March 22, 1971 (Letter from Mardi)

Hi kid!  Your really on a writing spree aren't you?  Two letters in a row!  March really improved your spirits.  I admit January and February are shitty but I wouldn't go as far to say March has cured your ills!  But I'm glad to hear you're over your ills.  How did March actually prove to be?  I guess it was ok.  January, Feb. and Mar this year certainly have gone fast.

Anderson and I have found an apartment.  As a matter of fact, this was the apartment we had seen for rent exactly a year ago but were too late to get.  The place is a great deal.  It's furnished (completely) (except for TV and stereo, etc), it's right on the bus line, Lake Calhoun is six short blocks away, a "shopping" center is around the corner -- small stores.  The area is residential and the apartment is in a 4-plex so it's not huge.  It's so much more convenient.  The place is pretty big, a log bigger than Lake Street.  It's long like Renee's parents place.  (Oh, my mother was talking to Mrs. Shulman and I guess Renee is losing weight.  She's lost 20 lbs so far.  Of course she'll have to lose about 120 more for it to do any good.)  Did you get all that?  I write such spontaneous letters!  Anderson and I are trying to get ahead here.  So we figure the apt. will be a lot better all around.  Home sweet home.  NO ONE is staying with us this summer -- the understatement of the year probably.  I don't think I'll give my address to anyone like Barney or Mohney!!  But you know if you ever are passing by you can stop in.  You'll have to take out the garbage and cook dinner and clean and iron and wash etc.  OK?  Just kidding!  SURE!

Nothing fantastic happening here.  Enough though.  Last night was our usual Sunday night w/ Comedy for Big Kids w/ a W. C. Fields movie followed by the Marx Brothers.  Unfortunately, no 3 Stooges!  YICK.  I will never forget your awful laughing at those 3 Stooges!!!

I'm sitting here completely bored.  I always get all my work done by 4:30 on Monday nights and I still have 2 1/2 hours to go!  I should be studying for my class tomorrow, but I'm not in the mood!  I can't wait till I'm done w/ classes -- I'm getting spring fever and it's impossible for me to concentrate on "Financial Lending".  YICK  It was a great course in Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb but I'm getting ants in my drawers now!  Plus I'm just dying to get out in the sun.  I definitely have to go up and see Barb in May or June for a couple of days then I want to go South w/ my mother, Mr. S. and Bill some time.  I'm really contemplating moving to Florida in about 1 yr for good.  If I can line up a job at a bank I'll be fine.  Only Anderson would have to find a job too because I would feel guilty about leaving him here to freeze to death.

I must close before someone sets me to work!

Take care and write soon?  When are you through with school for the year?  "Have you any idea where you'll go?"  Just don't listen to anyone else's plans!  You know how that goes?!!!!

I guess my mother was talking to Mike and Dody -- they are both home for vacation!  I haven't heard from either one since Xmas.

Hope I can see ya soon?

February 8, 1971 (Letter from Mardi)

Here I sit on a Monday night at work without a damn thing to do.  I have just completed a letter to my mother and one to Barb.

I'm glad to hear you are experiencing good times in Buffalo.  I give you credit for surviving there this long!  How you can stand it is beyond me -- it's just that Buffalo has always been a bad scene for me every time! Except, of course, the time we visited you!  Let me make myself perfectly clear -- I HATE BUFFALO!

All is well in Minneapolis at least for the time being.  Anderson has been at his job now for over 1 year and I'll be going on my 11th month March 2nd!  What is the world coming to?  It's starting to scare me!  But I could never let go of this job now!  With school and work it really doesn't seem so awfully bad.  Not like I had visions of anyway!  No matter how hard I try though I cannot picture you student teaching.  Anderson and I were trying to visualize i t-- IMPOSSIBLE.

I can't remember what I've written to you -- I don't think too much since it's been quite awhile.  Anderson and I missed a chance of a lifetime when we missed Neil young in concert at the Guthrie.  Everyone was protesting because the Guthrie only holds about 1700 and you can't get a bad seat.  But they never advertised and they were sold out the same day tickets went on sale.  So we went down and protested with everyone else and like everyone else we didn't get in.  Richard Havens is at the Depot in about 2 weeks and Sly is here.  I'd like to see Havens and so would Anderson.

I have to close up BIG letter huh!?

Still haven't heard from Joan.  She and Freddie probably skipped town or the country.

Word has it that Barney might be coming out again and I just couldn't live through that again!

I must go and have a ciggie.  How's the non smoker coming along?

Take care, I promise to write a longer letter soon!

