October 12, 1976

Don't be too upset with Harriet -- it's difficult for most people to love with an open hand.  Maybe she hasn't noticed your bird-like qualities yet -- (which make such non-handling essential).

How are your gums?  My wisdom teeth have been coming in for 2 years now -- they don't trouble me too much, just once in awhile.  I suppose it would be good to have them looked at again soon. The last time the dentist said they were ok.

About your money situation.  I hope you don't have to sell your car -- it would seem like such a waste, don't you think?   To save on your food budget, maybe you could buy beans in bulk at a great savings/  I'm enclosing some recipes I've come across.  On the ones I've tried I've put comments; on the others, no, it can't be good to eat tuna every night -- not because of anything inherently wrong with tuna, but because it's so full of mercury.  I'd think 2-3 times a week would be ok, though, since it's such a good source of protein, iodine, etc.

In case you're wondering what there 2 swatches of material are -- they're samples of the quilt materials I'm going to use.  It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but the fabric store here doesn't have the greatest selection.  It will be predominantly the dark brown fabric with patches of the contrasting white fabric.  I hope it comes out ok.  If not I'll have wasted a lot of money on 15 yards of material!!

This little project should keep me busy & out of trouble for a few weeks, at lest!  That & watering the grass seed -- a few little sprouts have shown themselves.  At least I don't look like I'm watering mud every 2 hours like I did 2 weeks ago.  We're wondering how much will grow through, because we had several days of very heavy rain & it probably washed a lot of the seed away (drat!!).  Well, time will tell (to coin a phrase!)



Last weekend, 3 of Brook's friends from the Pgh. Westinghouse were here (the same 3 we went rafting with).  They were sent out on business (monkey business) by Westinghouse & were here for a week.  It was really nice to see some familiar faces for a change.  We all went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the weekend.  It was beautiful.  It was off-season so it wasn't at all crowded, which was nice.  We had lunch in this "cowboy bar" in Jackson.  I felt strange because I was the only woman in the place, but it wasn't too bad after I got used to it.  Greg escorted me to the "bar" so we could try out the saddle seats. (I was too chicken to go up by myself.   Brook was busy playing "Tank" & "Stunt Cycle" in the game room!)   What class!  I broke down & played a few games with him later on.  I actually beat him once & tied him once.  Those guys couldn't believe it! (Brook was always the champ back there.)  I told them our idea of a big night on the town is to go to the game place at the mall & spend $5 on these games.  (Very seldom, though.)  I mean, I have to play half decently -- just to keep my self respect, you know?  I'm really bad at bi-plane, though -- I guess I'm just not very coordinated!



We looked at all the ski equipment that town had to offer (much) & I think Brook has been bitten -- he wants to buy (not rent).  Actually, I'm not sure I want to ski.  I'll probably kill myself -- or worse!! I told him I'd much rather spend the money on a good camera.  (John had his camera with him [Canon] & all kinds of lenses & I was jealous!!!)   Looking at all the steep slopes scared me; I couldn't see myself going down them at 70 mph.  (I'm afraid to even drive that fast yet!)  The prices for skiing were no less steep than the hills, though.  I'll probably go at lest once, because I'd feel like I missed out on something if I didn't.

I have to water the "grass" -- I'll be back soon.  A few more sprouts today!  Very encouraging!

I have a tale to tell you about one of my last days in Pittsburgh.  I think it would interest you, because it has to do with space & time travel which you have mentioned an interest in.

Anyway, one day before we left, I was to meet Mary Dodson (my partner in crime from Seton Hill -- the cataloger -- remember her?) at GSLIS & later we were going to have lunch.  I was waiting at the bus stop near our house when this guy came along & what first struck was his amazing resemblance to David Bowie, except that he was a blonde, not a redhead.  Anyway, he also had such a presense "presence" about him.  (There are some words which I never have learned to spell!)  Anyway, I was just sitting on the step waiting for the bus & he came along & sat beside me & amazingly enough he said "I feel that you are interested in thought processes."   I must have looked pretty funny because he laughed & he didn't look like a person who laughed very often.  I told him I was, in a way & that I had studied philosophy.  He wanted to know which phil. I believed in most.  I said existentialism & Kierkegaard's version of it seemed like truth to me.  He seemed not to know who K. was (unless he just wanted to see what I knew about him) & asked me to explain a bit about him.  He seemed happy with my "K in a nutshell" story & said did I ever concern myself with Eastern philosophy.  I said I had liked to mediate & had just started a yoga program on my own.  I thought he was going to cry -- he got every emotional about this (if I wasn't so interested in him I would have run away -- I was a little upset by his reactions).  Then the bus came & we got on.  (The idea of meeting someone like this in Wilkinsburg is a little too much to begin with, no?)  He spoke very quietly on the bus about leaving the body -- actually leaving it, not just mentally.  It seems that he felt he had done it.  He asked if I believed him & I said yes, hoping he'd communicate some secret to me.  I asked him where he was from (he really didn't seem like one of "us" -- I'm not kidding).  He said that wasn't "essential"!  He said he'd see me again sometime & I said I was moving far away & he said "so?"  I'll tell you, it was incredible.  The only person I told was Brook & now you.  I wonder if I'll ever see him again.  He also spoke (& this scared me) of becoming a person in another person's body.  What do you think of all this?  Do you think he was just a nut, or really had some valid system worked out.  He may have been a nut, but I believe that "nuts" really have knowledge that "sane" people don't have.  (I really like this point Lessing makes in her works.)

Anyway -- this letter is incoherent.  I'm trying to write & think above a lot of banging noise in the basement.  We're having a water softener installed because the water her is so hard that is you don't have one, the plumbing has to be re-done every year & we can't look forward to that!  I made this guy keep the cold water tap in the kitchen hard though, because I want to drink & cook with the water that's so calcium & magnesium enriched.  I'm sure he thinks I'm really crazy!

Well, write when you can & take care.

August 5, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

Just sitting here, catching my breath -- it's only 9 AM and already I'm tired -- I think I'll probably be able to sleep tonight.  I've been trying to organize some of my accumulated things (of which there are far too many!) It certainly is work!

I meant to write soon after you left, but for some reason (besides being busy showing the house, etc.) I just couldn't seem to.  I'm not sure exactly why, but when I've seen you for a few days & then you leave, I don't seem to be able to write very soon.  It's almost as if I have to let you recede a bit, so I can see you at a distance (reminiscent of the idea that one sees one's friends more clearly from a distance as a mountain climber see that which he had climbed?)

I think it's because I'm so happy when I do get to see you that I don't fully believe that you are here, when you are here, & when you leave, it's like I have to sort out a dream of oms kind . . . does this make any sense at all?  I'm sure I'm not getting the emotion on this piece of paper!

Regarding our house -- we have had quite a few inquiries (especially from the Sunday ad) but Westinghouse offered us an amount which almost was what we asked, so allowing for closing costs (which they pay), legal fees (ditto) & trouble of transferring deeds & other general time-consuming & boring details (which we will be ecstatic for them to take care of ) -- we feel it is all around better to sell to them. (We only had a certain amt of time to accept their offer &^ were afraid if we sold it privately, there might be a delay with the buyers getting a loan right away & we can't wait 'cause we have to pay for the new house.

