August 3, 1975 (Letter from Mrs. Peroski)

It was really nice to come home from work & find a letter from you.  I am just sorry that I have not written you sooner; as you know all my free time is taken up with Matthew & my mother.

It doesn't seem possible that you have been out there a yr. already.  Look at me!  March will be 17 yrs. at Cowdrick's.  By the way.  Your dad passed through the store the other day & I told him I received a nice letter from you.

Sorry to hear that your car gave out on you.  Don't feel bad!  Look at me. I have no car & I don't miss it.  For one thing I could not afford a house & car both with my salary.

Paul, I hope we all get to see you before too long.   Our little fellow will be 11 mos. old on the 9th of Aug. believe it or not he soon will be a yr. old.  No more little baby & he is going to be a rough one.  I can hardly keep up with him now; because he is so active.  He does not walk by himself yet; but it won't be long.  One of these days he will take right off & when he discover he can get around.  Look out!  When ever you see him you will have more fun with him because he is a happy-go-lucky little fellow.  Laughs all the time.  You will forget the dogs.  They are both doing fine & the dogs & Matthew get along just great.  If Matthew drops any of his toys from the playpen or his high chair; the gos do not touch his things.  They do not bother Matthew in any way.  I think Matthew bothers Ellie; because he gets excited & pulls on Ellie's ears or what ever he can grab. He is a very good baby.

Mardi, is still working at the bank.

We are having our record heat wave right now.  Would you believe it was 100 at the bank thermometer on Fri. as I was coming home from work at 5 P.M.  Last nite in my house it was 90 & today is going to be another hot one.  We hardly had any rain this month.  My little garden is dying of thirst.  Had my first tomatoe last week.  I also have peppers, lettuce, beets, radishes & hope to have some cucumbers if they don't all dry up.  Haven't had to cut the grass in weeks, because it's so dry.

Paul; take good care of yourself you know we all think of you -- Mike always.  Keep up the good work & dont' work too hard.  Remember we must take the bad with the good.  Most of all stay healthy & eat good.  My many thoughts & prayer are with you.


P.S.  (Haven't heard from Mike since last May.  He is working; but not at his kind of work that he wants.)

June 28, 1970 (Letter from Gail)

Sorry to hear that you didn't make it out to Calif.  I guess Minneapolis will just have to do.  I'm glad that you found a job and that you like it.  God, was I surprised to hear about Foster.  I guess he's all talk and no action. If Mike's gonna be that much of a baby the rest of his life -- he's gonna have a ruff time.  But it will be his own fault.

I started summer school at EOC last week.  I needed three more credits so I could transfer in the fall.  I'm taking a history course.  It's horrible!  Boring as hell!

Two weeks ago Sheryl Larson, Barb Check, Phyllis Valone, and I spent a week at Lake Erie.  We rented a beautiful cabin near Barcelona, N.Y.  We didn't meet many people but we had a good time by ourselves.   Bought a couple  six packs and some gin and got totally smashed on night.  We all were drunk, had thrown up and were in bed by 11:30 pm.  It was hysterical, but I had one hell of a hangover the next day.  Friday night we drove into Westfield and went to the drive-in.  Guess what?  T hey only show dirty, pornographic movies there and they even checked proof.  (You have to be 18 or over.)  The movies we saw weren't' that dirty (shit) but
the previews we saw were censored!  Wow!  We came home last Sunday (regretfully) and now I'm already back in the same damn rut.

I haven't seen much of Mark.  He's lifeguarding down at the pool.  He stops in here on his way home sometimes.  His girlfriend was here last week.

I can't believe that this weekend is the fourth of July.  A couple of us girls are going to the parade in the morning and then to the fireworks that night.  Sounds like fun, huh?

I went to a wedding that your father performed yesterday.  My cousin, Cathy Benson, got married.  She married Terry Stanko.  It was really a nice wedding.  Your father was, oh, should I say magnificent!  Just like his son!

Be good Paul, and take care of yourself.  Write soon.

June 27, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

Here I sit at Warren General Hospital with a shattered skull!!  Great.  I've been here since Monday.  Mr. Sayles was showing me how to use the 9 iron to get the golf ball on the green and I was standing off to his left and he swung and smacked me over my left ear -- immediately fell to the ground -- they took me over to the emergency room and naturally no doctor was around so I had to go to Dr. Yerg's office because he was the only one in, and he said I was ok -- I can't remember anything -- so I went  home and went to bed.  Sat and Sun.  So Monday I came here for Xrays and sure enough over my left ear my skull is in about five pieces!  So I've been here since Monday!  Can't wait to get home.  Everybody has been so nice I can't believe it.  This stupid lady here with me is always hot and she has to have the damn air-conditioner on full blast and I'm freezing.  She'll probably yell at me for turning it down.  Oh well.  I'm supposed to have a job interview with the Warren County Assistance Agency for a job July 1, but I won't be working for awhile.  This is terrible!  Now that I'm all set to work I can't.

How are you doing handsome?  I'll get out to see you!  Will you be home over the 4th?  I hope you are!  How is work going?

I really can't say too much right now, later I will.  I'm getting so lazy!  All I do is lounge around and eat.  I was flat on my back for awhile.

Take care lover and hope you come home for the 4th.  I'll be coming out some time.

P.S.  You father just stopped in and said hello.