January 10, 1970 (Letter from Mardi)

Have they arrested the dirty deed doers yet?  I still can't believe your apartment was robbed!

Are you back in the old grind yet -- of course -- it takes about five minutes.

Today Barney and I and Barb were supposed to be on our way to Pittsburgh.  Naturally Barney brought up the idea and then couldn't go, so Barb tired to get the car and couldn't -- so here I sit on this beautiful Sunday afternoon watching the North-South football game -- WOW.  I started to clean my room and all I got done was organizing the mess and I haven't even started to dust it -- such problems!

Barb and I got our pictures back.  They turned out really cute, but we look funny just being dressed up in those New Years Eve pictures!  That one Barb took in the car even turned out.

Oh, I must tell you before I forget.  Joan's father had a really bad heart attack Monday and he's in the intensive care section now.  He could have died it was so severe.  He's supposed to be in bed now for the next six months at least.  I couldn't believe it.

Well work has been a real bitch, but I can't be bothered to worry about it.  The work just piles up no matter how much we try to keep caught up.

Sorry I haven't written sooner but...

I was going to call and I probably still will.  Barb I should be be seeing you Thursday night and we might stay overnight.  So far Bill is supposed to be arriving around 6:30 or 7:00 in Buffalo, and I'm definitely not going into work Friday.  I don't know if he's coming with his roommate or not.  So we should get together.

Have you found any job prospects?  I heard it's kind of COLD and snowy.  With luck Anderson's flight will be cancelled and the airport closed -- with luck.

Please take care Clyde and wait till the heat dies down -- by the way what did you do with the stereo, typewriter, and clocks.  That was pretty tricky of you to make it look like someone stole your typewriter!

Hope to see you Thursday!  Try and give me a quick call.

December 5, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

You'll never guess where I'm sitting!  In Barney's office in the National Forge!  I'm starting with Barney Monday as "temporary" but I'll be working full-time.  I'll be making over $2.00 an hour which is better than the old faithful New Process Company!

I'm sorry for not writing sooner, but I'm confused on who I've written to and who I haven't and lately letter-writing is a pain!  When are you coming home for Christmas?  Around the 19th?!  I was just wondering because Bill might come out and if he flys into Buffalo we could meet him and drive back -- speaking of driving -- in your car -- how's the heat?  "Is da heat on boss?"

Nothing fantastic has been happening?!  I made the

[12/10]  Here I sit at work again!  Amazing things.  I feel like I could fall asleep at any moment!  Monday went by like a flash and Barney and I went to St. Bonaventures after work for the basketball game and we ended up in a bar at St. Bonnie's at about twelve thirty drinking away with a bunch of kids.  Bona's won the game so we celebrated.   But I didn't get home until 2;00AM and Barney and I have to get up at 6:30AM!  Duh!  I didn't feel too bad and when I got home last night I did more work than I usually do.  NOW today BLAH, I'm tired -

Sorry I haven't written -- you know how it is!

Must close now only have a few minutes left for lunch!  When will you be home?  19th?  See you soon -- Hope you got your mail situation taken care of.  See you soon.

November 9, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

You'll never know how close I came to being in Buffalo.  Barney wanted me to go with her to St. Bonnies to see Greg then drive to Buffalo -- so I thought I'd go and see ya and stay there tonight -- but mother got sick -- sinus infection -- BAD, BAD so I wanted to stay here plus I have to wash and iron all my clothes.  I"M LEAVING FOR MINNEAPOLIS.  Tuesday I'm going -- I made up my mind.  I have to go because I just can't stand it here a minute longer!  I'll be back in two weeks though -- I told Mom I'd come back for Thanksgiving.  I'm going to look for a job and see what I can find.  Wendy called last night so I'll stay with her -- can't wait to talk to her!  One thing I'm not going to do is worry!  I promise to drop you a line from Minneapolis.  I'm flying back the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I'll stay with Mike Tues night and come home together Wednesday.  Nancy is coming home Thanksgiving -- how long, or what day I'm hot sure.

Did all my washing today.  Blah.

Had to buy new glasses this week ZIP -- $43.00!  HELP!  What can you do?

I'm sorry I haven't written sooner.  I haven't been in the mood.

Last night about six of us landed up at this bar in Jamestown no one had ever seen before -- it was really cool -- it had a pool table -- great bartender, good music -- drunk kids -- we had a great time -- UNREAL---

Must go now, please take care of yourself.  See you at Thanksgiving!!!

October 18, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

Great to hear from you kid!  I'm the last of that rare breed of continuous letter writers.  I write at least four letters a day -- but my friends are definitely worth the writers camp!  Foster hasn't written so I dropped him a few lines.  I guess when you're at home people don't seem they should write.