This week we are planning to take the beveled glass out of the front door & also the stained glass window on the third floor (which you never saw -- it's plain, but has some nice colors).  It's going to be quite a task -- since neither of us has done it, but I have faith in Brook's skill.  (Myself -- I would do best to keep myself scarce   I'm so clumsy!)  I just will be very upset if the windows break.  I plan to learn how to make stained glass, but only God knows when, (or where) -- certainly not in Pocatello (although one never knows.)  Actually, I know the rudiments, I'd just need some good equipment & some (much) practice.  Maybe I should get more competent at weaving first, though. It's not too good to have too many interests at once.  Between Brook &^ myself, we're bound to cover everything before long -- I'll be jaded by the time I'm 28!  (Like Kierkegaard.)

I feel such an affinity with him.  Maybe because his life was full of such pathos -- it just seems to affect me so much.  He was such an "indirect" person, but his philosophy really had a great effect -- (although he always refused to admit to being a philosopher! -- he detested Hegelian logic and didn't want to be associated with its consequences in any way) as for its consequence s-- Hegel personalizes history & let it roam wherever it liked.  Many feel that Hegel's ideas greatly affected Heidegger & that he in turn came up with the Aryan purity of race idea which in turn brought about the climate in which a Hitler could flourish.  (But he also brought about a climate in which Marx could write.)  It was such an open-ended philosophy -- that was its main problem.  As a matter of act -- Kierkegaard & Marx attended the very same Hegel course in Berlin (but never got acquainted) & came out with such totally diverse ideas -- it's something that's hard to believe.  Oh well, enough of this lecture.  (Wake up, Tweety!)

The yoga seems to be progressing.  My body often wants to balk at taking time to slow down & relax for the exercises, & that is supposed to mean progress.  (The book says your body wants to be lazy (mine certainly does) & to get old -- so any attempt to rouse it from its natural course, it will try to thwart).  I really feel that this helps me relax, though.  I am a tense person & now I feel much more relaxed than I did.  Part of this is because I don't have to be at Seton Hill anymore, but part must be due to the yoga, I feel.

I got something neat in the mail yesterday.  (A 2 carat diamond, hee hee)  Actually, it's one of those Wellington counterfeit diamonds, but it does look real & it's just in a very plain setting.  I rather like it (but it's so rock-like, I don't think I'll wear it very much.)  I forgot to mention that this was one of the third prizes in a mail-order catalog contest.  Occasionally, I enter these things, just for the fun of it, and occasionally I do win something.  This ring is worth about $50 (they say $75, but I don't think so) so I suppose it's nothing to sneeze at.  (Maybe next time, I'll win the car?)

Well, I suppose I'll try to get t his in the mail today.  We are going golfing tonight (neither of us has ever been) with the people upstairs.  I'm sure I'll be terrible (it's certain to be a lot harder than miniature golf!)

July 26, 1976 (Letter from Harriet)

Once again, I greet you with a letter!  I hope that I didn't sound obnoxious on the phone.  I did understand your situation & would have definitely done the same thing (gone to Pittsburgh).  It seems as if the starts are against us.  After I spoke to you, I decided that I'd do a super amount of work so I wouldn't have to study next weekend &  you could come.  Well, you know how that goes!  It's hard to do extra work in the summer.  Also, this is our last week of school & next week we have 3 exams in 3 days!  I guess we'll have to put it off again until August.  Do you still want to come to NYC or would you rather go camping?  Let me know.

NYC has provided an interesting summer for me.  I have been taking advantage of the museums, movies, parks, etc.  Not to mention ballgames, ballets, and concerts.  I have been meting a lot of interesting people and learning a lot from them.

Living in my house affords no solitude, and I have been forced to become a beach bum to be alone. It is nice, I can take my books there early in the morning and stay until it gets really hot.  I'm getting brown -- darker than I have ever been.

After next week, I will be a lady of leisure.  I intend to take a few short trips -- to Binghamton, etc. -- and then off to Rhode Island.  Let me know when you are free & hopefully we can work something out.

July 19, 1976 (Note from Grayce)

Hi -- Diane & Bev will definitely be here for the weekend of the 24th (this Sat.).  I'm just assuming that you can be here this weekend also -- no "no's" will be accepted under any circumstances! We just got back from Idaho & I've lots to tell you.  You can look forward to much ear stuffing!

I have one favor to ask -- if you are coming over Thursday night, could you possibly fix it so that you get here after 6 A.M.  You see, Brooks' been working a lot of extra hours & he'll be working that Friday too & I wouldn't want to disturb hi before he has to get up . *He gets up at abt. 7, but if you get here at 6 it wouldn't be too bad.  It's just that if I have to get up for 4 or so, this alarm will bother him, too.  Would this  inconvenience you very much?  Maybe you'd like to nap a few hours before you leave anyway?  Then you can play when you get here.  Is this ok?

Well!  Please come!  It will be so nice, we'd really like to have you.

July 7, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

Naturally, since the arm-twisting has succeeded, I have bad-good news to report.  Please excuse this little note, but I'll explain!!  Westinghouse, in one of its strange & mysterious ways, has picked July 10th (Sat) til July 17th (?) Sat for our little trip.  Of course I should have known!  I just wrote Diane (not mentioning you, of course) [I had mentioned before that I'd ask you, but I said you probably wouldn't come, ok?]  Therefore, I have asked her to switch to the 24th or 341st & to ask Bev & let me know.  I should hear very soon & will let you know as soon as I do.  By the way, may I have your phone no? -- or is that classified?  Actually, I suppose I could get it from information. I don't  think you are coy enough to have an unlisted number?

Diane & Bev have taken it into their heads that my serving them too many meals would be a "burden" so they have decided we have to go to Poli's one night (Saturday).  How do you feel about this?  I can understanding how being short of money feels since I am always that way myself, but I already agreed that we'd go.  What to do?  Let me know, ok?  Also I'm trying to get reservation for Fallingwater that Sunday (especially since I remember you wanted to see it & we never did, in our excursions )  If only I could find out for which day!!!  (That would be a help.)

I'm sure this is completely incoherent & I sound even nuttier than usually - & of course, I am.

WRITE & tell me what's going on (because I definitely don't know).

June 30, 1976 (Letter from Diane)

Photo credit:  Production Cars

Finally some rest and some time to myself!  I've been doing a great imitation of the headless chicken for about a month now and am paying the price -- literally & figuratively.  But things are getting back to normal.

This merry-go-round started Memorial Day weekend with a trip home.  My sister returned with me for a change of scene and to help me prepare for an influx of relatives the next weekend. I decided to finally buy a dining room set so everyone could eat.  Did you ever try to have furniture delivered within three days of purchase?  Not easy.  But we did it and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The next weekend I went to the shore for the first time this season & it was miserable.  The wind was very strong and it stuck to the suntan lotion on everyone's skin.  We did see the flower show there so the trip wasn't a total loss.

