November 3, 1977 (Letter from Mardi)

Thought I'd better write now before things get hectic around here.   Can't believe Mom and ( were saying things like "How big of a turkey should we get this year?" & "What do the kids need for Christmas?"  This year as been like a previous life somewhere -------

Glad to hear your spirits are better!  The extra money will also help!!  Refinancing is the 8th wonder of the world -- that word alone brings back memories.  Now, I hope the "roomie" situation works out.  I think guys have less of a hassle living together than us females.

I cannot believe Barb was discharged.  It couldn't have been four years -- no way.  How long is she & Lar going to stay in Germany?  Will they becoming back to the "states"?

The weather has been decent here & I'm really spoiled!  The next sight of rain or snow is going to make me cry!  We are hastily putting up storm windows & getting windows panes fixed & shooting the caulking gun all over!  Can't wait to see the heating bill.

Your relationship with Julia sounds like one of the best things that could have happened to you now. You've got two kids to get all your childish "activities" out with & a great woman to do all that lovin stuff with.  Hope all things stay "up" for you now!  Sounds like you're on your way.  Those "down periods" are great to look back on & make you more appreciative of all the "mellow" times.

Glad you'll be around for Thanksgiving.  I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather continues to be dry.  No now anyway.  That trip to NYC could be bad enough!  Good luck.

Wrote Renee a while ago after I got a short note from her.  I can just see Renee & Morrey cleaning, painting & papering -- it must be similar to Abbot & Costello!!

Barb should be leaving in about two weeks or less w/ no money & probably a lot of confusion! Things have been happening to Barb I can't believe -- but let me just say she's hit an all time low! I always thought Barb was really on the ball -- boy, was I wrong!  She hopefully will get back on the ball.  I don't know how she's going to do it.  She is going to live w/ Linda & Kinky I think or stay w/ her girlfriend in Boston, then she plans to get a job back at Children's & go to school.  I fear that she might stay in the same rut she was in before.  She's got to put her nose to the grindstone -- period.  So much said----

Everyone here is fine.  The twins went to Dr. B's yesterday & got their booster shots & today they were pure murder!  I don't blame them.  OUCH!  Ryan is crawling all over now.  Jeremy is moving much slower Y is the best of my three sons -- so far!  Matthew is very "trying" lately.  Of course, he's been good but he's been roughing it up w/ Ryan & trying to tell him anything now is like talking to a brick wall!  I understand his feelings but I can only stand so much!  This too shall pass-----

Oh, if Barb does get out of here next week she'll probably want to ride home w/ you @ Thanksgiving but I guess you'll be NYC bound so I will inform her.  Her friend Ann is getting married that weekend.  Why she doesn't just wait is another thing.  Actually at this point, I'd just wait till Jan 1, 1978 & start the year on a new left but w/ no job I guess she'd better get out of Warren now.

Wel;l, take care & I'll beexpecting to see you over Thanksgiving -- give me a call!

October 8, 1977 (Letter from Renee)

We're finally settled in our new home & I just now managed to locate my address book.   Our move was smooth.  Had 15 people show up to help.  It took only 1 1/2 hrs. to load the truck & 1 hr. to unload.  I still don't have drapes or other accessories up yet and probably won't for another month. We're wallpapering & painting & what a mess!  It requires so much patience & is so time-consuming. Before we moved, I thought we'd have all our interior decorating done in 3 weeks! What a screwball notion that was.  I also had no IDEA how expensive wallpaper & paint were.  I budgeted $100 for the entire things & went $500 over my budget so far!

We've been super busy with football games, company, and many social activities.  Seems as though every time we try to get something done around here we have to drop it to go somewhere. Oh well -- that's makes life fun & keeps us going.

Paul, forgive me for making this letter so short but I have many to write yet tonight.  I promise to write again soon when I can find my typewriter so I won't get hand cramps & can write at length. Just wanted to let you know that we're all settled at this point.  Looking forward to hearing  from you soon.

Sunday, August 7, 1977

                                  Photo from the Dick Dziadzio collection

I decided it was my turn to initiate a letter for a change instead of waiting for you to write.  I can't begin to tell you how great it was to be with you over the 4th of July.  I was also delighted that you finally got to know Morrey better and vice-versa.  At any rate, if was a most pleasant weekend for us and I hope we can all get together soon.

This summer has been full of ups & downs for me.  More downs than ups -- but I'm finally adjusting.  I have gone the gamut from boredom to depression to frustration & back in my quest for a new job.  I haven't had any luck in finding one.  Each time I was hopeful -- I needed up being told that they really like me but they had someone from within the company!  I have resigned myself to go back to teaching and to continue looking for a job.  Nothing would stop me from leaving teaching anyway during the school year so I guess it's not the end of the world.  There will be 2 new teachers on my team this year so things might change for the better -- hopefully.