So you quit your job!  It's not worth it, right?  You can get so screwed that it actually put you "out" for awhile!  It will be better if you get the job in the drugstore has to be better -- my pen just died! -- My mother is watching Lawrence Welk and it's blowing my mind!  Oh good grief!

Try and come home this weekend.  Nothing exciting going on I'm afraid.  The only "nice" time here is fall.  I got my bike out today and rode it all over the "old" neighborhood.  My legs aren't in the greatest of shape.  This is the first day I feel good.  I've had this super bad cold for two weeks!  I went to the doctor's last Saturday -- boy, what a case of the Blahs!  Be careful for god sake and take care!  I felt lousy!  I was perfect material for a Geritol commercial.  You would be perfect for Sominex -- That's how we make our millions -- as insomniacs and neurotics.

Work hasn't been going too bad lately.  I'm finally on regular orders and I have to really concentrate so the time really goes fast!

Barb just called and I think we'll go out so I'll be back later -- EXCUSE ME!

Hello, hello -- Well, it's Sunday already.  Blah Monday will be upon us in no time.

I'm watching Minnesota and St. Louis playing football.  I'm really getting to like it.  I have no idea why though.

Naturally today is gray and dull, I knew if I wanted to get out today and take some pictures it would get krummy out!

Hey, didn't you really like Butch Cassidy?!  It doesn't compare with Midnight Cowboy though!  Fabulous movie!  That girl you took out didn't happen to be named Cheryl did it?  You know what your spirit said!



If you're coming home this weekend I'll make some ravioli for ya!  I can actually make them myself.  You've got to get some "pasta" in you.  What in god's name do you weigh now?

Last night Barb and I went to the Pub.  Duh!  I'm there "What are we doing here?"  BIG, BIG night -- but then my mind and soul have definitely been "conditioned for hurt".  If any January or February at school doesn't do it -- being in your home town will!  Barney and I are planning on going to Chicago in about two weeks to meet some of the old gang.  I should have the money by then.  I really want to come up for November 15, it shouldn't cost me that much right?  If I was smart I'd be like a miser and try and get enough in the bank to cake care of a good part of my loan.  I will, I will.

I must go and get some more letters written.  Take care!  Try and give me a quick call some night and tell me if you're coming.  You won't have to write then.  (BRIBE, BRIBE.)

October 10, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

Hi honey glad to hear from you!  I'm happy you got that initiative to write.

Today I stayed home -- I've missed two days or work this week!  I think I've really got some "bug"!  Barney and Barb and I and some kids went up to Melody.  Barb and I hate to go there.  Well, we had a pretty good time and Peroski had about two six packs of Schlitz to drink with no supper.  I was almost there!  Good grief.  So this morning at 7:00 am Mardi was really hurting -- headache, wobbly legs, upset stomach, sick AS HELL! So I stayed in bed all day, out of commission!  I have to go to the doctor's tomorrow for a check up and blood test and all -- could I have mono?  Duh.  Mr. Sayles is down right now and we're going to have din-din in tonight.  I'll probably get sick.

Lately I haven't been doing much of anything.  Joan is at school heaven knows what (?) I'm scared to think of what she's up to!  Haven't heard from Mike yet -- no one has!  Tina is working at New Process -- overtime even Blah!  She's going down to Cleveland for BS&T the 16th or 17th for fall weekend -- she has a date with Phil.  Barb and I are here-- just here -- barely!!!!

I'm about to take off any day now for Minneapolis, or Denver or San Francisco!  If you go out West you've definitely got to hit Denver!  If I'm nowhere near Denver or the West next summer I'm hitching with you!  You'll happen to pick me up along the way -- who knows -- if I can make it to New Years round here I'll be lucky!

How are classes going?  My mother just told me to tell you to gain some weight!  How much do you weigh now anyway?  My mother wants you to eat meat and potatoes!  I'm there "Where do they get and who cooks meat and potatoes for them?"  Guys definitely hate or cannot or do not want to cook.

You should go to New York over Thanksgiving.  HEY, LOUSY CITY!  You'd have a hell of a time.  All of us kids are trying to get together in Chicago about the end of October.  I wanted to go there the 17th but I can't make it!

I'd love to come out November 14th or 15th for the concert and all.  The Who are supposed to be great.  Dutch saw them and said the thought they were really good.  We'll see what's up!  Nothing, I imagine.  I'll still be working.  Blah!

Barb is down now and we're both exhausted.  Must go!  Please take care.