Then came the big excitement.  My father called to tell me that the car dealership he works for got in a slightly used car in great shape with the equipment I wanted and was I interested?  I was, so I went home, looked it over & bought it.  It's gorgeous.  It's a 1975 Matador coupe with a red body & a cream vinyl roof.  The interior is black with white bucket seats and it's air conditioned!  The thought of all those car payments is scary but the price was extremely reasonable.  Unforgettably, it doesn't get the gas mileage the Ford did and it has a smaller tank.  Not realizing this, I nearly ran out of gas on the Schuykill Expressway.  Total panic!  But I managed to get to a gas station in time, thank God!

On Mon., my roommate from Penn State and her husband came for a few days.  He's going to Fordham in the fall and they're apartment-hunting.  They left Wed  and Fri., more houseguests arrived -- five, in fact.  A friend of mine from Altoona Public Library, two of her children and two of their friends stopped in route to NYC and on Sat., we left for the Big Apple.  The purpose of all this activity was to attend the ballet starring Margot Forteyn.  The whole trip, particularly the ballet, was great!  I came back feeling like I had two weeks vacation under my belt.  Over the 4th, I'll be home again, my sister will be down for the Elton John concert next week, it's Baltimore after that and then -- Pittsburgh!  Bev and I are planning to go the weekend of the 17th (if Brook doesn't have to go househunting in Idaho then.)  I really hope that you can join us there.  Bev wants to go to Poli's.  Remember when you, Bill Louden, Grayce & I went there and the waitress was so horrified when we asked for separate checks?   Maybe Woman's Lib has made more of an impression by now.  So, please try to wrangle some time off.

I'm happy that you're finding your job likeable.  (likable?)  Incidentally, I'm sorry to have let my ignorance of dictionary-making show.  But then, it's difficult to know everything -- not to mention boring.  It would be terrible to live without learning.

Enough philosophy.  I'm going to wash the dishes & soak my feet.  That's the kind of thrilling evening I'm having between weekends -- repairing the damage and resting up.

See you in Pittsburgh?

May 18, 1975 (Letter from Grayce)

Diane and Bev just left.  It was a very nice weekend.  We wished you have been here, also.  Aren't I awfully greedy?

First, may I say I'm really sorry about Dale.  He must be going through hell.  Have you spoken to him?  I think it would really be good for him to have someone speak to him without recrimination just now.  His guilt must be a vast thing to bear and more of a punishment than any other person could inflict from without.  I think you could do it very well -- being a gentle person.  Ultimately, it would make more of an impression than anything else he'll possibly hear now.

Paul, I hope I don't sound fatuous but "are you tired of writing to me?"  I really enjoy hearing from you but maybe you would need a rest?  If you'd like I will still write to you and you don't necessarily have to answer each time.  I don't know.  this sounds weird and not what I intend to say.  (Really I hope you don't agree to this because I'd really miss your letters), but let me know and we'll see what we can do, ok?

The weather here hasn't been so great, either.  It's been raining constantly.  I want to plan a small garden -- just some tomatoes, onions, peppers, and squash, but we haven't been able to dig up the ground cause it's always sopping wet.

I refuse to dig the ground because I did only a tiny piece by the side of the house and planted some bachelor buttons (which have probably drowned by now!) and I got an enormous blister on my palm.  Women's Lib can have this part of the fight as far as I'm concerned.  Pulling out your own chair is one thing; digging ditches is something else!

My cactus is not doing too well.  I can't figure it out.  I am convinced that cacti are not meant to flourish in this climate.  If they were, we would have some, wouldn't we?  It's entirely too humid. I hardly ever water the thing and I keep it in the sunniest place possible, but it feels like it's getting mushy and that means death is nigh.  Oh well, ---

No, I didn't attend Pitt's graduation.  It just would have been so meaningless.  Besides, Brook's sister graduated from Duquesne the week after that and Seton Hill's was the week after Pat's and I really didn't think I could take 3 Sundays of platitudes all in a row like that.  I mean, I don't go to church for exactly that reason, so why place myself in that position voluntarily?  It's bad enough that I had to go to those 2 others.  I did go get my diploma, though, since I had to go into Oakland to the doctor's anyway, $5 for that piece of paper.

Brook is out playing softball right now.  He joined a league that a bunch of his friends started. They all keep this bar (The Flame!) in business (or they did when they were younger, anyway) so the manager sponsors their team.  They're not too bad, considering they just got together this season.  They even have three flashy red nylon tee-shirts!  I liked them, but am not exceedingly thrilled about them right now since I've learned that they have to be handwashed separately.  Myeer!  Next year-- I will have something to say about the materials of the shirt, methinks!

Paul -- you had better come see us soon!  This is an order and not a request!  I really think that you are not happy there and should not stay any longer than necessary.  I hope I don't seem too audacious in saying this.  I worry about you, though.  I think you need more "civilization" around you.  And you sound said and I don't like to see you that way!  I apologize in advance if I shouldn't be so bold, but I can't help it.  Please consider this seriously.

Take care.

April 6, 1975 (Letter from Bev)

I hope that spring has come to Deer Lodge and that your car is running again.  We had a very mild winter with the exception of one ice storm which made driving most treacherous. s The daffodils, forsythia, hyacinth, tulips, and magnolias are all in bloom here and a lot of neighbors are already planting their gardens.  I wish I could be outside working in the ground.  Instead I putter around with my house plants.  It's a small consolation.

Work is going okay.  I was really peeved and highly incensed when I found out that my book budget was frozen before I had spent all of it.  I thought I had $2.000 to spend, but only got to spend $1,200.  If I wouldn't have gone to Budget to see why I hadn't received my copies of purchase orders, I probably still wouldn't know that my funds had been frozen.  I'm going to do my best to spend the $2,000 by January of next year.  I suppose that this is typical of all state funded institutions.  I now have some part-time help.  The area schools sponsor a program for their less-motivated students which allows the students to go to school in the morning and work from 1-3 in the afternoon.  The program is federally funded and the students, called co-ops, receive $2.00 per hour.  My boss' office has a co-op, but she is seldom needed there and then she comes to the library to help me.  I started her typing catalog cards, but I soon took her off that work.  She didn't proofread anything and I was spending n hour or more correcting her mistakes.  I now have her doing most of my xeroxing for interlibrary loans.

The Monday before Easter there was some excitement at the hospital when three men were committed to the criminally insane building, escaped.  They stole one of the aides' cars and tried to take one of the psychiatrists as a hostage, but he escaped.  One man turned himself in later that night.  The other two were shot, one killed, the other injured during a robbery in a Virgina store.  The newspaper has almost daily comment on how the hospital doesn't have the needed facilities to care for the criminally insane.  A new building on the state prison grounds has been proposed, but then a full-time psychiatrist and other mental health personnel would have to be employed by the prison.  What does the state of Montana do with its criminally insane?

