October 23, 1977 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Are you still out there somewhere??

Received a letter from Dody and Wendy in Tenn.  In case she didn't write:
5652 Hinton Place
Memphis 38117

Dody decided to give up teaching in February for a career in the Coast Guard.

Gary is off to Bend, Oregon, to a 100 mile motorcycle race.  I would have gone except I felt I should to go a dental hygiene meeting in Pocatello yesterday.

Rick & Linda had a baby girl in late July, early August and ours is due the end of February.  We felt things were stable enough now to do such a foolish thing.

Any progress in the wife search for you?  Just married off the perfect girl for you.  We were just in L.A. visiting them.  We decided to get a good vacation in so Disneyland became our destination. We traveled down on our 1000-cc Honda motorcycle.  Came back through Sequoia and Yosemite National Forests and snow!  We had fun at Harrah's Antique Car Collection in Reno for 2 1/2 hours -- could have stayed much longer.  Anyway, that strikes out something that Gary has always wanted to do (bike to Cal. & the car collection) and Disneyland for me.  It was beautiful weather and a delightful trip.

We do plan to make our migration east for our 10 year reunion this summer.

Anxious to hear where you are and if you are happy.

Gary has a new accomplishment -- a 200cc motorcycle he built and designed himself.

Have had fantastic summer and fall weather.  Do have a guilt complex enjoying it though since we need rain so badly and lots of snow this summer winter!

Had a neat garden.

Schneider's visited us for 2 weeks in September.   Anxious for their first grandchild!

I'm anxious to get out for a little job.  My back is sore from sitting here.  Needed very badly to get some long overdue letters off.  Was thinking, your name appeared, and decided I might as well wake you up.

Take care.

April 3, 1977 (Letter from Kathy)

Have the typewriter out to type a letter for Gary, so decided to get a little much needed practicing in on you!!

Gary's out in the garage helping a 14 year old neighbor with his motorcycle.  This kid has pretty neat parents.  The kind I'm sure Gary wishes he would have had sometimes.  Imagine his parents supporting him in his motorcycles and actually standing out in the desert on a freezing windy day to watch -- no way!!  They don't even want to talk about it on the phone.

We are headed for a 170 mile race from Burns to Bend, Oregon on April 16th.

I had a week off in March that coincided with a trip that my neighbor was taking to San Francisco and Sacramento to visit her Mother in a convalescent home.  Gary had no objection to me going. (He planned to lose 5 pounds while I was gone.  It's my fault he's 5-10 pounds overweight because if we weren't' married he wouldn't come home and wind up in front of the TV and could ride his bike every night instead.  How's that for shifting the blame?  We had a good chuckle over that -- especially when he didn't lose any weight while I was gone.)   Anyway, we spent over 20 hours with her Mom that week and got plenty of shopping, eating, driving, and spending in!!!

We'll be glad to see spring arrive for real and for the wind to stop huffing everything 10 houses away.  Not sure how much we will be affected by the drought in the Northwest.  We may be in an area that's unpopulated enough that we may still be able to maintain yards.  Time will tell.

We have a community water system here and the board election comes up May 2.  We really have to put our heads together in this neighborhood to keep out the guys who can profit from being on the board.  I dread the upcoming election.  The neighborhood is split over a dog shooting.  What a mess!!

Thank you for your invitation.  We get one every year from Gary's relatives for their annual July 4th celebration.  If we got home we could party all day!!

Imagine Mardi and Marti would have been a little chocked over twins.  Always thought I'd like to have twins -- but a boy and girl the first time.  Don't expect too much do I?

Gary's job is continuing to go well and mine also.  Think I've got the most progressive dentist in Idaho and if not, certainly the office with the most benefits.  He mellows a little every year as he becomes happier with himself and gives us less static.

We had thought that Gary would get a company car about now, but come to find out that the parts manager has been there 13 years and never offered a car, so Gary just doesn't know now whether he'll get one or not.  We did sell the Corvette back to the guy that we bought it from and Gary has been riding his motorcycle (one of them I should say) to work and on the colder mornings I drop him off.  I still worry a little that maybe he's not sure whether he wants to be there or not, but then other days I think I'm just reading him wrong.  I know he has a lot of responsibility there and pressure.  Thank my lucky stars that I have the job I have with good working conditions, good hours, and good pay.