April 13, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

Hello honey, it's a groovy Sunday afternoon here in Minneapolis as the Twin Cities is slowly sinking under water.  It's really funny because it's so dry here and about 6 or 7 miles from here, houses are going under water.

How are things going kid?  Back in the old rut.  My grades have gone down for some odd reason.  Otherwise things are going fine.  Dutch and Steve just moved into a new beautiful apartment.  They had a party last night and Wendy and I got good and high.  It's really great because their neighbors are drunks and they have a corner apartment and you can make as much noise as you want.  So as I sit here back in the slums.  Tonight we're going to the Iron Butterfly concert, they should be fantastic.  The Fudge and Arthur Brown were unbelievable Friday night.

Oh yes, we have a dog.  Her name is Aquarius.  She's a cocker-poodle.  I told Barney about her and she said she had seen her and had to have her, so now er have a dog.  If Sue and Jeff our houseparents find out they'd have a bird.  Steve bought one I fell in love with and named him Mark.  "What does a dog with a hairlip say?"  Mark, mark!  She's a doll, and she'll probably get spoiled.  We took Mark and Aquarius down to the park after school Friday and had a riot.  By the time we left we had gathered about 50 puppies and 150 kids.  Of course, I guess that's what parks are for.  The dog will stay with our girlfriend during the week who has an apartment.  Steve had to give his to his aunt who lives outside of Mpls so she could keep the dog.

Hi doll, blah, it's now 7:30 AM!  I've got to get this letter out, I promised myself I would.  The Iron Butterfly was fabulous, fantastic, they left the whole stage on fire.  The drummer was fantastic.  I didn't get much sleep last night or this morning.  I feel lousy!  I'll come home and sleep -- the dog was up and yelping around last night, and Barney was sacked out so Wendy and I had to listen to it cry.  I must go and get dressed.  Tell everyone I said hello.

February 20, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

I just got your collage in Psych class.  It was really funny.  It wouldn't fit in my mail box to say the least!  You should get my letter tomorrow, great letter wasn't it?!  So right now I have absolutely nothing to say.  I want to put your collage on my wall but I don't have room. I'll have to fit it on the ceiling.

How is my collage doing?  My valentine card was sharp, wasn't it?  You're one of the lucky ones to receive the first in a series.  It may be valuable in about 565 years.

(2/21)  Now I'd say I'm a little behind in my letter writing!  So you think my idea is pretty good.  As of right now just Wendy and I are coming definitely but I'm sure Barney may come with us.  Things are really blah around here.

Those pictures are cute!  What a bunch of dopes!  A little potted?

It got a letter from Mike.  He's been in the hospital twice with some infection.  The cutie didn't tell me.  Honestly someone could die and I wouldn't know about it.

Sue Smith is at the airport right now.  She decided to go home!  She'll get into Buffalo about 8:00 AM.  She'll be in Detroit about 3:00 AM or so.  Blah.  I couldn't take flying alone all night and morning!  She'll see Shorty's.  Chuck is supposed to be coming home so she won't have too much to worry about, she'll sure surprise him.

We're really looking forward to seeing you all.  Surf Club, Surf Club, Surf Club!  I'll probably have my father pick me up Thursday night.  All I know is we'll be there.  H ow far are you away from the airport?  If I call you how long will it take you go get out to the airport?  I'll be calling about March 9, Sunday, about 11 your time.  Believe me, it won't be long -- 5 minutes.  Find out if your father will definitely pick you up -- but that doesn't really matter.  I have to call Barb sometime soon!  I doubt if she'll be coming home.

Well, I'll close for now; I will be back tomorrow.  I've got to get some sleep.  Good night!

(2/22)  Hi again!  I will get this letter out!  Right now it's a lousy Saturday.  We don't get any mail today because of Washington's birthday.  Big deal.  I didn't get a letter yesterday either.  Blah!  I should have stayed in bed today.  I know I would have gotten a letter.  My mother said she saw Renee home.  She came home to get her teeth fixed.  I haven't heard from her.  I can't believe she's dating Morrey again.  She probably doesn't have anything else to do and Renee loves to get out so Morrey would be perfect.  I heard from Mark.  I guess he finally got his single and he love it!  He had some dandy roommates!

Well there's not much to say and Wendy is going to mail some letters on her way to work, so I'll close up.

Wendy and I will see you in about 29 days.  Linda is going home the 28th so it'll just be Wendy and I.  Are you sure it's all right if we stay there with you and your roommates?  Nothing like inviting ourselves.  We're looking forward to coming out there -- way out East.  Duh.  Take care.

