October 1, 1973 (Letter from Herb)

Man am I jealous.  It sounds like you're really set at school -- and lovin it.  I really wanna go back to school.  I've got to get my applications out this week.  In case you don't remember, I decided to go for an MBA.  However my boards turned out to be pretty disgraceful -- 508 -- so I don't k now where the hell I'm gonna get in.  I think I'm applying to NYU, U of P, and Columbia.  Any suggestions?

I've been keeping myself pretty busy since Kenny's wedding -- it was really good to see you and Tony -- real shame it couldn't have been any longer.  I've been doing my normal stuff.  Seeing Sandy, bowling, studying karate and of course working.  Things are getting out of hand with Sandy. We've grown very close -- but I know I want to go out with other people -- it's gonna be very difficult to tell her that though.  I went to N.Y. this weekend -- my folks were buggin' me -- it was the Jewish New Year and all.  Anyhow it turned into a pretty good weekend.  I saw good old Barbara Silverman again.  You remember Barbara don't you.  Well it was just a very friendly chat nothing there anymore except old times.  I hadn't seen her in about a year though -- so we had some catching up to do.

Oh -- remember that girl Elyse at Kenny's wedding -- well, I found out she was gonna be home for the weekend too so I gave her a call -- and we went out Saturday night.  I had a really nice time too -- don't know what's gonna happen there -- but not too much can without Sandy being at lest in on it first -- on how I don't look forward to that.

One other weirdo thing happened since I saw you -- two weeks ago I got a call from Chris -- Lauer up in Buffalo -- Man did he ever freak me out.  I haven't heard or seen him for about 1 1/2 years now.  He sounded sorta mellowed, apologetic almost.  It felt good to speak with him.  He said he's been living with a girl named Sherry and that he's thinking seriously about marriage.  Man, it was weird speaking to him.  I suppose that the realities of marriage might have brought him a little closer to heart -- he almost sounded like the old Chris.  Said he'd write and explain all -- but I'm still waiting for his letter.  I'll keep you posted.

Other than that -- I hope all is well with you.  Maybe you can arrange a visit here sometime or vice versa.  Oh I saw Kenny yesterday -- he got a letter from you too -- he's in the process of replying -- give him some time -- he's fuckin married these days.

Keep in touch - All my best.

September 21, 1973 (Letter from Chris)

Receiving your letter this morning was almost frighteningly coincidental.  Only last night I saw Paul Rosen while at work.  He was in the Sign of the Steer for a salad and stayed long enough to watch the Riggs-King tennis match.  I only had a few minutes to talk to him since I was working upstairs, and he was at the bar downstairs.  He told me he was living on Long Island and looking for a job.  I mentioned that I hadn't seen you and was wondering what you were doing.  He asked about Tony and I couldn't offer any information.  Then we spoke of Kenny and Lauren, briefly.

It is funny you should feel the same way about Kenny and Lauren as I do.  They are both good people -- but I guess I don't see them as a married couple.  I am surprised that I feel the way I do -- that is, being hurt that I wasn't invited to the wedding.  Tony, you, Herb, Eric, Linda -- and I'm sure Liz and all of Lauren's girlfriends from State.  Not that I could have gone -- but it would have been a nice gesture of him to invite me.  The more I think of it -- the more ashamed I am of myself for feeling this way - -but I do feel it.

On top of this thought is the thought just relayed to me when I called home today -- that Judi Haberman just got married to an old friend of mine.  I know they were going to, but just hearing of it and about how swanky the whole thing was makes me sick.  (Perhaps it's jealousy -- and that's what really scares me.)  For some reason I think of Judi often and though I've had several girlfriends and lived with a handful of women since her -- I can't seem to forget her like I have the rest.  Hell -- I can't even remember what Liz looks like.  Yes -- those 3 years at 4028 Bailey Avenue were real fairy tale years -- my whole 4 years at UB were like that.  And now here I am -- in real life -- a worthless piece of shit -- stagnating in a job with little intellectual satisfaction.  All the people I ever knew and were close to are doing something -- (even if it's getting married -- at least they're happy -- or think they are.)  I know I'm not happy. 