Glad to hear you are feeling "settled in".  Little surprised too that we haven't gotten a card from some distant or near state, but figured you found your niche.

We did have a neat time in Pa for the holidays.  I really love to visit, but there's not a whole lot that I miss from there.  I love the independence that our location gives us.  Know we never could live in the same town with Gary's parents.  They would drive us to divorce.  Feel now that our marriage is better than it has ever been.  Sometime, I don't remember or how but I expected the fact that Sunday is Gary's day in the desert.  I plan Sunday for myself to do "my" things, even if that means saving the cleaning and cooking.  Actually I've been reading novels, which I can get lost in for days if I let myself.

I can lose myself just as easily in the garden for an afternoon and not even think of it as work -- it's therapy from the routine of the weeks I guess.  It's really neat how we grow.

Gosh, I sure am rattling away.  How come (no, why) -- starting to talk like the farmers -- do I get so thoughtful when I write to you?  I would guess because your letters always seem so thoughtful and get me in the mood.

My boss brought out a load of manure for my garden today.  I offered his son the part I didn't plan to use since they don't have room for one.  Gary and I went food shopping while they rototilled the manure in on their side, came back to find it all done.  Sure thought that was nice.

Kind of looking forward to our 10 year class reunion, sometimes wondering though if I really care what happened to many of them.  It almost made me feel good that I didn't remember Rick Hackett (that doesn't even sound right) when I saw him at the gym at Christmas.  Linda Dies said, "gee, you guys must not look at your yearbook much."  Seems another life away to have gone to high school there.  Wow -- Gary just put the light on.  Guess it was getting dark -- been writing all afternoon.

Enough is enough -- take care.

December 12, 1976 (Christmas Card from Kathy and Gary)

Your letters are always so refreshing -- we both enjoy hearing from you so much.

Gary's old boss -- Ernie from the Magnovox place visited us in Sept -- was a pleasant surprise.

We decided Dec. 5 to take a quick trip home to Pa for Christmas.  I'm going to fly out the 19th, Gary the 24th, and we return the 28th.  I have the week before Christmas off without choice, and Gary doesn't feel he should take more than a couple days off.  If you should get to Warren, please give us a jingle.  Afraid we won't get much chance to run around.  Anxious to see our families and close friends.

If we don't see you over the holidays, I promise a nice letter when we get back.

September, 22, 1976 (Letter from Kathy)

The job that Gary had hoped for at FORD did materialize and better than anticipated.  Two weeks after he started as assistant service manager or service writer, the service manager quit so the store manager has been getting Gary squared away to take the job.  He should get the title shortly and the raise in pay to go with the title and, also should get a demo car.  Things are looking brighter.

Think of you often -- especially when I meet a neat single gal.  With the base located here though there are a higher % of single guys to gals.

After having lost our 2nd cutting of alfalfa to hail, we lost the third cutting to rain.  Hay costs are going to be high this year.  Thankful we don't have a horse to feed.  It's been a rather wet summer here -- not anything like Warren, but it has rained almost weekly.

Did some canning and freezing this year.  Now that I'm caught up on all that, have time to get the long lost letters written.

Gary now has Saturdays off so our lives are coming together a little more often now.  It's really neat to have him around more.  It's something I've missed the past couple years with the long hours he had at the motorcycle shop.

Wishing we could have made a trip home to Pa. in Sept -- it's been 3 1/2 years since we've been there, but finances and Gary's new job wouldn't allow for it.  Finance should be better in the spring, so I may go to see my parents alone or wait until Sept. when Gary will have a week vacation.  It would be impractical to make the trip by car in a week, so unless he can get an extra week, I may still plan to fly myself.  Wish I spent a little less time planing my or our lives and more just enjoying it day to day.