I bought some more furniture for my apartment.  My most recent acquisitions are a bookcase, coffee table, and an antique caned sat and back rocking chair.  I saw this chair at a sale on a Saturday and fell in love with it, but at the time I couldn't spare the extra cash for it because my car insurance was due.  On the following Tuesday I saw an ad in the newspaper selling some antique furniture and included was a caned rocker.  Out of curiosity I called the people and they were the same one who had the sale the past Saturday.  The chair was then $15.00 cheaper and so I just couldn't let it go.  The arms need refinishing, but the caning is in perfect condition.  It has become my most prized possession.

My sense of security has been almost completely destroyed.  Last Monday apt #1 was broken into and the lady's color television was stolen -- that was all.  Apt #3 was also entered, whoever went in never even bothered to shut the door.  The police don't know yet if anything was taken because the woman is in Florida.  I don't know if anyone was in my apartment or not.  The door is all marked up around the latch.  But if anyone was in, nothing was taken.

I've still been scared all week and won't feel a bit safe again until a new lock is put on my door. Tomorrow he's to finally put them on.  So much for my false sense of security.

Next month Diane and I are going to Pittsburgh to see Grayce and Brook.  I'm really looking forward to the trip.  I also want to stop in Western Psych to see everyone.  I don't know if they've hired a replacement yet for Mr. O'Mara.  I would sure like to get a job in Pittsburgh, but I doubt that will ever happen.

The hospital has four softball teams, one of which I've joined.  Practice begins this week and the games start in May.  We'll play on Wednesday nights during May and June.  I'm also starting to take tennis lessons in May.  They are on Tuesday and Thursday nights and last 4 weeks.  I'm really anxious to get outside.  This job is too confining.

Are you planing a vacation this summer?  I doubt that I'll be taking any long vacation, no $$$.  But I do hope to spend my weekends at the beach.  The New Jersey beaches are closer to me than the Delaware beaches.  I just hope the weather cooperates with my plans.

Well, guess that's all that's new with me at the moment.  Keep in touch.

February 7, 1975 (Letter from Grayce)

This is the closest I could get to Sweden.  I just don't like to see such nice pictures go to waste and we get so many of them at the library.  Be prepared!  You just never know what may turn up next....

I think I have reached (although I never thought it possible) a new level of boredom.  I am sick, again!  I don't understand it, at all.  I usually get sick once a year, right before Xmas and I've already done that this year.

Brook was very sick at New Year's and I was rather pleased with myself that I never got what he had -- until now, anyway.  I have exactly the same symptoms and they have appeared in exactly the same sequence.  We figure that this bug must have a month of more incubation time.

On Wednesday, I got up early and went to the bank and all of a sudden when I got home I felt terrible but I was still going to work.  But by 2:30 when I started to get ready, I knew I would never make it up the hill.  So I called in sick and I've been in bed ever since.  On Wednesday night I had a very high fever (102) and had terrible dreams.  I can't remember them but I remember that they were frightening.  Now the fever is gone, but my throat is really raw and I have a cough.

I've read 2 books (long ones) and I'm being subjected to daytime TV (yech!)  Pgh doesn't show old movies in the afternoons the way Philly does.  So I watched "Rolling for Dollars", "Hollywood Squares" and the 12 o'clock news (a little bit of reality, you understand).

Now "Split Second" is on -- it's not so bad because the questions are pretty interesting.  Of course, the commercial are great.  I've just been told how to cope with "The Naked Hamburger". Actually, all of this would not be so bad, if only I felt like doing something.  I just have no energy or strength.

I think on the news last night that it was -11 in Montana.  A warm spell, huh?

9 February 1975 - Well, here I am, again!  I feel much better today.  Yesterday I thought I would go mad.  It was Saturday and the first day I didn't feel like death warmed over and Brook was home to keep me company and things were starting to look up.  (For awhile, anyway!)  Brook and I decided to play Scrabble.  (This is one of the few games I am really competitive about.)  Now, Brook doesn't like "words" in the same way that I don't like "numbers" so it involves considerable sacrifice for him to play Scrabble.  But he's very good at it (he plays "strategically" if you can believe that!) and I really have to think hard to keep up with him.  Anyway, w hen Brook got a 64! point word yesterday!!!I got so excited I tried to jump up and being in a semi-lotus pose I pulled a muscle in my side.  I really saw stars.  I couldn't stand up straight for almost an hour.  Actually,l this wasn't very funny,  but it seemed so hysterical at the time.  I seem to be ok now (knock wood).  I've just never had so many things wrong with me at one time.  I'm such a klutz!  Brook said I have to be the only person on earth to hurt herself playing Scrabble.

10 February - I guess this is another bits and pieces effort.  It's really cold (for here).  I don't know firsthand since I can't go out, but on the news they said that parts of western Pa had -20 weather last night.  It was only -3 in Pgh -- but that's not too common here, either.

I haven't been to GSLIS since before Christmas.  I hope Kate isn't really bad.  I'll call her today. She's awfully hard to reach by phone, though.

You dream sounds pretty scary.  My grandmother says when you have a dream about death it means good luck!  And if you dream about a baby then death is involved.  I don't know. My grandmother definitely is psychic.  This is just one instance.  When I was in a car accident, she was at this resort at the shore she goes to for a month each year.  There is no phone and no one called her because she didn't know and they didn't want her to worry.  The next morning she was at Bryn Mawr hospital to see me!  (Bryn Mawr is near Villanova and at least 15 miles from where my parents live and even if she knew I was in a hospital, she would never know which one. When I told my parents she had come, they were astounded!  When I asked her how she knew, she just smiled her queer little smile and said "I knew">  Whew!  My father said she almost always knew everything when they were little, too.  Remind me sometime to tell you about her silverware set.

I think your philosophy of work is great.  I mean, why should a fight increase someone's sentence when if they had a scuffle on the street someone would just break it up and everyone would go home and no trouble  right?  Don't worry -- who would I tell?

How is Sue?  What's she doing? Wasn't Forsman's contract dropped?  That's the only thing I heard.  I never really cared anyway.  I think Forsman has more problems than someone who is trying to "change things" should have.

Well -- another letter.  By the way, I get home around 11:00 on Wednesday nighits.

P.S.  I finally broke down and bought a loom!  I'm so excited I can hardly see straight!  It's small (20") and it's primitive but it was dirt cheap ($20).  Spendo the magnificent lives!

October 6, 1974 (Letter from Tom)

Received your letter Saturday, and tonight is the first chance I've had to respond.  Letter writing is a very moody thing with me, sometimes they flow and sometimes they drip.

It sounds like you got caught by an early hurricane and swept along with good fortune.  Is it really big sky country?  I've always wanted to visit and spend some time in the western states, among other places, and this certainly increases the incentive.