And often the thought comes to me of how I've gone and lost some good friends.  Herb is foremost in my mind -- but even you and Kenny were close to me and at one point I felt I knew all of you.  Now I wonder if either of them would even know me if they passed me on the street.  As far as Eric and Linda go -- all I can say (when I'm not laughing) is that they deserve each other.  What more can one say about two people who you know will be absolutely the same when they are 80 years old and living in Miami.

I don't know if you are aware of what I'm doing now -- but it's the same thing I've been doing since I finished school.  I am the assistant manager of Sign of the Steer Restaurant on Main St. down from UB.  I am also the Head Bartender which can be taken either one of two ways.  I've been here since last Oct 4 when I returned to Buffalo to live with Judi and found out that she didn't want it that way anymore.  So that makes it almost a year now that I've been here and maybe soon I'll need a vacation.  Toward the end of June I decided I couldn't take Buffalo any longer, so I gave notice.  So -- I packed up and split cross-country with a girl I had been seeing. UCLA so I decided she was a good excuse to move to L.A. see some of the good old USA.  It was a big mistake -- the trip was nice -- and there is some beautiful country here -- but the big towns are all the same, and people don't change.  L.A. was really a drag, and when I couldn't find a job and had to pay $240/month for an unfurnished 2 BR apt. -- I decided that it just wasn't the right time to be there.  So I came back to Buffalo and got my job back.  I stayed with a girl I had been seeing before I left and we went to find an apartment together.  So now here we are, Cheri and myself in a real nice, cozy (small) place on Lisbon right off of Bailey (across from Mueller's Delicatessen).

I sure hope you can get down here some time.  We could sit and reminisce, in case you are interested we do have a phone (unlisted) 716-833-9661.

Now that we are writing -- let's try to keep it up.

I'd write more now -- but it's time for me to get to work and I want to get this off to you today.  Take care and keep your head together.

August 12, 1972 (Letter from Chris)

Just a quick note before I go to work.  Hope everything's still going well for you.  Things are fine here except that I have not had time to do anything but work and sleep.  I did get to see the Stones when they were here, but it wasn't so great.

Are you or aren't you going back to school?  Maybe by now you've decided to become a monk and do all your writing on some distant mountain top.  No, huh?  Well, it's just as well.

I've just harvested my first crop of grass from the yard, and in a few days, when it's completely dried I'll put it to the test.  I wonder what ever happened to all the stuff growing on the side at 4028 Bailey.

Herb and Kenny dropped by on Saturday while I was still sleeping.  They were very exciting to see and be with.  Kenny and Lauren still aren't married.  Herb has nothing to do after work, so he's starting to build an amplifier from a kit.

Work is starting to get interesting now.  I usually stay after I'm closed up -- and sit at the bar with a few kids.  Sometimes we get stoned -- and just sit around till 4:30-5:30 in the morning.  If we get hungry -- well, it's a fucking restaurant isn't it.  I've even been raped twice in the last month.  Unfortunately by the same girl both times.  (I think I'm pregnant.)  Last month my life was threatened by four rather obscene youngsters who didn't like the fact that I was having them arrested for theft of service.  (They walked out without paying.)  But these things happen.  What would life be like without some excitement.  Unexciting,  probably.

There's not much for me to say now.  I just finished writing to an old friend, and it seems that every time I write two letters in a row the second is always from hunger.  So I apologize for writing and not saying anything.

But I just wanted to say hello -- send my best wishes and see if you're still alive.  Drop a note sometime.  And if you think you'll be around here sometime -- give an advance notice.  If you'll be back at school, I'll definitely see you there whenever I visit.  Be good - take care.

June 28, 1972 (Letter from Tony)

This is my fourth attempt at writing you.  Everytime I start I get carried away with my thoughts.  I try to say too much to you and end up with 1 page, quite different each time.

To start with, 5 of the last 6 weeks have been quite exceptional, really nice.  This last week has been a little unsettled and unsettling.