Think I have convinced Gary that after 7 years of marriage we're ready as we ever will be for children.  Just can't imagine my whole life without some children (1 or 2) to enjoy.  Think he's scared of losing the freedom to enjoy the out-of-doors.  We'll just have to work together to make a good adjustment.  So! -- I'm planning a little girl for next Sept!!!  It may not be a good time to have a baby but it just so happens to be convenient for me/us.

After having  managed to work through rope burns and smashes from the horses next door and then from some puncture wounds at work from dirty instruments, I've now discovered a lump on my right hand next to the joint in my middle finger.  Going to watch for a couple weeks and then make a decision.  Quite concerned as it does involve my occupation.

Somehow Gary agreed to take a 3 evening course with me on family planning. Really do think it helped our marriage, although it seems like it would have improved just with Gary's new job.  I'm sure he must feel better about himself.  I just couldn't have faced another winter with him at that cycle shop.

Anxious to hear if your job is still exciting to you.  Take care -- looks like those waiting years are paying off for us.

July 7, 1976 (Letter from Kathy)

Glad to hear from you.  We were beginning to really wonder what happened to you.  Meet any neat gals this summer yet?  Your new job sounds great -- still think so?

My brother went to college in Springfield.  (little trivia for you)

I'm waiting for Gary to get home.  He's applied for several jobs here and in Boise in hopes that he'll come up with something that'll have a future.  He was hoping to hear from the Ford place today. Think things would be perfect if he'd get a job that pays for the hard worker he is.  He finally realized that he wasn't going to get anywhere at the cycle shop.  Tried this spring to buy in -- even thought about buying a business here and eventually convert it to a cycle shop -- hopefully on the good name he's built up, but everything led to a dead end.  I try to keep my big mouth shut.  We went to Colorado in March to see about job prospects there in the bike business -- nothing.  If this job at Ford doesn't come through, maybe an electrical job in Boise will.  H ate to move, but yet wouldn't mind if Gary could find himself.

I had the day off.  Spent the entire morning mowing our lawn and the neighbors (8:30 - 1:30).  Don't care if I see a green lawn again.  It's been so hot (in the 100s) that the lawn grew really fast as it was twice as hard and time consuming.  Used the afternoon for general housecleaning and defrosting refrigerator.

I recently quit the office you were in to work the other office 4 days a week.  Dr. Reynolds really does provide better working conditions, better benefits, and better salary. Just really got disgusted with the disorganization.  Was waiting it out until Dr. Reynolds felt he could use me more time.

The winter was hard for us financially, things are starting to look up a little, but the cycle business has never really started to boom yet.  (Bad is just no fun money!)

We kinda "fell into" a 1967 Corvette -- 36,000 miles on it in beautiful or "cherry" condition as Gary would say.  Trying to sell our truck.  Haven't had any bites yet.

Got 5 3/5  tons of alfalfa (hay) off our 2 acres -- made $200 this month on that.

Garden not doing too well unless you really like peas.  We had a hard frost June 28th. Unbelievable!!

Gary's been riding mountain trails now and raced through the winter.  Has also been neat to though.  He helps me more than ever with the daily chores and gets me out now and then.

May take a trip to Pa. in Sept. if we can both take 2 weeks.  Otherwise we'll probably take just a few days and visit my aunt in Victoria, Brit. Columbia.  We'd take in the Oregon and Washington coast on our way.

We did take a trip to Oklahoma City to visit Jeff Tuller & family for Christmas.  Jeff was getting around on his leg pretty well by then.  (He crushed it between 2 of his cars while jumping the batteries.)  Couldn't remember when in Sept. it happened -- whether you had been and gone or not.  Gary's parents did stay here on night as a result of flying to Oklahoma for Jeff -- they took a little side trip here.

Know a really neat gal -- teaches grade school.  Used to live here -- now in Grays Lake, Illinois. You're everything she'd like in a guy.  Don't know your likes in "women".  Too bad we can't get a match going.  She's almost as wonderful as me!!!

We got the rests of our lawn in this spring.  Gary and I laugh about it now but it we didn't divorce each other thru that we never will!!!  We do not work well in the yard together cuz Gary hates it. (My hand is sweating so that is why the writing is worse than ever!!)