The good news is Morrey & I are negotiating to buy a house.  Our landlady has been bitching about our dog and it wouldn't be too long before she would tell us to get rid of Lady & we decided to take the plunge & look for a house.  We found one that we fell in love with that is in our price range & in a lovely neighborhood.  It has everything we want in a house:  1) lovely stone fireplace, 2) nice size kitchen & family room, 3) 2 bathrooms, 4) huge & well kept yard, 5) divided basement w/ 1/2 of it paneled & finished off.  We made a bid on it today and we'll know tomorrow night if it is accepted.  I am optimistic at this point that we'll get it and greatly look forward to the possibility of owning our own home.

My parents and my aunt & uncle are coming out for a visit. this week & then Morrey & I are going back to Warren to attend my class reunion and then we'll take our vacation at the cottage for 1 week which we need desperately.  We have been doing a lot of running around, looking for houses & the mental fatigue of the decisions we're now making is most tiring.

I hope that by the next time I write we'll have purchased a house.  I promise to write w/ more details & news then.  I just wanted to keep up the letter writing & let you know what we're up to these days.  Please write soon when you have a chance.

May 12, 1977 (Letter from Mardi)

Not where I saw him.  The Center of Town, Chicopee

Hi.  Just a quick note while there is a moment's peace!  All is going well & we are in the process of moving & it is quite hectic.  If Marti & I can make it through the next three weeks all will return to a nice dull routine!  We are moving the 14th of May and I'm anxious to have more room.

The twins are growing like bad weeds and in about 2 weeks I can hopefully forget all this sterile atmosphere!  So possibly by the 1st of June we'll all be more relaxed.  Marti and I might even be able to enjoy our 4th anniversary!

Barb had to have Harry put to sleep yesterday -- she had gotten into some poison somewhere & it took its tool.  It's kind of like  short era ending w Harry's death.

Got a letter from Renee & Morrey and the black lab has definitely taken over the house totally!  It will be nice to get up to the cottage over the 4th -- wish we had a van to throw the kids in.  Being that the 4th is a long weekend, I want to see if we can get about 8-10 people & get some live lobsters & clams & have a small seafood orgy.  We are fencing in the backyard & we could have it at our house or Mom's.  So keep that in mind.  If my bod doesn't get some sun soon I may look pale yellow forever!

So what adventures have you been on since you last wrote?  Needless to say, we have not ventured far, except from East St. to South St.!  Marti's parents were here over Easter for a week. By some miracle, they stayed with Marti's stepbrother.  Their stay went very quickly and it was not as hectic this time.  We will have more than enough room in our new house, so we will be quite comfortable for handling guests.

We gave Libby to some friends that Marti works with.  It was unfair to keep her.  I couldn't take her out or even brush her.  The people that have her have had her groomed & her ears taken care of.  I hope this time the vat can keep them clean.  He was suppose to take a culture to see exactly what medication to prescribe to keep the bacteria count down.

May 5th, Friday

It's only been about two weeks since I started this letter!!  Moving right along.  All is going well here.  The twins are on my strict schedule & doing good at night, they are waking up just once now.  Unfortunately, Matthew I think has some sort of allergy!  It only bothers him at night, of course.

The house is definitely coming along for the better now.  We will have till the end of the month instead of the 18th like we thought!  I'll probably be a gray-haired mother by then!

I've been keeping books for Barb at Grandview for the family resource services.   I've done most of it at home & it gives me that extra money to spend spend spend!

Thursday, May 12th

Hi!  I will get this in the mail today!  I've just spent an hour on the w/ telephone, electric, gas co's changing addresses!!

Renee & Morrey came over last Saturday.  They were home for "mom's day".  It was the first time Marti met Morrey.  He didn't know what to expect but we had a good time, and we set our plans for over the 4th.   Saturday the 2nd we are going to have a small get together at our house or Mom's. Hopefully there will be a great abundance of lobster present also!!!  The 3rd we are going up to the cottage.  The JC's this year have changed it around so the parade & drum Corp competition is the 4th & the Fun Fair is all week & the fireworks etc are the next week on the 9th!?!?

I'm enclosing a picture of the twins -- who will be 3 mos. Wednesday!!  I've taken more w/ my Instamatic & I'll send out on later.  They are both about 12 lbs. now!

Take care & drop a line soon!