Since I last saw you, I had an incredible time closing the deal on 106 Winspear for Sunshine House.  The administration problems, tie-ups and fuckups were very taxing.  I was convinced at 2:00pm that Tuesday that we were going to be stalled again, but at 2:15 everything opened up and everything raced ahead.

The getting of that house has been the most informative and intense event in my lief.  It's hardened me a lot but it also taught me a tremendous amount.

On that Saturday (day before graduation) I got the key to the house, went in and went crazy for an hour.  That morning I got my acceptance from Berkeley and a rejection from Harvard.  I began to get seriously excited about Berkeley.  That night Harvey, Marty, Elise, Harvey's parents, Marty's parents, Harvey's brother and I went to John's Flaming Hearth.  It was great.  A really big day.

Sunday my mother came in with my little sister and we went out to eat and then sat up in the bleachers and watched graduation.  We also bopped around campus and had a good time.

I found out the next day that Jerry O'Brien had found a car in Syracuse, where he lives, that he thought we could buy for $125.  (It is now a week later, I don't like the beginning of this letter but it's a start.  I shall now push for a more positive frame of mind.)    It turns out that care had a cracked frame and we wound up buying a 1964 green Rambler American for $260.  It took $90 more to get it past inspection.  The trunnions were bad.  So now we call the car Trunnion.

On May 19, 1972 I tripped along for the first time.  It was good except that there was no one around and the lack of talking bothered me.  Also, it was Gay Lib week at UB and the actions of some of the guys was very disturbing.

I went to Columbus to see my sister after Jerry and I bought our car in Syracuse.  The car would take another 3 weeks before we could drive it.

The day after I got back from Columbus I went to N.Y. and visited Meryl, who I went down with, and stayed at Harvey's and saw Kenny, Herb, Chris (we had a good time the night we got together), wentn to Elise and Marty's engagement party and had a surprisingly good time, tried the tests for Jeopardy and visited Central Park, the art show in Greenwich Village, and walked around Manhattan a lot.

So many things happened and I feel very inadequate in relating events.  My emotions and feelings were very positive at this time and except for a few bad instances things were unbelievably good.  And they continued until the point where I started making things go wrong just to keep myself from being so happy.  This is what bothers me now, this self-restraining tendency.  Onward.

I went to Syracuse with Jerry and to clear up some things about the car and when I got back Friday night Joan Beck came over and we had a really fine time and I began to think I love her and that is also messing me up a bit.

Things are happening so fast I haven't had time to sit down and think about them.  I've spent a lot of time with Joan lately, I've been stoned and drunk a ridiculous amount of time, I've been training high school students in crisis intervention along with Jerry, I've been working with Dr. Holmes an economics professor, I've been spending a lot of time at Sunshine House, and today, I went home and saw my father for the first time since a year ago January.  I was really nervous but it worked out well and what was really shocking was that as I was about to leave, he gave me a check for $1,000.  I still haven't had time to think about that one.

It is now another week later.  I was aiming for uncontrolled chaos and good times and found them.  Now it's time to have a little discipline.  I just wrote to Herbie.  I'm trying to catch up on things like letter writing.

This is my first night on my job at Gowanda and it looks like it will be a nice, slow, slow time here.  Jerry O'Brien and I work Tu-W-Thu from 4 pm to 4 am this week, Th-F-Sat next week, then keep alternating.  36hrs/wk for $75.  It gives us a six day weekend every other week and I'm sure we'll be driving to a lot of places.  We've been averaging over 100 miles a day in our car.  It's such a great toy.  To be able to drive to Niagara Falls, Zoar Valley, Letchworth, Colden, etc is just so nice and it's still new and exciting.  And we get stoned a lot in the car.

I can't believe how good things are going and can only hope that I'll be able to keep them going that way.  with this job I'l have more time to think and go over all the millions of things that have gone on in the last year and prepare myself for leaving to Berkeley.

Joan left yesterday for a 3 or 4 week hitching trip to Banff National Park on the border of British Columbia and Alberta.  I miss her but I also welcome the change and lessened responsibilities.  I've moved out of Le Brun but will still get my mail there.  I'll live part time here and in Springville and part in Buffalo.  As long as I can keep myself full of energy while I'm working and it's only for 8 weeks, I should be able to accomplish a lot in these 12 hour slots.  Getting to know Gowanda should be fun.  We spent a large part of today's working hours wandering around town getting acquainted.  Sun was shining.