It's a cold, cold (record cold!!) October night in Pittsburgh, and I'm glad I don't have to go out for any reason tonite because I haven't adjusted to the abrupt change in the weather.  I am in a new apartment since I saw you last, I'm living in Regent Square, near Frick Park and just a few steps from the Regent Square Theater, where Bobbi and I and a friend went to see Chinatown a couple of weeks ago.  We have a large apartment 6 rms $125 with heat included since it's a radiator steam set-up.  The place is no palace, but it has a lot of potential and the price is reasonable given the alternatives in Pittsburgh these days.  It's convenient because there is a drug store, a nice laundromat with some good magazines and new 20 cent paperbacks that are very decent, then there is an Isaly's and a hardware store, three of four little food stores and a bunch of other little places I don't pay much attention to like beauty parlors, a gun shop, etc.  One big drawback is that there are two bars adjacent to both sides of the building which attracts a very loud and annoying group that likes to sit in front of the place -- occasionally and rev their motorcycles for a half hour or so.  All in all, it's alright, but we are keeping our eyes open for a house somewhere around here that we can rent because we like to have more freedom to do what we want.

I have also started a new job, which I don't think I knew about when I spoke to you last.  I'm working at the Friend Peace Center on Ellsworth Ave in Oakland.  I saw an ad in the Forum one Friday and thought it might just be what I was looking for.  I found out that I got the job a day or two before I did the biodecision study and I started a couple of days after I got out, and I've been very busy most of the time since then.  The center is refocusing its energies, while trying to keep the war in Indochina in the public eye, as you may know we are spending almost 2 billion dollars in Indochina and it's not going to peaceful pursuits.  Also we are involved in military counseling for anyone who wants to know what their rights are in terms of the military.  I am responsible for this military counseling since the woman I replaced was doing it before me, and I also do a one hour radio program on WYEP-FM that new station in Oakland -- the program is called -- for lack of a better name -- Friends Peace Center report.  Well I'm not sure that this is the thing I was looking for, it's a lot of work and very little compensation, not only that I earn $50 a week, but there is a definite lack of helpful advice and encouragement from the people I work with, but each day is kinda different there and I may resolve my doubts yet.

The biodecision experiment was interesting actually and the group I was in got the better half of the deal and I would do it again, though naturally I would like to be in a position where I would not need to consider doing these studies, but for the moment I'm glad to have it.

I'm really curious to hear more about Montana, and your experiences in the prison, and I would like to write more but I must be up very early tomorrow because I have to get some blood drawn at biodecision before I go to work tomorrow (ha!).  Well listen, I hope to stay in touch with you and I expect to be in a biodecision study starting the 11th and then the following two weekends which is usually  a good time for me to write so I hope to year from you some time soon.

July 15, 1974 (Letter from Sue)

How are you??!  I've thought of you and spoken (most fondly, of course) of you millions of times -- but it's taken me lo! these three weeks to get around to actually writing.

How was the convention?!  I expect a full report, written in your inimitable style on all of the going, and, of course, comings!  Did you get any good job leads?  Any interesting meetings to go to? Any scandals?!  (Like did George Grant go berserk and try to pay a midnight visit to Sister What's Her Name in her room at the Taft?)  Did you see our friend Sue and her continuing oral history project? Did you see my ex-heart throb Erwin?!!!  (How did he look -- )  How was the bus trip?  How was Blanche?  Did you stay in the Hilton, and who paid?  In short, I want to know everything!

I'm missing Pittsburgh and the exciting low key life at GSLIS, I find -- though I am enjoying SF -- very nice dry sunshine here -

I am not sure at this point whether we will arrive in Pgh before school lets out (though naturally I want to make it back there (no pun intended) before the big PARTY!  We may not arrive till around the 15th -- will you still be there?  Let me know because I really want to see you.

SF, as I said,k is fine -- though I have been put to work (which I feel is practically like being put out to pasture).  Bart said "You work" and so I got a job through a temporary agency which more than ever convinces me that I do not like or want to do secretarial work.   But it's just for a month -- 2 wks of which are already finito, so I'll just bear with it for awhile longer.  The only good thing is that I am pulling in $4 per hour (before taxes, natch).  I started out at $3.25 and had to register a mild complaint about this not being commensurate with my vast skills, poise, experience, intelligence, etc.  So they very fairly raised my pay.

At the same time I am trying to finish my 210 project for Wendell -- I've transcribed one tape plus half of another -- so I have 1 1/2 short ones to go.  What a debilitating job.  No wonder Rosemary Woods lost 18 minutes!  Mainly though, I want to get this thing out of the way and off my back -- I don't like the image of Wendell's spirit continually perched on my shoulder.

I had dinner w/ some Berkeley library school grads the other night-- and frankly, I think our illustrious institution is better for a lot of things.  Cal is a real snob school, completely computer science and academic research library oriented.  The Dean, whom I already hated based upon an infamous application interview, is a real ivory tower man and a swish (as opposed to gay) to boot. They concentrate on its PhDs -- the only good thing about Cal is that there are many, many jobs for the grad students as well as a limitless number of "field research" (like 219, etc( courses to take -- only 1 required course, so you can design your own program -- But -- in terms of faculty -student rapport and accessibility of administrative power within our own school, we are way ahead. At Berkeley the students are discouraged from the very beginning in the possibility of getting jobs, they are left completely to their own devices (you would probably like that), their student organization is even less together than ours (my friends were very impressed with the bus to ALA) -- and Cal has a very racist-sexist-snobbish admissions policy (absolutely no one admitted w less than a 3.0).   Their curriculum meets the students' needs even less than ours, and it sounds as if they have virtually no opportunity for student input into the decision-making system (as Patty Penland would say).

I know Pitt has many failings -- boring and meaningless classes, jerks like B.N. and his OCSC speech to us, etc.  But still, I would rather have gone to Pitt than UC, even if the latter is supposedly ranked 4 or 5 in the nation.

I do hope that life in Pittsburgh is progressing at a merry rate, aside from Lib school.  Have you seen any movies lately?  We saw Polanski's Chinatown recently -- excellent -- good evocation of 30's period w/out being overly nostalgic.  Very powerful, if somewhat despairing film on corruption. I'm reading about 5 books -- or trying to -- Terkel's Hard Times and Agee's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men among them. Also one which you might like -- Erica Jong's Fear of Flying -- a very funny feminist approach to the existential dilemma ("theory of the zipless fuck", which you should appreciate) though a bit overstated at times.

Well, my dear -- I shall close for now.  Please write me -- and tell all!  Especially how much longer you will be in Pittsburgh -- OK --

February 15, 1974 (Letter from Kenny)

Sorry it's been so long since I wrote but as per usual, I've been pretty busy.  I can't seem to find your last letter but I remember distinctly being quite surprised at several things. I didn't know Mardi was married and I was even more shocked to find out that she didn't marry that guy from Minneapolis.  Also I was mildly surprised to find  out Joe and Mary are going to have another kid.  It must have been good to see them though; right now I can't even remember that last time I saw Poskanzer -- probably just before graduation.  I always thought that he was going to Florida or something -- I just don't know how he can afford to support a fairly on a salary that can't be that tremendous.  In any event I hope everything works out for them.