Have a really neat neighbor that's been helping me with interior decorating.  Her 11 and 13 year old girls sure are great kids.  I kidnap them somedays all day to keep me company   (I'd like to start getting some money stashed away for a baby.)  Think I could convince Gary if he was happy with himself.  Time will tell.

Sounds like you're getting pretty good at taking care of yourself.  By the time you marry she won't have to break you in like I had to do with Gary!!  Paul -- take care.

Let us know how life treats you.  Maybe we'll see you for our 10 y ear class reunion or maybe you'll honeymoon out west!!

What do you hear from anyone?  Did you spend the winter in Warren?

July 26, 1975 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Using up some old stationary I found would you believe from before Gary & I were married?!

I really thought you had left Montana since it had been so long since you had written.

We would really love to have you come visit.  Thought maybe (was going to say be in your area but it is Big Sky< Wyoming, not Montana!!) -- for a dental convention but went to one in Las Vegas in stead that was more suited to me.

How did things turn out with your car?

We've been super busy this summer trying to get day work, night house work, yard work and play all in.

Gary is still with the motorcycles.  Things are looking better lately for him than they did for a while but time will tell.

My garden is not going as well this year as other years.  We've had really weird weather.

August 7

Never did get this ff.  Gary came home and I got sidetracked.  He's working on the brakes of our little Ford truck.  They cut our telephone wire Saturday when they cut the alfalfa around us so we've been without a phone for almost a week.  Can't understand what's taking so long.

Schneider's are coming here the 2nd & 3rd week in September.  It's been 2 1/2 years since we've seen them -- hard to believe.  Need to get some dinner going.  What have you decided to do --

September 14, 1974 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Glad to hear you're so close.  We did write a few weeks ago, but I think it missed you.  Because you may never get it decided I better write quickly.  Got your postcard.  Thanks.

We're going to get a new address in Nov (same town, bigger house) so I had delayed in writing until I got it but we never moved in June when we thought we would.

Wanted to know if you might like to try and come here for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, but thought you'd probably go to Pa for Christmas so maybe turkey time?  Love to have you and we should be moved and have plenty of room (even have room here too.)

Pretty sure they sell Pepperidge Farm breads in West.  You must be in a small town.  Take care.

July 26, 1974 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Please excuse my long overdue letter.  We've been planning on moving in just a few weeks since June 1st and I've been waiting to give you our new address, but the other day when I noticed the postmark was from March I thought I better sit down today and respond.  Things keep getting delayed and we may not move until Sept or Oct now.  It'll be the same town, just new house.  Will let you know new address when we get ready to move.  It's rural (2 1/2 acres) and I'm not sure of address yet.  Guess yo might as well wait until you know where your job will be before you write.

Dody's parents were in Boise to visit Jim (recruiting for the Army there) and came down here for a short evening visit.  Dody's grandfather was with them also.  Jim and his family did not come.

Gary is now FREE!  He says he feels alive.  He's out of the A.F., doing what he loves -- working on motorcycles.  Our plans for our own business got delayed a year but hopefully next year-- please pray for us!

I'm still working -- 4 days a week for the different dentists in town.  I'm the only hygienist in town and it really keeps me busy with all my other interests (girl scouts, gardening, bread making and housework -- there's always that).  Thank goodness I'm done ironing those awful uniforms from the Air Force.  That saves many hours a month.  The summer is so busy anyway with yards and such.  Need a vacation of fresh corn, tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumbers, squash, etc.?  The garden is ripening quickly.

My sister from Colorado is coming in 2 weeks for a week.  Looking forward to company.

It's been a crazy summer -- extremes of wet and dry and hot and cold, but very enjoyable just the same. All sunshine!  How we love the sunshine.

We tired of neighbors and have decided to put a house on 2 1/2 acres 3 miles out of town.  Next year I plan on a really big garden and maybe the next spring chickens.  Maybe even a horse and/or goat someday.  The ground is my therapy -- vans and bikes Gary's.

He works 9:00am - 7:00pm one week then noon til 8pm the next.  He used to have every 3rd Saturday off, but now it's every other Wed, which is my day off.

