July 27, 1973 (Letter from Leslie)

Hi sweetie.  Am sitting here in my room playing the stereo with Coryell's "Foreplay" turning on the upstairs of the house.  Right now I'm feeling good for lots of reasons.  1) This week I heard from you, Carol, and Roberta, 2) I pre-registered on Monday and turned in my loan application and the bank called today to check something with me so they have gotten it back from the school.  3) Pat and Linda are coming in tonight and we are all going to New York tomorrow to visit with John and Roberta.  I think this will be the only weekend I will be away, no other plans right now -- I eagerly await your visit.  More on that later.  4) My right bottom wisdom tooth became infected and has been hurting for the last week quite nicely.  Thurs I went to my grandmother's dentist and he said it has to come out but first the infection must be taken care of.  So I've been walking around with an herb poultice called Poloris in between my cheek and gum.  Last night I didn't sleep well despite smoking as a celebration to finishing my bed (next point) but after dinner the infection came to a head and I was able to get pus out of it so it is on the mend -- no more pain!!!  Yeah!  5) I've been working on a bed frame -- I built it all by myself with screws and bolts -- no nails.  I'm really proud of it.  Last night I painted it after putting the last touches on it (more supports at the bottom) and decided to smoke to celebrate.  Had a nice time re-reading your letter and looking at the Farmer's Almanac, boy what a riot!!  You have to look at it -- the advertising is great and all kinds of bits of information on all sorts of things.  6) Having my stereo again after having it out of the room for three days while I was working and moving things around.  7) My parents bought a Ford Torino Sport and we will pick it up Monday evening.  New cars are always fun.  It is a metallic beige with a darker vinyl roof and tan interior, black wall tires with white raised lettering and to top it off a reflectorized "laser stripe" running from one end to the other on both sides.

Close enough.


Monday 30:July -- Greetings!  As I was writing that last sentence, Pat and Linda arrived and although I had good intentions (the letter traveled with me) I did not get a chance to finish it until now.  I got your postcard -- so your car must be doing okay.  Very good and happy for you.

Had a fine time -- played Coryell and Get Off in Chicago for Pat and Linda -- they liked both. Talked and they went to bed.  They got up around 9 and ate breakfast and then I took them for a short ride around the area. We didn't leave for New York until 12:30 pm.  Made a stop in Peekskill to see their friend Settie, but she wasn't home.  So onto Youkers to John's.  We had to try out Pat's bong and the hash I brought and then it was dinnertime so we bought pizza and wedges. Proceeded from that point on to Manhattan to pick up Roberta and look off her terrace -- she lives on the 27th floor, what a trip!  Went to a coffee house to listen to John's friend -- was okay, sang lots of songs from Jacques Brel and back to Yonkers (Roberta came back with us).   Sunday was gorgeous so we went to the Palisades -- it was a hike to go where John's favorite spots were, but it was easy and very enjoyable.  I went out near the edge and then sat down or crawled on my stomach to look over the edge 500 ft. straight down.  It was beautiful, impressive, peaceful, and quiet.  A fine place to come just to sit and think, read, or maybe write a letter or in a journal.  I took pictures but don't know if they will catch the emotions.  Maybe you will be able to see it -- I would enjoy experiencing it with you.  Went back to Yonkers for dinner, took Roberta back home and then Pat, Linda, and I packed up and left.  Stopped in Peekskill and this time Settie was home.  We didn't 'get to my house until about 2am.  Pat and Linda didn't stay -- just had a cup of coffee and left.

I think I am going to Buffalo this coming weekend with my friend Marc -- he called after Pat and Linda had arrived.  He is going to U.B. Law School and wants to look for an apartment.  Aside from that again I say I should be home, so whenever you come it is okay with me.  I'm glad you have company going to Kenny's wedding -- I would have been glad to go with you -- I hop you enjoy the city.

Did I ever mention to you that the last song on the first side of "Offering" sounds much like Mahavishnu Orchestra?  At that time McLaughlin and Coryell were very close -- had the same guru -- they and their wives spent a lot of time together.  There is an article on Coryell in an old issue of Downbeat.  I have almost all of the issues from the time my subscription started so feel free to poke through them all.

I think I will end this for now.  Take care of yourself.  (Smile!)