How's things going for you?  How's school and Pittsburgh?  When are you going to be finished?  Things in Phila are about the same -- gang killings etc.  Lauren is still going to school and will be going straight thru the summer at which time she'll be done.  She's been applying for teaching positions for next September and we're pretty optimistic.  School has been shitty as usual, I'm taking 2 Wharton courses this semester which I thought would make things easier.  1 is pretty easy but the other one is killing me because stupid me took it out of sequence and I can't drop it because of very strict credit per year requirements.  So naturally things aren't going too well on that front.

I've pretty much decided to let go of any ideas that some high class job for the summer.  I figure I'll do shit-ass research for a professor for $2.50/hr and maybe take 1 or 2 Wharton courses.  I guess things could be worse.  In a way I'm kind of looking forward to it -- I've never gone to summer school before.

Speaking of Wharton (that's funny I didn't know we were) Herbie might be going next year.  He got in and he's seriously considering it.  Imagine that, little Herbie going to graduate school.

How's your social life going?  Anything to do in Pittsburgh besides cheer for Pitt's basketball team.  I hope so for you sake because you definitely aren't getting any younger and besides someone told me it helps your skin clear up!

I'm going home next weekend for one of Lauren's friend's husband's party (a lot of possessives and I lost track).  We haven't been home since Christmas so it should be pretty good.  Oh yeah, my mother bought a condominium in Florida recently (somehow my grammatical structure leaves something to be desired).  She is going to rent it out on a permanent basis for about 4 yrs until she's ready to move down there.  She bought it now to preserve the low price for the future, which is pretty smart I must confess. So in any event in the future we'll have a place to go free in Florida.  What are your summer plans?  I figure you should be about ready to go continent -hopping now that you've covered this country.  So let me know what's going on.

Got to go now, so take it easy and write back.

October 11, 1973 (Letter from Kathy and Gary)

Sorry you couldn't get to Idaho.  We were really looking forward to your visit.  Hope you can make it sometime.  Plans are getting deeper for Gary's business here and with only 7 months left in the service, plans are very definite to stay here.  Reading your letter brought back a longing to see friends again but then we've made some really valuable friend here too.

Rick and Linda did come for 10 days.  They may have mentioned something at the reunion.  We visited Yellowstone and Sun Valley plus little things.  We enjoyed ourselves a lot in spite of the fact that they are difficult guests because they're very fussy eaters.

Gary's out working on the van's body.  He had hoped to finally get it painted this fall (the summer was so busy with camping and bike riding-- trials style) that he never found that time to do the finishing touches needed.  Now it turns out the engine is throwing out so he figures it's time to get his money out of it instead of struggling through the cold weather for a new engine.  He would like to pick up a second hand car for me to drive to work.  I ride my bike in the summer but winter really requires a vehicle.  Shame -- it would be really nice only to need on vehicle.

I'm happier in my job than ever.  Working 3 1/2 days for 2 dentists.  Takes the humdrum out of work when there's two offices -- lose fulltime benefits though. Both my dentists went elk hunting this week so I've been on vacation.  We were hoping to visit an aunt in Canada (B.C.) or Disneyland but finances won't allow that.  Gary just took a trip to Texas with his forthcoming partner to see the Suzuki '74 models.  We'll be watching pennies closely for this business adventure.  So glad we don't have a family to support although our golden retriever is having a litter Nov 9th or thereabouts!!  We're going to take one dog to my sister's neighbor in Colorado Springs when we go down for Christmas.  My sister came here last year so we're planning on the holiday there this year.

Is you social life getting complicated in wonderful Pittsburgh?

Had really good yields from my garden this year -- too much lettuce.  This was the first year-- next year I'll know the right way.

Have been helping with the Brownie Girl Scouts this year and enjoying that.  It has been taking 2 or more nights a week lately, but with Gary on a 4 to midnight schedule this month it's not too bad.

Fall has definitely set in.  We won't have the tree splendor like there but the trees will lose their leaves with little ceremony.

Well, need to get us some lunch before we starve!  Take care.

October 8, 1973 (Letter from Kenny)

Kenny and Lauren's wedding

Clockwise from lower right

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

I don't have much time, but I wanted to get a note off to you.  I'm really glad to hear that things are going so well for you in "the Burg" (as I'm told Pittsburgh is referred to).

It was really great seeing you and Tony at the wedding and it's too bad you couldn't have come in a couple of days earlier so I could have talked to you both.  Anyhow, things are going pretty well here for the Tuchmans in Philadelphia.  School sucks of course for me and even Lauren doesn't like her school but elsewise (strange word "elsewise") it's OK.  I'm not as pressured this year because I just don't give a shit.  All of these firms are coming down to interview for summer jobs and it is unquestionably the biggest pain in the ass.  I hate having to act so phony with them and also I don't graduate till '76 so they're not interested in me until next yr and they pretty much come out and tell me so in the interview.  The salaries they offer are outrageous ($300/wk for summer, $18,000/yr full time) but I'm fairly certain I'll be working for $3/hr somewhere licking stamps or something equally exciting.  Sorry if I sound cynical but these interviews really get me down.  It looks as though Lauren will be going to school thru the summer so I'm looking primarily in Philly although if I get a job in NY and nowhere else I'll take it.

I guess Herb must have told you about Chris calling him.  It was really weird.  When Herb told me that Chris asked about my wedding, I really felt bad.  I wanted to invite him for old times sake (and all that shit) and all he had to do was make an effort to call or anything.  Anyhow, Chris must have mentioned that he was thinking of getting married.  Maybe that's why he contacted Herb after such a long time.  What do you think?  Have you communicated with Chris?

How's the little Polish kid out in sunny Calif?  Send me his address.  My aunt just moved to California from Wantagh and several other people I know are contemplating the move.  I really want to get out there one of these days and be just like you -- a man of ALL places (at least in this country). 

Oh yeah, Puerto Rico was really nice and Lauren and I had a great time.  We didnt' do much sightseeing although we did go to St. Thomas for a day.  We flew back from St. Thomas to San Juan on a 10 passenger plane -- I almost shit in my pants.  We got about $100 worth of liquor for $30 and cigarettes only $1.50/carton!! Beyond that however, nothing was a great bargain.

Oh well I'd better go for now.  Write soon and send me your phone #.  Also I would really like a copy of those pictures you took of you, me, Herb, and Tony at the wedding.

Enough said, take care of yourself and remember your Dewey Decimals.

October 6, 1973 (Letter from Mike)

Just a short note to let you know what's up.  I got an assistantship and am handling the statistical lab for the dept.  They're paying my tuition and giving me $2,500 for 3 quarters which isn't too bad.  I wound up buying a '68 Kharmann Ghia in case I haven't told you and I really like it.  (It was the tan one next to the red bud I was looking at.)  At any rate, things have settled down to a dull roar and I'm stuck in the middle.  Have to start my thesis this week and I'm not in the mood.  (Bishop is playing this shitty organ music and I'm about to strangle him; all I can think of is Captain Nemo and the Nautilus!)

