October 21, 1971 (Letter from Mike)

Sorry about the delay, things have been unbelievably hectic lately.  Glad to hear that you're digging Calif.  Thanks for trying to get a hold of Bagwell for me.  Guess I didn't really expect that you'd find her.

Sound like you might be getting carried away w/ the dope bit.  But it's your life, right?  I'm not even into alcohol anymore.  Maybe I'll tackle smoking next.  T hat's one thing I really should kick.

I won't find out about the Peace Corps until at least January, so I'm applying to a couple mining and exploration firms for a job.  Thought I'd see what I could get. Right now my major objective is to get my ass out of school, I just want to be on my own in some capacity and away from all the fuckin' hassle.  The companies are all over the States -- D. C., Minnesota, Texas, Utah, etc.  I'd really dig Utah because I'd be based in Salt Lake City.  Might be cool for a change.  More on that later.

Mrs. P will be glad to know you're going back to school.  Write her a letter if you haven't already.  I'm sure she' probably worried about you.

My love life has deteriorated almost completely.  She was starting to hang on too tightly and I got scared.  The sex bit was also getting slightly out of hand.  Anyways I wasn't pleased with the way I was acting so I got out of the mess.  When I think of how that could have ended up, I get really scared.  I'm not getting married for NOBODY!!!

Just thought I'd tell you that picture you had of me, with all the colored trees, etc?  Forget it, because the leaves just turn brown in Berea and fall off.  None of the color like the forest at home.  Hate to spoil your images, but that's the way it is.

I still weigh between 130-135 so I think I may have succeeded in beating the fat racket.  However, I'm still eating only one meal a day because that's about all I can handle anymore.

I'm taking a great seminar on psychological anthropology taught by a friend and student of Margaret Mead.  Mead is coming here this spring to take over Anthro classes for a week. Should be great.

Haven't heard from anyone since I've been back.  Dody's student teaching in Warren till December or something like that.  Mark is married in case you didn't know and are really interested.  Needless to say, I care.  No word form Tina and Rusty.  They're probably too busy screwing every chance they get.  As for Mardi well I owe her a letter so I'd better get busy and write to her.

We'll, I've gotta go.  I know this is short, but I never was too good at writing anyhow.  See you this winter.

August 27, 1971 (Letter from Mike)

I knew you weren't in Boston because Boobie was home and said you hadn't called.  But I didn't say anything to her.  To be truthful, it didn't surprise me in the least.  If that's what you need, then who am I to comment?  I hope your parents are taking it okay.  Just make sure you don't wind up a cook the rest of your life.  Do me a favor and try to get a hold of Bagwell as long as you're there.  Her father's address is:  Box 3266, Grover City, Cal.  Please do me that favor.  My application for the Peace Corps is in and the references should all be in within the next week so I should either get canned or interviewed within the next month or so.  I'll let you know.  After Sept. 22:  101 A Heritage, B-W College, 44017.  I'm hoping to hear more form you soon.  Good luck buddy.

I could use a box of California sand.

May 6, 1970 (Letter from Mardi)

OK.  I'm a fink!  Will you accept my apology!?  I just sat down yesterday and today and wrote everyone a letter, which I owed everyone.  Last night I finally got around to calling Barb.

How is everything going?  I hear that Carol Bagwell set you and Mike applications for work in California.  What's up with California -- as it looks like we may be all out there this year.  Anderson has been thinking of moving out West for over a year now and he does not want to be here for another Minneapolis winter and I can't say I want to either!  He has such a good job here and if he could get a position on a newspaper out West it would be good for him.  So I can just see us all out West!!!!  I can't see staying some place where there is winter with now every year.  What are you and Mike planning to do?  That's a hell of a question if I ever heard one -- duh -- "What are you going to do?"  How in god's name does anyone know what they want to do!  I really feel like a creepo for not writing.

I'm doing just fine here.  My job is a good job but I hate working.  I'm my own boss and for hours and Pay it's good.  I'm working with loans and mortgages and deeds and I was surprised to find that it was interesting and I'm in contact with quite a few people.

Our new apartment is really nice and I wish you could come and see it.  We looked all over for the right place and we finally stumbled on to this place.  It's an older building and it's right by the lake, it has a fireplace and french windows.  Now all we need is some furniture for our dining area and living room.  All I have to do is walk across the street and "jump into the lake".  We have a nice backyard and lots of room.  We haven't got a phone yet either so we're living in isolation.

[5/7]  I am bound and determined to get this letter out to you.  I actually went to work today.  I didn't go to work Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.  I told everyone I had the flu; so I went to work today and everyone said how horrible I looked -- NICE!  I came home and ate and clonked out.  The weather has been in the 85's and 90's and you just don't feel like doing anything.  Anderson is sacked out right now so I'm watching some old movie and thought, get that letter out to Paulie.  We're having a huge kegger this weekend so I'm expecting rain all weekend.  Last weekend we had a kegger at some park out in Wisconsin.  We all got bombed naturally -- falling down hills, playing baseball, going to the bathroom in some field -- good old summer is here!

Please drop me a few lines soon adn tell me what your plans are?  Will you be around Memorial Day?  I'm pretty sure Anderson and I'm pretty sure Anderson and I will drive out.  Duh.

Please take care.

February 9, 1970 (Letter from Mike)

Sorry I haven't written sooner but I'm pretty lousy at this anymore.  You'll just have to put up with it.

I'm not counting on that job in Canada, so I'm having Bagwell check things out with her father about getting jobs.  I naturally included you in in the arrangements so I hope you don 't mind.   I could see spending the summer out in Calif.  More on that later.  I just wanted you to know that you're going it we go.  (Keith also.)

Courses are a pisser this quarter.  Several weeks ago, while collecting samples of Ordovician age rocks in Bedford, Ohio, I fell 120' into the Bedford Glens Gorge.  Actually I only initially fell.  The fest of my trip was spent speeding down the 75 degrees incline on my ass while my advisor was at the top of the gorge laughing his ass off!  That guy is warped.  I must have looked funny though, because I was waving my arms and clutching my rock hammer.  I leave Friday morning for Oxford, Ohio at 4AM.  I have a weekend field trip there.  Whoopie twang!

My grandfather died last weekend.  I couldn't go though, be cause I don't dig funerals and I didn't have the money.

I've had one letter from Mardi and it was so confusing that I just threw it out.  I wish she would write something that makes sense and is worth reading.  I did catch the fact that Bill had been out.  I wish I could have met him.

Also heard that Patty Miller was out to see you.  How is the old cunt anyway?  What was that, 7th, 8th, 9th grade?  I don't even remember anymore!

Election are February 25th, wish me luck.  Things look good, but I'll wait till after the elections to make my predictions.   It's safe that way.

Let's call it a letter.