A week ago last Friday Jerry and I were here to do some training which was screwed up cuz no one knew what was going on and it wasn't at all organized, so we left after an hour and went to Zoar Valley.  It was so incredibly beautiful.  We climbed on a cliff and sat there a long time on the top.  It was trippy.

11 hawks suddenly appeared and began soaring and soaring around.  They were so beautiful, just gliding along so perfectly.  It was great.

I am facing so many new and changing things.  My relationships to Joan and Jerry are quite different than ones I have had with other people.  I have managed to spend quite a bit of time by myself and I have used it more constructively than I ever did before.

With all this goodness around, I've expecting a crash sometime in the future.

I still am over-critical of myself at times and feel a lack of self-confidence occasionally but as I digest all that's going on around me I feel I shall build myself up.  Jerry and Joan are strong-willed people and inner strength on my part is very important.

Well, I am going to finish this and send it out so you at least get some feedback.  I am very interested in your feelings of an inner voice, please write more on that.

The time is passing quickly.  8 more weeks and I'm off to Berkeley.  Maybe I'll see you in California or here.

Take care and stay strong.

June 15, 1972 (Letter from Chris)

I have an hour to write before I have to leave for work.  It has been a very hectic month since I've been home. I started work immediately at Ronnie's Steak House, and only got a raise to $3.00/hr.  Then I had a lot of trouble getting a day off which I needed.  They said no -- I said "fuck you".  They tried to punish me by taking me off the schedule for two day.s  I tried to tell them that I wasn't playing games, that this was now my permanent job, at lest for awhile.  They didn't take me seriously so I went to look for another job.  And now -- get this -- I am the 2nd Assistant Manager of Steak and Brew in Merrick, L. I.  $10,400/a year start -- 1 week vacation after 6 months -- 2 weeks after 1 year.  It's an interesting job -- nice people -- but long hours. I haven't seen Judy except to go to Herb's sister's wedding *which was OK -- no big deal -- stranger people there.)

Since I am no longer a lonely blue collar worker, I've had to start building up a collection of clothes -- so I go to all the cheapie sales -- shirts $2.99, suits $29.99.  Real fancy!  Huh?

I met a really nice young lady last week.  She was a waitress at the first Steak and Brew where I trained for two weeks.  The relationship started really fast - she was very aggressive.  For three days it built and grew -- and a day later she just went dead -- I mean -- nothing.  It was the strangest fucking thing that's ever happened to me and any girl.  But I should have expected it, because she was (is) very mixed up.  She tried to commit suicide last year -- she's all fucked up with her parents and boyfriend.  So now I haven't talked to her for a while, and I'm becoming more and more aggravated by what happened.  I'm not hurt - I'm just confused and would like to be able to understand her.

So what else is new -- nothing.  No dope here that is exceptional.  I have some really good grass -- never tires you out -- but I paid $25 for a rather small ounce.

Tony was down here visiting Harvey, and Herb, Kenny and I went out to a sleazy  bar with them.  Kenny hates his job -- Herb hasn't got much to say about his yet.

I'm still waiting for the last bills to come from Buffalo.  I got the rent deposit back -- $40 short for various reasons.  (Such as garbage removal, late rent, bad checks, etc etc.)  So it is likely that everyone will owe me some money in the end -- $5 or $7 or so.  I'll let you know later on.

I just sent away for tickets to the Stones concert in July.  I'll never be able to get them -- but at least I'm making the effort.

It's really a drag being out of school, and I get sick every time I think of what I'm missing.  However, I'm going to try to get up to Buffalo once or twice next year.

Boy, it's strange, but I thought I was going to have so much to tell you.  I really miss sitting around the living room like slobs and getting high every night.  Actually I don't miss getting high -- I just miss getting together with people.

Well, I'll try to write something better next time.  I hope you have a fucking great time -- and don't forget to drop a line once in awhile.