July 5, 1973 (Letter from Tony)

From the top of the Pine Mountain Ski Jump

Well, it's been awhile, hasn't it?  I'm in Colden, living the good life (i.e., the lazy life).  I decided against going to Colorado and now an interested in going to Warren.

I'll try to set things out in chronological order.  Exams took up my last 2 months in Berkeley.  I did a good deal of studying, Be in the library and only the presence of some friends there with me saved me form total isolation.  Hard times really do bring people closer together and we provided entertainment for each other.  I did OK on the exams.  I won't find out for sure what I got until August.

Our last exam was June 2, an looking back at it, that seems very long ago and very strange.  I never really got to feeling like Berkeley was my home.  My worlds are built around people, and places take on meaning only by my going through experiences there.  Walking across the U.B. campus was exciting because I could think of all the many things that happened there.  I guess this past year was a necessary base-building year both with people and with the location itself.  I certainly hope I can move more actively toward establishing my world out there next fall, it's got a long way to go.

Anyway, I left June 5 in a station wagon with 5 other people and 2 dogs.  It took us 2 1/2 days to get to NYC.  I really enjoyed the trip, I had enough time to sleep and sightsee and even though we went US80 across there were things to see.  Wyoming and a sunset in Nebraska were high points, also seeing green hills with trees growing when we got into Indiana and Illinois.

Dale, Barb, Tony at Lake Spread Eagle

I stayed at my sister's and we did many good and expensive things.  We saw "A Streetcar Named Desire" in Lincoln Center, ate in a fancy restaurant, rode the subways, etc. etc.  I really enjoyed it, my sister is very good at entertaining me when I go visit her.  Of course she enjoys it too, she usually doesn't spend her money so lavishly.

I called Maddy and saw her one day.  She was supposed to play in a tournament and I was going to go watch her.  Unfortunately, the one she had been entered in was held the week before.   So on the way back we were thinking of things to do and we decided to go to Boston.  So, I stayed a few more days in Brooklyn at Rose's, until she got called for a flight to London, and then Maddy and I went up to Boston to see Michael and Liz and Harvey.  It was a good time.  I'll give you the details when I see you.  I then went back to Brooklyn for a few more days and finally after getting a somewhat frantic call from Jim Holmes I came to Buffalo by bus.  I was at this time still planning on going to Colorado with Holmes.  I came to Colden for a day, for Father's day and my mother's birthday.  Then I spent a week working with Holmes to get him ready.  He leads a very complicated life, and he had been working for 4 weeks getting things ended up and was not nearly done.  He's going to be a visiting prof next year at South Carolina and in Australia so he had to finish things in Buffalo.  He had to rent his house, paint it, sell his furniture, pack for the trip, pack for South Carolina, clean up, get his horse ready, rent his horse trailer, fix his truck, etc. etc. etc.  After a week I said I've had it.  It was much too complicated a situation for me.  I had agreed to go on a vacation, not spend half my summer finishing up Holmes' loose ends.  Also, I had reservation about getting along with him for an extended length of time.  He is very domineering and I, although, quite passive, can only take so much.  The deciding factor was Colden.  I hadn't been here much since I went to U.B. and I missed it.  My mother was quite sick this past winter with bronchitis (that was the preliminary diagnosis from her hospital stay in March) I figured it would be a good idea to be around to do the heavy work she normally does.  And finally, I wanted time to visit my friends.

Paul in his Penelec hardhat

While I was in Buffalo, I saw some people and it was good.  One day I was walking down Main St. and Tom Szczesny came riding by on his bike.  It was good to see him.  He's contemplating going to Berkeley in the fall.  Later that day, in Park Edge, I ran into Jeff Greenwald.  They were both nice surprises.

I have been out here for almost a week now and it's quite pleasant.  It's been awhile since I've been as relaxes as I am now, certainly not since last August.

I'm planning a bike trip to Warren Pa. via Lake Chautauqua to see Ralph.  What days do you have off?  Would any particular time be more convenient than the rest?  Could I stay at your house?  Please send answers with your reply letter.

Kenny and Lauren's wedding

Clockwise from lower right

Herb Kleinberger, Tony Szczygiel, Eric Barr, Paul Nelson, Kenny Tuchman

Are you going to Kenny's wedding?  I'm planning on going, it would be nice if we could go there together.

Well, that's enough for now.  Write back soon.  Anytime you fell like coming up, please do.  You have my address here, the phone # is 716-941-3292.  I shall be seeing you soon.  Take care.