May 4, 1976 (Letter from Connie)

So good to hear from you.  I tell you, I looked at that letter and thought, Springfield, Mass - ? What is Paul doing in Springfield, Mass?  Well, it seems you're doing very well indeed.  I couldn't be more pleased!  And close to Boston and New York -- I could choke you.  Denver is close and Denver is OK.  But it's not Vancouver or San Francisco or Seattle or Boston.  Grumble.

And I really know what you mean about having your own place again.  I get along well with my mom -- but not constantly.  She came out for a week in March and it was really good to see her and gab for just hours without having to worry about Ma Bell.  But evenso -- and as much as I like her there were times when I was tense with her around all the time.  Guess I've been out too long to go back to living with Mom.  It was nice though -- she cooked me dinner and even did the dishes!

Went to the Wyoming Library Association convention.  I'm in to going to those things - -but it was a drag.  Going to the Special Libraries thing in Denver in June -- should be good.  Looking forward to that.  Oh -- and you're a "special librarian" now too!  I tell you, it's the only way to go.  SLA is a good group -- miles above ALA or any of the local groups.  You might look into it.

We finally got moved into our new building.  Would you believe I have like 200 boxes of books and no shelves.  I'm literally buried in boxes -- some stacked 8 boxes high.  Theoretically our shelves should be ready tomorrow (or the day after, or the day after that, or...)  Someday soon.  Or so we're told.

Finally got around to going to the doc and found out that I almost have an ulcer.  Out of pure vindictiveness I'd like to think it's all LaVern's fault.  But I have a sneaking suspicion that it comes from all my Wyoming partying -- not the booze, but the 7Up I mix with it.  Gonna have to get used to Bourbon and water.  Better for the health!

I tell you, this has been a terrific day.  Been toying with the idea of buzzing off to Europe.  (I know I've bored you with that before.)  But lately I've been getting cold feet, should I, shouldn't I, do I really want to go?   Anyway, Saturday I went to a travel agent and found out I could go by charter from Denver to Frankfurt for $399 round trip!  I couldn't believe it!  That's half the regular fare.  So today I ran over, plunked down my money and got all confirmed and everything.  And I leave July 6. Unfortunately I'll be here for the 4th.  Had dreams of spending the 4th out of the country -- say drinking a toast to the good ol' U.S. of A. from the  Champs Elysee.  Could not be.  Going with my friend Anke from Seattle -- she's German and speaks German (of course) and French.  Had hoped to go with Ginny Shoens (remember the Sunday morning waffles), but that's an on again off again thing.

I've really got this thing about planes it seems.  Flying off to Seattle for Memorial Day weekend.

Heard from Lynne Stevenson.  All at MSL is the usual shambles.  Lynne's resigned -- either to go back to school (in Sacramento) or to take the biomed job at Carroll College.  Whichever comes through.  Basically just sad stories from there.  So glad I got out when I did.

And all goes on the usually same sameness have.  Cheyenne's ok -- and you just wouldn't believe how happy I am with my job.  Especially now that I almost have shelves.

Take care, and keep in touch --

June 25, 1972 (Letter from Kenny)

Well how the hell are you?  (That's my Joe Poskanzer opening.)  I'm sorry I haven't written but I really haven't done enough to write a paragraph about.  The biggest news around here has been the weather (as ridiculous as it sounds.)  It had rained for 14 straight days until yesterday, then today it poured enough to make up for the slip yesterday.  The flooding all along the coast has been amazing.  Olean and Salamanca (remember them, near Buffalo) were almost wiped out.  Henry Marcotte was on the news in New York with a report from old Western N.Y.  I hope you swim well because the water might not be gone by September.  Lauren is in Rome now and she should be coming back July 14th.  I'm really sorry I didn't go to Europe this summer because I haven't done shit so far and work sucks a whale's dick.

I've talked to Herb a couple of times, most recently last Tuesday.  He's been going crazy there.  Last weekend he stayed in West Chester and he doesn't know anybody so he didn't talk to anybody for the entire weekend.  By Monday when he got to work he was crazy so he spent 3 hrs talking to anyone in the office.  (Pause.)   As a matter of fact I just finished talking to Herb.  This weekend wasn't a whole lot better for him.  He bought Crime and Punishment to read and said he's staying away from books with sex in them because it will make him horny.  Herb is in very bad shape.

I haven't been doing a whole hell of a lot on weekends either.  I've been seeing a couple of my friends from Wantagh and watching a lot of TV.  I read Our Gang and it's a piss.  During the week when I get home from work I'm too tired to do anything anyhow so I don't feel too bad.  I take a lot of cold showers to ward off the horns but it's really rough when I see all the girls walking around the city.

Last Sunday I went to Ivan's wedding (he's a kid from school).  It was nice but hysterical.  His wife was shivering she was so scared and he was laughing through the whole thing.  All the people there were whispering as the couple came down the aisle just like everyone does at weddings.  All of the sudden the Rabbit screams "everyone keep quiet,  this is a religious ceremony" with that all the kids (hippies from Buffalo) cracked up until everyone was roaring.  It's not very funny now so you can understand how incredibly bored I am.

How's everything going with you?  How's the job and all?

I talked to Chris for about five minutes on Friday.  That was the firs time I talked to him in about 3 weeks.  I wasn't overly excited to speak with him but it seems he's been trying to get a hold of me.  I couldn't imagine why but then he told me I owed him $12 so then I knew.  By now he's probably written you and told you how much you owe.

My mother is in Copenhagen right now and isn't due back till next Sunday.  She's been gone since the 15th, so on top of being bored I have to make dinner and do washes and all kinds of shit.

I'm thinking when I quit work at the beginning of August, of going down to Florida (I can stay at my uncle's apartment) and then stopping off in Atlanta (to see Barbara and Lloyd) on the way back.

Oh well, enough unsaid.  Write when you get a chance.  Take it easy.

Oh yeah, Herb said he got your letter.

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.