Be good!

September 1, 1971 (Letter from Chris)

There is so much to tell you, and I suppose that much of it is not going to be news to you.  Kenny or Tony have probably written you already.

To begin with, Tony called me last night and will be moving into the apartment.  This is the good news.  Now for the bad.

It seems that our apartment was broken into for the second time.  It was on a Thursday night.  Judi and I had been listening to your stereo.  We put the records away at 11:30pm and went to sleep.  Mike and Dennis were up at Goodyear.  At about 12:30 I heard someone pull into the driveway.  Then someone was walking around the house.  We both thought it was our roommates.  Well, it wasn't because M and D came in at 3:30am.  Dennis who has been living in both your room and Herb's noticed that the stereo was gone.  Also about 5-10 of your records and maybe 10-15 of his.  The front window of your room had been opened.  He thought maybe I had moved it, so didn't tell me until the next morning.  Well, we didn't know what the hell to do.

That Friday night (the next night), three young punks came to the front door.  One of them -- he wouldn't tell us his name,k but said something later like Joe P----, was really fucked up on drugs.  He said he left a radio here once, and wanted it back.  He said that one of us had it, that it wasn't in your room where he had left it -- and he hadn't even looked in your room yet.  He was with Doug Schrieber, and another kid with a car.  Mike told me later that Doug was the kid who he saw walk off with Sal's leather boots the day you left.  Anyway, they mentioned something about some raunchy grass.  I explained to them that we were robbed Thursday night, and that the radio and grass were probably taken also.  They seemed to believe otherwise.  Finally after showing them that it was not in any other rooms, they left.  Dennis then told me where the radio was -- outside in the garage.  We also searched the house for hits, and found about 6 oz. of crap in your room.  We figured we had to call the cops to report the heft, so we got rid of it.  Mike drove up to campus and left it on the parking lot.

Well, to make a long story short, we are pretty sure that Doug and his friends had something to do with the robbery.  But we can't be sure.  What kind of friends do you have anyway?

What else is there?  Oh yes.  1.  Do you still have the key to the apartment.  If so please send it back to us.

2.  Bill for Aug came to $7.00 plus change -- please send me a check as soon as possible.  (I am in desperate need for money.)

3.  Send us an estimate of your stereo, amp, speakers, head phones, etc. for insurance purposes.

The cops came Sat Morning and took down all info and left.  No big deal.

Tony moved all your stuff downstairs.

Listen, I've got to go.  In a hurry.  Best of luck with your job, etc.  Be good -- write --

July 1, 1970 (Letter from Herb)

How you doing dum-dum!  It was really good to get your letter.  Sorry to hear that things didn't turn out better for you this summer -- cheer up though it's not over yet.  Maybe you can get your roommates off of booze and turn them on to the finer things in life.  Anyway you've always got Mardi there, right!  I'm sure things will get better.

I'm not sure where to start to tell you what's been going on here.  Well, I'll start with the short stories first.  News from Buffalo has it that one Vincent Williams has moved into our apartment with Tony.  Just one problem we can't seem to get any money out of him.  Short of lying up there we're doing everything.  Christ is going crazy.  He's pissed as all hell.  Knowing Vinnie I don't really expect to see it though.  Speaking of Chris, he's fine.  He's in love with Liz.  He's been seeing her all the time.  She's going away this weekend but he wouldn't even think of getting a date.  After all, Liz might not like it.  He's working in the pork factory again.  So I don't see him too much.

Next story concerns Kenny and me frantically looking for jobs.  Neither of us had been very successful as of the first week in June.  So being very upset, I decided to try my ace in the hold.  The parking lot I worked in last year.   Kenny came with me.  I was surprised when I got there and found out they not only remembered me but offered me my old shift back.  Naturally I was in no position to argue, 9-6 everyday Tues and Wed off.  Now comes the good part.  Kenny got offered a job too.  After some coaxing he accepted.  Imagine Tuchman parking cars all day.  His shift wasn't as good, 12-9 every day Wed and Thurs off, but he took it anyway.  Okay I started on a Thursday and everything going pretty well.  Kenny started that Saturday.  He was looking for a new job on Sunday.  You see I sorta lied and told the boss that Kenny could drive a standard (hoping he could learn fast).   Well, everything was going fine Sat.  I left at 6:00.   Later that night I spoke to Kenny and found out he did a nice job denting a car (it was a standard).  Kenny said uh-uh.  Kenny was out of work a few hours later.