How's the burgh?  And school, and all the rest of the things that you should tell me?  Hope all is well and that you've settled yourself into a rut.

I really have nothing new to report other than I'll be here until June and after that ... well, who the hell knows?  Gotta head out now.  Here are the vitals:

P.S. Bishop said to say hi.

September 28, 1973 (Letter from Michael)

Michael and Elizabeth

Sorry I didn't write sooner, but I've been terribly busy.  For one thing, Elizabeth moved into her new apartment and I helped her set up.  Then, of course, I've been working full time -- six days a week -- in the store and there has been quite a lot to do.  Finally I am in the process of moving also -- on Oct first.  I never seem to have any free time and I just keep working, running around, and then falling out.

It was very good to receive your letter.  I must admit I have never gotten a letter in which the writer sounded so happy.  You sound real good; everything seems to be workout out well for you.  I hope that continues.

As I said I've been working all the time.  In some ways it is quite satisfying.  I pretty much have control of the store -- I do all the ordering and make the decision as to what items we carry, how the store should be organized, etc.  Obviously a lot of customers are pains in the ass but a lot also are really friendly, talkative, and especially pleased with what we offer them.  I feel a sense of accomplishment whenever someone comes in and says that since they spoke with me and tried my suggestions they have felt much better.  People come in all the time and say they have never had so much energy or that a specific ailment they've had for the longest time finally cleared up.  It's those times when I can forget that I am hardly getting paid, that my brother has fucked-up for over two years, and finally that we're not making money.

As it is, if my brother would ever get finished setting up the new store and stop taking money from this one, I could possibly start taking a $100 or $150 weekly salary, not to mention the food I take.  Business has picked up considerably since August two-three hundred a week.  I can't take full credit for it as September always proves to be an increased over the summer, yet I know that my efforts have helped quite a bit.

I got my Saab and I've been driving that all over the place.  I have 1900 miles on it after 5 1/2 weeks.  I like it.  I still have the wagon.  I can't seem to get rid of it and lately my brother's been using it for the new store and whenever he's had trouble with his car.  So now I've got two cars, two stores, and essentially two apartments; bills to pay off -- The American Dream in other words.

Sunday I plan to set up my apt.  I am kind of excited about that as actually it is the first apartment I will have had on my own (although I do have to get a roommate).  Basically, though it will just be nice to be able to settle down a little, relax, have people over to my own place, and so forth.

I hope you can get up here again, sometime.  You sound awfully busy yourself.  Perhaps some vacation you'll have some spare time.  Besides after you've gotten some training you'll be able to help me find some books I've been looking for in the library.  It's back to work for me.  Have fun, and take care my friend.

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.

September 15, 1973 (Letter from Leslie)

Hi sweetie.  Got your letter this morning -- very nice surprise, nice lift to the day.  Lots of little things to tell you.  Right now I am at school to do some work.  Will have about 2 1/2 hrs as the library closes at 5.  Am sitting in the lounge with a "cup a soup" and will go down the hall to the lib when I am finished.  Cup a coups are great because there is always hot water in the lounge so now I have 3 boxes in my locker -- beef noodle, onion, and chicken noodle.  Very convenient. 

Getting back to the end of the 1st page.  (missing)  I met Chris and she said that she decided not to move out because she really couldn't afford it.  Was a little disappointed not to move out but in truth I can't afford it that much either.  So yesterday on my day off from school Mom and I were going to play golf but it started raining while I was visiting my friend Ardene at Universal Photo.  We went from there to Montgomery Ward's to look at tripods and discovered they were having a sale on Mamiya/Sekor 35mm.  So I asked Mom if I might buy one (she is the best as far as financial advice goes) and she said okay since I would be staying at home.  I didn't buy one there, I first went to check out Consumer's Reports and decided on either a Canon FTD or a Canon TLD.  Ended up buying a Canon TLD for $214 and the guy quoted me last year's price and didn't realize it until he had rung up the sale and had gone to check something so he said, Wow -- this is the wrong price but I quoted it to you so you have it at this price but the store doesn't make anything on it.  The new price should have been around $260.  I can't believe the way things happen to me.  I was suffering from a psychological reaction to the whole thing for a couple of hours after.  So now I am the proud owner of a Canon TLD 35mm, a single lens reflex -- the type of camera that has been my dream for at least 3 years.  I'm excited have taken 6 pictures with it.

On my way home from school, I am going to go by Albany airport and get information on flying to Pittsburgh.  I decided it would be too wasteful to go by bus.  How bout me flying in Friday late afternoon or night and leaving Sunday?  I'm thinking of the weekend after this coming one.  All is okay with family, Mom said what you do is your business, which I knew but feel obligated to ask about since I am living at home.

Will write more later otherwise I will continue with the rest of the little stuff and will not get my work done while the library is open.

Hello again -- I'm home and have Seals and Crofts on.  Thursday morning I had my last wisdom tooth out -- yeah.  I was in a real vicious mood that morning because I had to go to the dentist so I was cursing joyfully at all the bad drivers and had visions of hitting them (if only my car didn't get wrecked).

Also finished shooting my first roll of 35mm film.  Can't wait to have it developed and see what things look like -- took pictures of all the family.  Already thinking of other lens I would like to buy because I want to specialize in available light pictures -- I dont' like flash pictures.  For example it is dark out tonight, but the moon is big and bright and near the horizon and what I would like to do is put "Cannon" (correct spelling is Canon) on a tripod and set it for a long exposure.  I usually call  things she but I think Cannon will be a he, it just seems to fit better.

Chris came mover last night and was in a strange mood.  We smoked and listened to records -- she likes to listen to records but wouldn't buy them -- so I'm exposing her to all my good music and it's interesting to hear what she does and does not like.

Good news -- I can still use my youth fare card so it will cost me $35 instead of $42 to fly round trip to Pittsburgh.  The weekend I'm thinking of is the 29th and 30th.  Classes are suspended the 27th (Thurs) and 28th (Fri) so I could catch a flight Friday morning and leave Sunday.  How does that sound?

My heartiest congratulations on becoming a grad assistant!!!  Working in the library is a good experience.  I've been doing some of the same things you have except checking the accuracy of bibliographic source material.  Working by oneself is nice -- but I usually have somebody with me in both libraries.  I enjoy it, though, waiting on people sometimes sassing them and learning how and showing others the equipment in the media lab.

I must say that "Meet That Lady" caught my attention immediately and when you mentioned it in your last letter, all I could think of was the refrain, "Who's that lady?!?"  And I knew it was the same song.  Ah, it will be nice to get on the dance floor with you again -- it's been too long.

I have an oz. I bought at the end of the summer, but I haven't been smoking much -- more by myself and going out walking breathing the air and being with the country but I don't like the incoherence that I sometimes fall into.

A lot of the readings I've had to do are really bad -- the literature definitely needs some pepping up.  Have your read from a book by Jack Mills Modern Outline of Classification?  Ugh.  It is printed in single space type and the whole page is filled.  The format stinks and your eyes just go bananas.  (Interjection -- Steely Dan is now on with Brooklyn.)

