretend to study.  It was nice just lazying (?) around for awhile but after a week or so it became boring.  The place is fairly dead -- that is to say no people.  Norton on a busy day has 10 people in it.  The only time you really see anyone is going to classes so I have to go just for that reason alone.  Today starts Freshman orientation so there will be more people around.  As well as more things to do.  You know how they try to impress the new class.  The school has a very good summer activities booklet.  In fact they have more movies and groups during the summer than they do all year.  I've heard 2 bands so far (one was blues -- really good) and tonight they have another.  I've seen some movies (Medium Cool, Oh What a Lovely War) and I've gone to the craft shop a couple times.  It is really lots of fun. I'm trying to make a belt but I sort of messed it up.  I'll probably wear it anyway.  (Don't forget to compliment it or I'll be quite hurt!!)  Well that about covers all the big action up here. I spend the rest of my time in the music room in Norton, in my swan k apt, in my math class or downtown searching for a job.

I worked for one week for a temporary agency.  I really enjoyed it.  The hours were perfect for me -- 5 pm - 11:00.  The men I worked with were dolls.  (About 30 -- quite witty.)  I did regular clerk's work.  I didn't even have to type and we would talk while we worked.  It was great except once they finished the job they didn't need me any longer.  They rarely work overtime like that.  Since I've been among the ranks of the unemployed, I actually haven't been looking that hard.  I plan to resume my search this week.  Now that Karen's back (she came back St.  She had a great time.) she'll be looking as well as one of my roommates Marlene.  Thus, the three of us can troop out all together.

Well, Paul I won't apologize again for being so negligent in answering your letter but I really am sorry.  It has been sitting here in my stationary box for a week now.

I thought I just would add a few more lines and send it out so at least you'd have some word from me before I leave.  Jane and I will be sure to send you another card from Europe.

I'll be leaving in one more week but it will be one hell of a week before I go.  I have an incomplete that I should finish off (but won't have time for), an exam and final, all my packing up in the apt and packing for Europe and so on.  I just can't wait till Mon morning.

I don't know if you've heard from Sue (I presume she doesn't have your address) but anyway she's settled in Paris and quite happy.  She has net some people and is busy regularly running from place to place.  Her french has also improved tremendously.  I'll enclose her address so that you can drop her a line if you'd care to and you can also write back to me care of that address.

Please write back soon.  I promise to answer sooner and hopefully I'll have a lot to say.

P.S.  Hope your job and all are still going well.  Do you plan to stay there all summer or are you moving on? (Send me your address if that's so.)

P.P.S.  Karen and Tony say hi.