But it turned out alright.  He found a job the next week with an investment company.  It even turns out that he's working across the street from Lauren.  La di da.  He's been seeing her pretty often -- he says not because he really wants to but just because there's no one else.

So everything is going pretty well with me too.  Except that I have no weekends because of my job.  But Tues and Wed aren't too bad.  I've been seeing Barbara a lot.  She's fine.  But I've been sprouting out and seeing others too.  All in all it shouldn't be too bad a summer.  Keep in touch -- Kenny says he'll write you soon (you should live so long).  Have fun -- say hello to Mardi for me.

March 20, 1970 (Letter from Barb Lucia)

Well, it's another afternoon at work, this time it's a different place, different, city, but the same old shit -- work, eat, sleep, go out... there is nothing to do in the winter but be a dud, no matter where you are of what the hell you're doing!

It'll be two weeks tomorrow I've been here-- the first week was an absolute hell -- after running around w/ everybody, I still got to walk around and get lost 3 thousand times in Boston -- you should have seen me -- taking subways, buses, walking and walking and walking -- I'm there, Hey! Neat!  Of course, none of my interviews worked out so here I am working in an office again.  I didn't want this job but the guy kept calling me up and I didn't know what to say, so I took it.  For a grand total of $85 a week, I'll never get rich.

Well, enough of this money-minded materials, straight-city talk -- other than that, things are great.  I'm still living with Carol in her apartment, sleeping on her couch -- there are 4 of us there and it's a little crowded -- I must get my ass moving and find a place -- I am so helpless when it comes to this stuff.  I went down to Harvard Square last nite and got a "Boston After Dark" and looked -- I'm there Duh!  I got lost trying to come home on the subway -- geez, that's the first time that happened -- perverts to the left, perverts to the right -- I'll never be Ratso Rizzo.

What are you doing besides school (blah) -- working? (blah).  When's your spring break?  You really should go somewhere this year.  Bermuda?  Florida?  The Bahamas?  Warren?  Everybody's always talking about what they're doing th is summer -- help!  I don't even know what I'm doing now!

I wrote a letter to Mardi at Bill's in Mpls.  I imagine that's where she is!  I know she's not working yet -- when will we all see each other again?  Renee's wedding is only a few weeks off and I'm almost sure I won't be able to make it.  Not to mention that I didn't get an invitation, but I will try to send her a present anyway; it's not every day you get married!

Do you realize it's almost summer?  Today is beautiful -- of course it might have changed since I went out at noon - - we don't even have windows here-- now hear this -- I have successfully wasted an entire year and will probably do so again -- Paul, when you're rich and famous, will you still talk to me?  I'll probably be carhopping down on the Bowery -- Mardi will be an airline stewardess, Joan will have 6 kids, oh, I can't stand it....

You better write me a line or two soon, at least before your vacation -- I get lonely sometimes her e-- I fell like I'm running a one-man show and I am such a ding-a-ling anyway.  Take care.  How's Kenny.  Heave you been visiting the music room lately?  Last nite Carol and I got out the pipe, but it didn't do a thing for me -- maybe I should go find a music room.