Haven't done any cataloging, but I have an assignment to assign author #s using the cutter system and the L.C. System.

I'm feeling very much at home now especially since I know people to say hi to and developing ones to talk to.

Thursday I forgot my pills so Mom brought them to me and showed her around the academic podium and the library school.  It was nice introducing her to people I knew.  The campus is strange but I don't feel so overwhelmed and am beginning to like the architecture.  Am going to take Cannon over some Sunday and take pictures when there are few people.  There are some good shots just waiting.

Well I gotta go -- it's getting late and I want to do some reading.  Tomorrow Dad and I are going with my aunt to the Eastern States Exposition.  Am looking forward to it.  Dad and I were going to go to the State Fair in Syracuse but I had to work so I said I would go with him to this one.  We get along pretty good -- especially when I try harder than usual.

I noticed the stamp you used -- was it intentional?  Thank you either way.  Take care of yourself.

August 31, 1973 (Letter from Barb)

Hello, hello, I can't believe you're in Pittsburgh! I had a feeling you would never go there for some reason! You'll like it -- it's a little more aesthetically pleasing than Buffalo and it's not "big city" -- have you gone through Shadyside yet? Go to the Gazebo -- it's Pittsburgh's version of the Jewish deli and of course all the in people hang out there. It was good to hear from you -- everyone was interested to hear how you were doing. All of us have been "expressing ourselves", as they say, sometimes conflicting but usually getting along. This week is another heat wave and there's a traffic jam in the kitchen around the ice water. Rick and I did food shopping last week to stock up, so I don't get paid till next Friday and have zero money.  I'll have to borrow money to pay Doyle Monday.  Well, I didn't get the job at the Arlington House at McLean -- they wanted somebody "tougher" -- ? -- after the big rap they gave me about sensitivity.  And I didn't want the other one, so I took the job at Children's.  I've been here all this week and I really like it!  I even got some coloring books and crayons for the little kiddies -- now I have to get a little table for them to sit at -- that ought to keep them quiet!   Rick has been giving me a ride in the morning except for today when it took me over an hour to get here by MTA.  That's not including the bus I didn't wait for, but broke my vow and hitched from Kenmore Square to Longwood, then ran to Children's.  Almost had a cardiac attack when I slid in at 9:15.  I had left Humboldt at 8:00!  Had a hard time getting Harry back in this morning -- the squirrels are on the move and she was freaking out, barking and running from tree to tree.  I should have brought a BONE with me to tempt her back in.  She goes in and sleeps with Bob when I leave in the morning -- what a free and easy dog.  Disgusting.

Let me outline briefly the happenings in and around 15 Humboldt -- after you left Terry and I were alone for a week -- Bob and Steve were off jaunting around.  We started getting paranoid -- locked the bathroom window at night even!  Then I went down to the Vineyard for a couple days (stayed w/ Doreen and John -- they were there on vacation) and stopped on the Cape to see Kinky and Linda.  Rick had lent me his car -- shock!   I got home late last Thursday nite right into zoo city -- 15 Humboldt style -- very reminiscent of the house on the Vineyard 1971!  Steve was in his room balling some chick w/ the door open, Bob was stoned in his room w/ people running in and out and music up to 10 decibels above normal ear damage and Terry was sitting calmly in her room as usual.   I went into my room, dumped all my stuff, came out into the kitchen and Steve is very calmly getting a glass of chocolate milk naked.  I'm there, Hey Steve, would you mind putting something on?  He's there -- what, are you kidding me?  But Grandma Moses prevailed and he put on his shorts.  Within about 1/2 hour I felt shitting and Steve had to come in and sit with me cause I thought I was going to faint again -- so we were friends again anyway.  I was really tired from no sleep and all the driving.  Meanwhile, Steve and Bob have left and come back twice since then -- I don't' know how they do it.  Things have been pretty quiet since, but I do go to bed early now so I miss the late nite "activities".  My big thing this week has been getting something cooked and eating and cleaning up as an evening's activity, w/out falling over from the heat.  The noise level has been stupendous at night w/ Steve's stereo, Bob's (he bought a beautiful set), and Terry's radio (bought from Bob when he got his stereo!).  It's sort of like a liberated college dorm.  The amazing thing is that we can get along under the crowded conditions -- it could have been a different story w/ another set of people.  Oh, fun, fun.  I really fell quite at home there but would not consider it for a permanent residence.  I can't start looking for a possible apt. till I get a few paychecks of course.  I'm glad to hear you're settled.  Let me know how it works out.  Are the rest of the people there students?

Your rendition of the reunion was about what I would imagine, although you failed to mention your favorite couple and mine -- Mardi and Marti.  I imagine they were there.  Now that I'm away from it, I find it hard to really believe it really happened (and it still happening!).  Mardi really did get married, it's all "true" -- is it??  I'm glad I'm not there -- I don't want to be a witness to the settling in and the subsequent dissatisfaction.  I don't know why I'm talking about it so formally except I can't relate to it is why I guess.  Fuck it, it's just something I can't get a hold of!!  Well, I try not to worry or think about it, I've found lately that when I see people (friends) in a mess, or what I perceive to be a fucked up situation, I take it a little way and then I stop and it doesn't really concern me.  I don't know if I'm becoming more selfish or more realistic -- I don't know just thought I'd explain it to you -- maybe you know what I mean -- it's like witnessing but not really letting it get inside you. Ya know???

It's time to go home -- probably finish this tonite -- I think we're going to see "Harold and Maude" tonite -- but then w/ Rick you never know.

Continuing saga of the working girl -- Tuesday Sept 4.

Really meant to finish this this weekend but things got hectic.  Friday nite sat on the roof in a thunderstorm - just felt like it.  I mostly slept all evening -- I was dead.  Saturday Steve and I cleaned the bathroom -- couldn't stand it any more -- it took about 3 hours, pretty good since it has never been cleaned!  And finally I went to see Harold and Maude by myself but I enjoyed it immensely -- great music.  The question of the nite was -- Did they really do it??  Duh!

Sunday started the mad dash -- I went down to the Cape with Doreen and John to hear them play (Harry came too!) -- and we drove back to New Hampshire arriving at 4:00 in the morning.  (They keep this pace up every weekend -- I don't know how!)  Rick came up yesterday and we went swimming and ate and sat around and ate and smoked dope and ate -- got home about 1:30 last night. I don't know what I'm doing today -- everything is sort of passing me by -- maybe if I eat some of my granola I'll perk up.  It's another 90+ day -- when will this ever end?  I don't remember summer being like this here before.  Poor Harry -- stuck up on that 3rd floor all day in this heat!  I left the fan on for her and when I get home she'll get a BONE! and I'll throw her in the bathtub in cold water.

Well, I think I'll mail this!  I'm wishing you well on your new life in Pgh, Pa. -- hope your courses aren't too boring -- there much be something good -- let me know the developments.

Everyone says hi, Harry too!