November 3, 1974 (Letter from Tina)

Never give up hope.  I'm bound to reply to your letter sooner or later!  I was really thrilled to receive your letter.  Rusty and I enjoyed it so much!  You're a sweetheart to keep in touch with us.  It means a great deal to me, as it always has in the past.  I must confess that I was inspired to write by a very surprising and special phone call from our mutual comrade in California.  I hadn't heard from Mike since last May, when he was here for dinner, so I've been anxious to get a letter or at least have his address.  In our conversation I covered what's been happening with us in Cleveland in about 2 sentences and I then mentioned that we'd received a letter from you.  I must admit that the least likely place I thought you'd be is in Deer Lodge, Montana!  Your job sounds fascinating and very rewarding.  You must come into contact with all kinds of people from varying backgrounds, and you've probably listened to some unusual stories and experiences.  Your actual job as prison librarian may often seem secondary to the personal contact you have and maintain with the prisoners and staff.  As I'm sure you realize, this will prove to be an invaluable experience in your life as well as career.  You come into contact with an element of society that the majority of us never try to understand and often never conscious of.  How large a place is Deer Lodge? Frankly, I think it sounds terrific.  "City life" leaves much to be desired!  In many ways, I envy your free spirit!!  It would be great if you could join Kathy and Gary Tuller for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I'm so glad you were able to get in touch with them.  They're really a great couple and so warm and receptive.  What a good feeling to know that a familiar face (or rather, faces) aren't so far away -- well at least not 1,000 miles away.  If you do join them, please give them my best   

All's well on our end.  Rusty is now with a real estate firm here, but is strictly on commission, which means $0 in this market.  He's becoming disenchanted and is beginning to look into corporate and/or business   marketing, sales, etc. positions.  At least he's be on a salary.  My job is fine -- I'm working my can off, and at home I flop.  Back to Mike.  Have you heard from him this past summer?  I didn't ask him if you two were keeping in touch, although I assumed you still are. He told me the "news" and of his new job with an advertising firm as a commercial artist and also that he now had his own apartment.  I think he's finally "found himself" and is enjoying west coast life.  More power to him!  We're going to Warren this coming weekend -- my sister Karen and our gorgeous nephew, Greg, will be visiting for a long weekend, and we can't wait to see them.  (Karen and her husband, Bob, were separated last March -- Karen and Greg were living at the Holly Apts in Warren until August, when she and Bob reconciled.-- but that's another long story!  Guess I'd better sign off.  We're thinking of you and send you our best wishes.

October 11, 1973 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Sorry you couldn't get to Idaho.  We were really looking forward to your visit.  Hope you can make it sometime.  Plans are getting deeper for Gary's business here and with only 7 months left in the service, plans are very definite to stay here.  Reading your letter brought back a longing to see friends again but then we've made some really valuable friend here too.

Rick and Linda did come for 10 days.  They may have mentioned something at the reunion.  We visited Yellowstone and Sun Valley plus little things.  We enjoyed ourselves a lot in spite of the fact that they are difficult guests because they're very fussy eaters.

Gary's out working on the van's body.  He had hoped to finally get it painted this fall (the summer was so busy with camping and bike riding-- trials style) that he never found that time to do the finishing touches needed.  Now it turns out the engine is throwing out so he figures it's time to get his money out of it instead of struggling through the cold weather for a new engine.  He would like to pick up a second hand car for me to drive to work.  I ride my bike in the summer but winter really requires a vehicle.  Shame -- it would be really nice only to need on vehicle.

I'm happier in my job than ever.  Working 3 1/2 days for 2 dentists.  Takes the humdrum out of work when there's two offices -- lose fulltime benefits though. Both my dentists went elk hunting this week so I've been on vacation.  We were hoping to visit an aunt in Canada (B.C.) or Disneyland but finances won't allow that.  Gary just took a trip to Texas with his forthcoming partner to see the Suzuki '74 models.  We'll be watching pennies closely for this business adventure.  So glad we don't have a family to support although our golden retriever is having a litter Nov 9th or thereabouts!!  We're going to take one dog to my sister's neighbor in Colorado Springs when we go down for Christmas.  My sister came here last year so we're planning on the holiday there this year.

Is you social life getting complicated in wonderful Pittsburgh?

Had really good yields from my garden this year -- too much lettuce.  This was the first year-- next year I'll know the right way.

Have been helping with the Brownie Girl Scouts this year and enjoying that.  It has been taking 2 or more nights a week lately, but with Gary on a 4 to midnight schedule this month it's not too bad.

Fall has definitely set in.  We won't have the tree splendor like there but the trees will lose their leaves with little ceremony.

Well, need to get us some lunch before we starve!  Take care.

August 25, 1970 (Letter from Dody)

It sounds as if you're really ready to go back to school.  Well, join the group.  For the past 3 days, I've been so "school sick" that I just haven't got the ambition to do a thin.  I'll really be glad to get back.

I met another girl 4 weeks ago from DuBois.  I don't really know what will become of it but it's fun while it lasts.  We communicate real good.  She's 5'3", blond, and has an impish mischievious smile.

My brother (John) came home from Alaska about 2 weeks ago.  He was here for about 5 or 6 days.  At the most he'll be up there for 9 more months.  Then no one knows where he'll go.

I paid my first semester last week and it looks like New York has to wait for awhile.  They raised my tuition so I'll be working right up until I go back.  (Hey, this summer's getting to be too much like work!!)

By the end of August I should have the American Legion just about finished.  As for the State Hospital--.  Today I shoveled cow shit for about 5 hrs.  That's what I call a lot of bull----!

Amy Baker called the other day about being an usher for Grant Geer in his wedding in April.  She seems to  be pretty happy about their marriage.  All I can say is good luck.

Kathy Schneider and Gary Tuller are getting married sometime in December.  I saw her about 1 1/2 weeks ago and she's also pretty happy about it.

Hey, how's it feel to be free?  I think it's a pretty good feeling.  Life's too short to mess it up with marriage so early in one's life.  Notice I said the above statement softly because the love bug strikes people between the ages of 18 and 26.  (Draft age.)

My botany professor and hopefully my future fraternity brother were here when I got home from work today.  He brought his sailboat and he's going up to Kinzua for two days.  Unfortunately I couldn't go.  But, eh said that in a couple weeks he'll be up again and then we can go out for about 2 or 3 days.  Nothing like brownie points, huh??

Dad put a deck out in back of the house this summer and he's also having aluminum siding put on our house on Oak Street.

All in all this summer's been pretty lousy with very little time to enjoy oneself.  Maybe next summer will be better.  Here's hoping.

My address for school should be the same but I'll let you know for sure.  Are you going home before you go or what??  Let me know so that we can get together and go over things.

Take care and write soon.