February 9, 1970 (Letter from Barb Lucia)

It's a swinging afternoon at work, I'm ready to fall asleep on my typewriter so I think I'd better write for awhile.  You almost had two little smiling faces there to cheer things up Saturday afternoon.  We were going to knock on your door and yell -- "Let's go to the Palace!"  I'm sure you and Kenny would have freaked out if we showed up.  No! No! Go home!!  What a weekend this was, let me tell you -- zero!  Friday nite we worked on our decoupages and talked and talked and talked about going away (like what's new in the last six month?)   Then we went over to sleep at Mardi's and Bill's on the phone and we're all there yakking away, getting nothing settled of course.  Now that we've both given notice at work, time is running out.  I think Mardi will end up going to Minneapolis and live with Bill till spring and I mostly probably to Boston.  Why can't we do anything original??  Why, oh why.  I was all psyched to go to Denver and to California but Bill's all involved with a new job now, etc. etc.  I hope for her sake that Mardi is sure, really sure about this - I don't know -- I'm not going to give her any grief about it.  There might be a bright side to all this SHIT -- how does it fell to be settled in school and not wondering about the future -- duh!  I remember my sophomore year all I worried about was the next paper that was due, the next basketball game or kegger -- hey, I was cool.  (Don't let anybody ever tell you, you're cool!!!)

Oh well, we did have a jolly good time last weekend with you guys.  I think we're all slightly warped: God, that was unreal.  We are a bunch of duds, laying around drinking ourselves under the table.  Hey, clean!

I really clonked out on the bus on the way home -- if there's one thing I hate, it's coming home all the time.

Well, what else is new around here.  Joan was home this weekend.  I talked to her about 10 minutes but didn't see her.  She won't be home again till Easter and I won't be around then so that's that.  I guess Freddie goes in the Reserves in two weeks.  If Piccirillo pulls this one off she'll be a genius, I don't know how she's going to do it.  What do you hear from Mike? Did he win the election or whatever -- Mike Foster as president of a "cool": fraternity -- wow! Groovy!  Where's my letter sweater?

When are you coming home -- I have this duh! feeling about going now.  Like, I don't mind going to Boston but I'm not really thrilled about i -- I don't like the idea of going alone but I imagine I'll do it.  Bla-ah, why can't it be summer, spring, fall -- ?  Would love to go somewhere warm pretty soon.  I wish I could get Mardi's ass moving.  I just don't' understand her nowadays.  What, what, what is the problem???  Hey, we're stable.  Normal.

Think I'll close now.  Now that I"m at work I guess I should do home work -- doo-doo-doo -- I'll go find something to do.  Peace, take care, say hi to Kenny -- hope we see you soon.

P.S.  I even gave up smoking Larks last week for 2 days -- I must be really blah or something.

P.P.S.  The collage will get done this week!

February 9, 1970 (Letter from Patty)

Well, I started classes Thursday and I get the feeling that this semester isn't going to be any better than last.  I have terrible courses and terrible teachers.  I didn't even get into half of the courses I wanted.  My grades for 1st semester weren't too good -- about 2.3 and in general, I guess this isn't going to be the best year of my life.

I didn't have a really terrific time at Elizabeth's (in New Jersey), but it was quite interesting.  I saw her father's art work and got to help him in one of his classes.  Elizabeth was with her boyfriend most of the time though so mostly I just read a lot.  Have you read Steppenwolf by Hesse yet?  If you haven't, try to.  It's a great book.

I've been trying to keep pretty busy since I got back here so that I don't get bored too soon.  Friday night James Taylor and Mickel Cooney were here in concert.  It was really good.

Well, this is just a quick letter cause I've got to go to my printmaking class.  That's what I finally decided to major in and it's the only class I like and the only teacher I like.

Say hello to Ken and Mike for me.

February 7, 1970 (Letter from Mardi)

Hi honey -- how's Buffalo surviving?  I've gotten into this amazing writing mood so I'm putting it to its fullest advantage.  Barb is sleeping -- what a bum!  Duh.  Last night was ACTION.  Barb and I watched some old Fabian move -- "I dig you."

I've heard from Mark.  He's as busy as ever, of course.  I imagine you've probably heard from him by now.  Mike wrote me a short note this past week.  Everything seems to be at that  post-winter-pre-spring standstill.  I should be working for the next two weeks.  I'm actually feeling a little bad about quitting.  The people are great but it's not for me.  Bill called last night and we made some more plans for Denver.  He's really excited about it.  It would be fabulous if you wanted to work in Colorado this summer!  So all I really know right now is I'm quitting my job in two weeks, then leaving for Minneapolis.  Then I'm going to meet Bill and we'll probably stay there till we both get a little sum of money.  I'm not too worried about it.  I know we'll both be ok.  I realize the fact that they'll be finally catching up with my on my loan sometime in Marcy -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I must admit my letter are information (?)  No need to apologize -- we both know it's a great time!