Have you found or decided on your job?  Really glad for you that you're getting the education you want.  Know what you must mean when you are tired of school.  I was tired after 14 years and there you are after 18!  (Well, didn't you take a year off?)

Well, gotta scoot.  Gary comes home for dinner at 2:00 this week and it's seldom that we get our big meal in at that time.  Need to get my hair trimmed today also before he gets home and it's almost 1:00.

Just wanted to let you know I really hadn't deserted you and glad I got this to you before you moved.

Take care.  Thanks a bunch for keeping in touch.  You're a unique man.

December 15, 1973 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Enjoyed your letter as always.

Things have not lessened for business.

Gary was on a 13 hour work week last week and we passed at the door at 7:00 in the morning and 5:00 in the evening -- awful.

I'm working more than ever and some of my hobbies are suffering -- like the bread that baked an hour and a half too long last night. Giving baked goods for Christmas this year to people here instead of dumb gifts.  Thank goodness I got a good start and a big freezer.  Experimented with pretzels, bagels and all sorts of breads.  Made other gifts by sewing and such.  More like the old time Christmas.

Gary's out in May.  Pray that things go well and we get the bike franchise.  It worries me and although Gary shows little I think it bothers him that it bothers me.  Wish I could have his confidence.  I'm not worried about his ability just the market.  Money is so tight.  Know anyone with too much money?

We have 7 golden retriever puppies 5 weeks old -- just precious.

We're going to Colorado Springs for Christmas.  Hope snow is light in Wyoming mountains.

Glad to hear you enjoyed A. C. and that you let it "all hang out".  Gotta enjoy life -- right?

Just celebrated our 3rd anniversary.  Really unbelievable.  Seems like last year we were married.

Well, housewife duties call -- have nice holidays and hope I caught you before you left for Warren for the holidays.

May 29, 1973 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

My goodness what a fantastic letter you wrote.  Have to put that with our senior yearbook!! Thanks. Miss knowing where everyone is and what they're doing.  Do plan on dropping Dody a short line today.  I'm catching some sunshine -- beautiful summer day -- 80.  My garden is all seeded.  Now all I need to do is week, watch, and eat (and definitely WATER!!)

At the time we were there you were not working.  Glad you got something you wanted.

Gary's been busy keeping the bikes and vehicles in running order.  He's got plans for enclosing the back patio for bike storage and trying to get land for a business.  I'm busy with the usual house things plus the yard and garden.  I'm working 3 1/2 days (cleaning teeth naturally -- prophy's) and really enjoying the extra time at home.  We go to the mountains most weekends..  Rick and Linda Dies are flying out here July 29th-Aug 7th.  Yellowstone is among our plans.

Knew Kaye Gorenflo was engaged but thought she was going to wait for a summer wedding. Knew Sue's father died.  My mother always passes the deaths along but little else.
Since I read your letter to Gary he was confused over Marty and Marti for awhile.

Would appreciate any addresses you have (Nancy Rush, Kaye Gorenflo -- had here hers but probably different since she got married).

Gary and I are just really getting to know each other after being married 2 years.  Our trip home really bought us closer.

To try and beat the meat prices we bought a freezer and half a beef.  Now we can't afford to eat anything but the meat and maybe the freezer!!

If we hadn't made the trip home in February then we would like to have made plans for the reunion, but that isn't possible now so we'll have to make plans for the 10 year reunion.  My brother-in-law's 10 year high school reunion is this summer so my sister and he will be making the trip from Colorado.  We usually see them 2 times a year.  They're about 1 1/2 days from us (over high mountains that make winter travel unpredictable).

Whew -- beginning to roast out here.

Have taken more and more to do my own thing -- making almost all our own grain products (bread, rolls, Eng muffins, etc.) and with the freezer really plan on filling up on our own fresh fruit and vegetables and forget about canned stuff.  It's really a challenge -- Dumb, Oh well!!  It's great living away from everyone that knew how terrible you were when you were younger.  Have really made some great new friends and strange as myself -- but we both miss the old.  Not many people seem to write anymore.

Time to turn over.

Good luck this summer and be sure to keep in touch.  We'll be here.