Hello. So how goes it back in New England? Are you enjoying your summer?
Leroy and I broke up for good. He told me that because I hurt him so bad when I kicked him out of the apartment that he would never go back to me. He built up a wall that is not going to come down for a long time. I didn't think that he would react that way to the break up. I took our split up as a temporary lapse in our relationship but obviously he took it as an insult. He could not even listen to the way I saw our relationship and he did not even consider to rectify our love in any way. I was very hurt for the first week. It was a very deep wound that left me very desolate inside. I had to think over our entire relationship and all the people involved indirectly. This included talks with friends and with Leroy's mother. I had come to an understanding of why it ended as it did. After accepting the fate of our love affair I have decided that it is for the best. Leroy and I were doomed from the beginning. We would have destroyed each other eventually. He was good for me for the few months that we had lived together. I needed to experience a deeper relationship which I had avoided for 22 years of my life. Now I am able to make a fresh start in my life in a better direction. I feel free inside again. I was getting to the point in our relationship where I felt that I was leaning too heavy on Leroy. I don't want to doubt myself in a relationship with a man. Lesson learned, chapter 1.
After I knew that it was over I needed a change in my life so I cut my hair short. I dont' feel that I was doing it for any other reason than I wanted it short. I don't particularly like the haircut. It is a bit shaggy, but I will wait until ti stats growing out and find a style that I like that will be easy to take care of. My hair is as short as it was in 72. I like it very much even it if is a bit short now.
I went on a shopping spree today and I spent $65.00 on clothes. Now that I am single again and I have only me to support, I have a big more money in my pocket. I also got a raise for going over four years in the service. (I took my first oath for the Navy in July of 73,) I want to get Christmas presents. Do you have any idea of what you want? I am going to buy Dad a painting and Lar a tea set. I do not know what I will buy Mom, Dale, and you. So if you have any suggestions please offer them. I will give you my guitar. It is not a good guitar but it will be adequate for starting you off.
I am looking for a new guitar. I am not sure what to buy. So I am going to get the advice of an expert. I plan to take some guitar lessons form someone who will teach me what I want to know. I don't want to get stuck with some old fogey who goes strictly by a lesson plan. I am also going to buy a halfway decent receiver amp since prices are really cheap over here for members in the service. I don't want to buy the largest model and have so much power I could blast the neighbors. I am going to see if Dale will make some speakers and later I'll find a turntable later on in the States.
I sent away to a company that deals in kits for down goose feather jackets, sleeping bags, etc. I ordered a down jacket for $28.00 and a sleeping bag for $45.00. The bag is not down feathers. I will have to sew the jacket and the bag together but I feel that is worth the trouble for the price. I put your name down for a catalog so you should be getting the catalog in the mail shortly. Doobie made a jacket which is the same one I ordered and I feel it would be ideal for backpacking this winter. It should keep me very warm.
I have been going to Carney Park pool every chance I can get. I have been swimming widths of the pool and today I was up to 18 widths nonstop. I plan to go every chance that I get throughout all of August. I need to get into shape before I put a backpack on for 30 days. I am doing yoga sporadically but I attribute my lack of success to the watch hours I stand. I want to get into a routine when I get back to the States. I also have cut down on my alcohol consumption 95% and the same with smoking. I am trying to abstain from any dope until I get back to the States. I want to clean myself out for a four month period then when I get back to the States I will most likely take a few hits or so.
That's all that has been going on in my life at the moment. I am fine, trying to stay cool, and looking to the calendar date of 25 October.
I am going to get a European discharge from the Navy instead of going back to Philly and getting discharged there. So I won't be going on leave until the 25th of October. But once I leave here in Naples I will never have to go back to a military station for duty. What a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See you at Christmas.