Mr. Sayles has returned from the Bahamas -- LOUSY -- not too tan!

Please take care and I will be keeping in touch.   Tell Ken "hi".

July 23, 1969 (Letter from Herb)

You are now the proud owner of yet another letter from me.  It's hard to believe the summer is more than half over.  Maybe you want it to go fast but I sure don't.  Barbara is fine.  We've been seeing quite a bit of each other, as you can imagine.  Since I wrote to you we went to two more concerts -- Blood Sweat and Tears and Led Zeppelin.  They were both terrific.

Guess what happened last weekend.  Chris set Eric set up and Kenny, Chris, and Eric all went out.  Picture it.  Kenny and Eric the two playboys out with girls at the same time.  To say the night was a disaster would be an understatement.  Anyhow I'm sure you'll hear about it from Kenny.

Kenny's mother went to Europe on Monday.  So Kenny's planning this really wild party for Sat night.  Barbara and I are going.  Chris and Karen are coming.  A lot of Kenny's friends from Wantagh.  Even some of his fraternity bros are going to be there.  I know he invited Garry and Patti.  Just think Patti in Kenny's apartment.  I hope he'll be able to control himself.  Oh, Rosen's supposed to be coming to it should be pretty good.

That's about all the exciting news I have to tell you.  My job is still coming along fine, and it seems I'm still as far in debt as I was when the summer began.  But that's life.  Say have you heard from Tony at all?  Sometimes I wonder how he's doing in his toy factory.  Hope things are fine with you.  It'll be sooner than you think that we'll be back to sheer up things.  Sept is only a month away.  Take care.

June 25, 1969 (Letter from Herb Kleinberger)

Sorry it's taken this long for me to write -- but it's been pretty hectic around here.  I've got a job.  I started 3 weeks ago.  I work in the city as a parking lot attendant.  It's really wild all I do is park cars all day.  I drove some really beautiful cars, even a Rolls Royce.  The money is fantastic.  I gross $102.50 for a 50 hour week plus tips which comes to $6 a day.  So it comes out real good.  Believe me I'm so deep in debt I'm gonna have to work ten years to pay it off.  The only bad part of the job is that I have to work Sat and Sundays.  I've got Tues and Wed off though.  Sometimes it's good, but most of the time it's horrible.

My car's been running well since I've come home.  I just hope it lasts. Hey -- I got the last phone bill -- last week -- you don't owe me any money though -- remember -- you paid.

Otherwise things have been fine around here.  I've been seeing a lot of Barbarra (not the right parts).  I bought tickets for some concerts.   Jose Feliciano, Flip Wilson, Blood Sweat and Tears, Led Zeppelin, B. B. King.  They're all coming up soon -- it should be great.

I spoke to Kenny last night.  He's kinda upset cause his social life isn't exactly the way he'd like it to be.  So I told him Barbara could set him up.  She did -- we're doubling Friday night to see Finian's Rainbow -- I think it's gonna be Kenny's first date since before he hurt his leg.  I hope he remembers what a girl looks like.  Anyhow it should be pretty funny.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Everything else is par.  Chris is his same normal obnoxious self and I've spoken to Eric a couple of times -- he's fine too.  I think he and Kenny call each other every once in awhile and just cry to each other.  They're both in pretty bad shape.

So how's things in Buffalo.  I was listening to KBW last night.  They said the weather was dismal.  I'm sure glad I'm not there.  How's the apartment holding up -- How's mine -- is Big Ralph taking care of it.  Keep an eye on it for me.

Oh by the way I got my transcript -- I got a 3.0, straight B's. Surprising isn't it.  How'd you do.  I also got a letter from the computer science dept.  You know that program I applied to.  Well, I got accepted.  Pretty good!

Write soon and let me know how things are socially up there and what's been happening with your job?  Take care -- see you in September.