February 19, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

Thanks for the darling collage.  You should be getting a letter from me tomorrow which will be yesterday or the day before.  I want to put it upon the wall, but I have no more room so I'll have to put some of it on the ceiling. Have you still got that collage that Joan and I made?  I have absolutely nothing new to say, mainly because I never have anything to say lately, just wasting my time.  The Turtles concert must have been really great.  I haven't looked to see who is coming lately.  They have a fantastic light show every Sunday over at this place put on by the Community News from the university.  They had the Grateful Dead last Sunday.  I wish somebody would come to the Auditorium -- like Smokey Robinson.  I hate to spend the money, though, for Hugh Masekela.  Everybody bought cheap tickets and when the concerts started everybody moved up to the good seats.  Tricky.

I see you get out the 28th, we will have to wait but we'll definitely be flying into Buffalo, but the rest is just an idea.

Hi honey -- I'm back again.  Here I am at that midnight hour - wide awake!  Linda and Carol just called from Baldwin-Wallace!!!  They got stuck in Cleveland and called Mike.  They were supposed to meet John Seastead but their flights were cancelled.  They're staying with the housemother of the guys dorm.  I wish Michael would write soon.

Tonight had to be a super-smacked up night.  I slept almost 2 hours and got up, watched Herb Alpert for an hour, came back, starved to death, ate, clonked around in a daze.  Such fantastic happenings.

I may get lucky and have a visitor some time in March.  Bob Collier wants to come out with J.O.  But I don't know if he'll make it.  He's back at Clarion now.  God, I'd love to have someone come out.  I'd give anything to come out in May and see you.  When we come out to Buffalo, we have to celebrate.  I'm actually going crazy.

I put up your collage over my bed.  I have to start in my bedroom now!  It's really cute.  Hey, will the "pills" work?

I should close up now and write a few more letters before I go to bed.  So take care and behave yourself just a little bit.

I should be seeing you in about 39 days if we're lucky.  Surf Club is alive and well in Bemus Point.  I wonder if my police "dud" is still standing on the corner looking duddy.  I'll have to say hello to him.  He must hibernate all winter.  What could possibly happen in Bemus Point in the dead of winter.  I must go, see ya soon.

December 4, 1968 (Letter from Mardi)

It sounds like things went OK for Thanksgiving.  Now back to the old grind.  Thanksgiving we had a fantastic dinner.  The city was literally packed with people.  I've got to take some pictures.  It's too beautiful to describe.

My vacation kind of racked me out here.  I went to a party every single night.  We were staying out all night and morning because our housemaster and Mr. Gage was supposed to be here but we never saw him.  We had Jim Mead up and nobody signed in or out for the whole vacation.  Friday night Mardi got totally polluted.  I never had to much fun.  I could not walk down the stairs without leaning on someone.  I was with Mike all night and he wasn't feeling any pain either only I think  most of it was marijuana.  I was really gone I must say!  I got home and Wendy and I hit the bed at 4AM.  About 5:30 Peroski wakes up and throws up for an hour w/ dry heaves.  I lot 5 lbs in one day.  I was hurtin Saturday.

Well I just lost my pen.  MariJo brought back her record player so now we have the extreme luxury of "home music".  It kind of gives me the excuse to buy a new album.  Which I shouldn't do.

It's 4:15 already.  Days are short thank God.  I think I'll play the lazy bum role tonight and just watch TV.  I suppose I should loaf while I can, starting the 16th, exams, exams, exams, so...

Here I am again -- I clonked out for about three hours so I won't fall asleep tonight either.  Linda and I have been sleeping on the living room floor the past couple of nights.  It get like an actual oven on the top bunks, and we have all our heat turned off.  At least we don't have to worry about freezing here.  Tonight I swear we had hurricane winds.  Our bedroom shook like a piece of tin.  I thought it would fall out.

Nothing is really going on here.  I go to see Andy Williams Friday.  Tomorrow we're going to the theater again.  The "Yum Yum Tree" is playing.  Laurie Peters was in the first show I saw.  She was the girl in "For the Love of Ivy".  I hope you can come out sometime.  I wish everybody could come out sometime, especially now.  It's too beautiful.  We're just clonking around here wasting as much time as ever it seems.  Two lousy weeks.  I'll never get back on that plane.  Blaaa.  I'm so sick of studies, studies, studies.

I got a full run down from Barb today in her letter.  I think we'll have an exceptional riot over Christmas and anyone not in the mood get whipped.

Hi again!  I will finish this letter tonight.  I was reading Sex and the Single Girl, "How to have an affair".  Duh!

I want to go home!  We're playing Christmas carols, sob, sob.  Please take care.  See you in two weeks.