July 19, 1971 (Letter from Kenny)

 Well it's finally happened, all those hot nights at Gleason's and the Galaxie have finally shown their effects on your poor down-trodden brain.  It took me about ten minute to realize the old pogo Nelson meant A.M. (meaning morning) when he wrote ayem and a quick check showed that Buffalo must be the same place as Buphalo.  Oh well it's all right just drink lots of warm milk and have the Polish kid tell you lots of stories.

The bit with Pattie and Merry and their apartment is about over with Mr. Mann decided they could stay as long as he is invited to their nursing school orgies.  I talked to Chris last week for the second time this summer and he is as wonderful and loving as ever.  HE said he'll be going to Buffalo around Aug 20th which means he'll change his mind at least four more times before he finally goes.  Seems he wants to work for a week there, maybe even in your little haven, the lovely, enchanting Blue Galaxie.  Somehow I think big chef Lauer is going to end up being the head waiter at McDonald's.

I heard from Herbie for the second time finally after more than a month and I"m happy to report that he's isn't lying dead in Baghdad with his Sammy jacket on.  He says he likes his job and he's having a really good time. He said he was going to ask some German girl to go to a German movie with him, imagine that, our little 17 yr old Herbie.  I also got a card from Jane and was quite shocked, I don't even remember when the last time was that I saw her lovely face (sigh!).  As you most probably know the Mets are playing some fine baseball and me and some of my friends challenged them, but they only wanted to play underhand pitching.  Some shmucks from Pennsylvania are leading the league.

Speaking of leagues (were we, I didn't know that) I'm in a baseball league in Wantagh on Friday nights.  It's really well organized; under the lights, referees, uniforms, even a few slutty cheerleaders.  Last Friday was the first tame and with 2 1/2 minutes left we were up by 9 but in true Tuchman fashion we lot by 2.  I'm really beginning to think I'm a jinx.

The past weekend I went bicycle riding on a bicycle built for two, it was great, I thought I was going to kill  myself.

How is Tony tell him to write me sometime, I haven't read anything Polish since Dostoyevski (holy shit I can't believe I said that, I think you're rubbing off on me.)

Bruno is in the process of buying a car, what kind he's not sure of.  Lauren't family just got a new Duster for $2575, not bad, she's supposed to get the car a year from September.

They've had a bunch of concerts in New York recently but I haven't gone to any.  Oh well enough said tomorrow work when I hopefully will mail this.  Write soon and don't forget to brush your teeth after every meal.

July 31, 1969 (Letter from Kenny)

Sorry I haven't written but I just haven't had time.  Not that I've been doing anything great.  A lot of things have happened.  My mother went to Europe on July 21 until Aug 12.  The 26th I had a party.  It was supposed to be dated but not many guys came with dates and I was only able to get 2 single girls.  First of all the week before that me, Eric, Chris tripled.  He and Eric doubled he had a 15 yr old blind date and I went out with the 16 yr old I told  you about while Chris went out with one of his many 15 yr old girl friends.  It was a piss.  She said she was depressed.  I was in a great mood and me and Eric had a pisser.  We met Herbie and Barbara at John's (ice cream parlor, they probably don't have then in Warren.)  I can't possibly write all the funny things me and Eric were saying but you can imagine.  Chris has gone hippie, horn-rimmed glasses, uni-sex shirts open to the navel to show his hair.  A long thick mustache.  Guess what?  I got bell-bottoms.  3 pairs already!  I don't think they look too bad.

Getting back to my party, I had a great time.  Hal, Billy, Rosen, Nick (Hal's friend from UB), Eric, Vignola, Jack all came stag.  Gary and Patty, Herb and Barb, Chris and Karen (after BS&T concert), and a few couples from Wantagh.  A lot more from the concert never made it.  Eric had a bad time but it was because he didn't have a date.  I didn't have a date but I got drunk and really had a good time.  Hal, Nick, and Rosen smoked and got wrecked and at 4 AM left for upstate to visit Howie's camp.  I almost went.  Herbie's having his troubles with Barbara, but I'm sure they'll work out, just minor.

The Mets got ridiculous again yesterday, 16-3, 11-5.  Today my mother called from Madrid.  It was great getting a transatlantic phone call.

Oh well, that's about it.  Regards to everyone.

P.S.  Taking my road test Aug 7 here's hoping.

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 28, 1969 (Letter from Kenny Tuchman)

My dearest Everett, (I never wrote that before)

It was splendiferous hearing from your.  The summer is going too fast, almost 1/3 is over already and is it shiity.  How is summer school?  Hope you don't flunk out.  Guess what?  I pulled a 3.3 last semester groovy, huh?  I got another C in economics, how I don't know, otherwise I would have had a 3.5.

Many jobs have fallen thru but I'm finally settled now.  The Wall Street job fell thru then my cousin got me in as an apprentice carpenter at $125 for 35 hrs a week but then there was a strike and the boss couldn't hire me.  Then I was going to work in a diamond and jewelry place really cool though.  You have to wear a badge and doors open automatically and there was a lot of kids (20's) working there full-time and the guy really liked me and gave me a summer job, the only one, the salary wasn't good but I figured I'd have a good time.  You have to take a lie detector test before you work to see if you're an addict (?) or alcoholic and would steal stuff because it's all real valuable.  So I took a day off from where I was working for the test knowing the job was mine and the machine was broken and would take 2-3 weeks to fix.  So I'm working in a tag factory that my cousin got me into.  They make all kinds of tags for everything.  I work real hard though lifting heavy stuff and running errands all over the city.  I get 2.25 an hour which isn't bad and have to get up at 6:30 AM which is terrible.

My social life is awful, even worse than that.  Last nite I went out for the first time in two months.  Herbie and me doubled he set me up with a really cute girl Barbara knew.  Her name was Bobbi.  She was really nice 5'5" thin light brown hair with a flip at the shoulders.  I don't think we went over too big.  What's new?  We saw "Finian's Rainbow" which was pretty good.  Bobbi has a sense of humor exactly like mine.  She was ranking the hell out of everything and anything and was really funny.  She had the same fake voices and facial expressions as I usually do when I'm out with a bunch of guys.  I was quiet in a way but pulled off a couple of goodies.  Fuckin' Herbie was zapping everyone he destroyed me.  If I would have been on form I would have killed him, but I was trying to impress Bobbi and wasn't myself which was bad.  I wasn't aggressive enough I guess because I didn't even kiss her goodnight don't ask me why.  I was waiting for her to move towards me and she was waiting for me to move toward her which was the right way.  Anyhow it was a standoff.  Oh well.

I talked to Eric about a week ago and we were bullshitting about our many blind dates.  Me and him are gonna double on a blind date and rank the shit out the girls.

I'm going to see Rosen tomorrow (Sunday).  HE's been pretty low, too. I think I'm going to go to a monastery and forget girls.  I can't wait for my mother to leave because I've got big plans for the parties, July 21-August 12, come on down.

The Mets are returning to reality they even lost to the Pirates.

Take it easy and write soon, call me sometime if you want (212) 847-9718.  Don't call collect because I won't accept the charges and will laugh my ass off.

P.S.  I saw Peppermint Patty and she's gorgeous. Jerk off once for me too.
eaVE BECAUSE i'VE GOT BIG PLANS FOR THE PARTIES, jUL

May 27, 1969 (Note from Pattie Hoehman)

Hi!  I guess by now you are getting settled -- I hope everything is all right.  I just wanted to tell you that I got a letter from Crazy Joe today and he and his friend are not coming to Buffalo this summer.  What a creep!!  especially since I had to tell Bob he couldn't live in our apartment.  Oh well what can we do.  Another thing I wanted to tell you was that if anything goes wrong you can get in touch with our landlord at Ruth's Coffee Shop, 3447 Bailey Ave or you can call him 836-9874.  He is there everyday til 2 o'clock.  On Sunday you can call him at the 300 Club.  His name is Bruce Mann.  Also if you have any other trouble -- THAT'S TOO BAD! (Ha Ha)

Well -- have a nice summer.  See you in September.