November 29, 1973 (Letter from Renee)

Thanks so much for your letter, it was delightful to hear from you once again, and I am very glad that we can still keep in touch.  I did receive a letter from you earlier in the fall, but with school starting and all the work that piled up I haven't spent much time in corresponding to anyone.

Everything is fine with us.  I am busy with my teaching and Morrey is working and he's going to finish up his associate (2 year) degree in a few weeks, of which I am very  very proud.  Aside from that we have been taking bridge lessons, but being the klutz that I am I can't seem to play bridge without my 14 pages of class notes -- which leaves room for little else at the bridge table.  We've just finished the beginning bridge course and in February we'll take the advanced course.  Our house is all settled now and my basement is completely finished with carpeting and everything.  It has become "my living room" since I spend all my time down here working at my desk.  Once school started in the fall I had to give up all my grandiose plans for decorating until next summer when I'll have time to burn.

I love teaching and I really feel comfortable in my job now.  I've begun to explore different methods and new lessons to work on since I can't stand to do the same old thing in the same old way year after year.  I have a heavy load of 6 classes with 169 students and it takes me forever to grade any kind of composition work even though I fell that this is an area that needs a great deal of work at the 8th grade level.  The longer I teach the more things I seem to take on and find to do -- but I guess that's what really keeps me going and keeps my mind working.  I am just about ready to decide to go back to grad school this summer to see if I can't pick up some new ideas and materials.  One thing about teaching is that it is never boring and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks I assign myself.  I am very lucky though Paul, because Morrey and I have very little time together during the week and we really cherish the weekends when we can get reacquainted.  We have a good number of friends here in Columbus now but Morrey and I prefer to be close friends with a very select few and we're not the big party types at all anymore.  I guess I could safely say that I'm very happy with my life as it is right now.  I'm the kind of person that has to set goals for myself and have something to look forward to no matter how small the occasion or how large.  Without the future to look forward to I am lost.  That sounds kind of dumb, but that's the way I am.

We went to Chicago last week to my brother's for Thanksgiving and my parents went with us.  It really bothers me Paul cause I see my parents getting older, and now that my dad is retired I really worry about them, not financially, but I worry cause they seem to me to be kind of "beaten" down by their circumstances.  With my grandfather living with them they have very little social life and they are quite bored -- yet there aren't many choices or options open to them.  They can't just pack up and go exploring places they've always wanted to see because they have a strong obligation to take care of my grandfather.  My parents literally live for the times when they can see us -- yet I can't hep thinking that there has got to be more to life and living than just that itself.  I guess I can't solve the problem for them, but I can really see the effects of all the years with my grandfather working on them, and I really get depressed.

We haven't formalized any plans yet for Xmas vacation.  Morrey will have a long 4 day weekend over Xmas but with the gas shortage and all that I'm not sure whether we'll make the trip to PA.  Aside from being able to see my friends for a little visit at Xmas time there isn't much that Warren has to offer for us, and Morrey and I aren't too anxious to spend 4 days sitting around on our asses with nothing to do but twiddle our thumbs.  So, at this time I'm not too sure about any plans that we'll be making.  Pittsburgh is only a 3 hr ride from Columbus Paul, do you think you could come here for a short while over winter break?  We have an extra, unused bedroom which you'd be welcome to use, and we'd love to have you as our guest.

Well, I'd love to write some more but I've loads of papers sitting in front of me which I've had for 2 weeks and haven't graded yet, so I'm afraid I'll have to close for now.

Be well and take care Paul.  Write soon when you have a chance.  Let's continue to keep in touch.  "Old" friends are the best friends.

August 3, 1972 (Letter from Renee)

Many thanks for you letter and the promptness of your reply.  It's rather an unusual feeling to have someone to be as conscientious about correspondence as you seem to be and I really commend you for your efforts.

I really don't have too much "news" to tell you since I have been rather lazy and inactive this summer.  Since it is nearing the end of the summer I have begun to get a guilty feeling for not having accomplished all that I'd like to in the way of plans for school in the fall and it has been just this week that I have gotten off my big arse and begun to straighten out my files, do some reading, studying, and intense planning for the months to come.   Although this is not a terribly pleasurable job I am sure that it will save me a considerable amount of time during the school year.  It's rather funny Paul but I am a totally different person when I assume the title of teacher during the school year.  My interest and devotion are centered on only one thing -- what I do in the classroom -- and I sort of block everything else from my mind.  Morrey and I live together but only a small part of my time then is given to my role as homemaker and wife.  I (or should I say we) spend very little time socializing during that time and I can't say that I really suffer by it in the last.  I'm usually so glad to get home at night, out of my school clothes, and out of my "teacher personality" that it takes me a couple of hours just to unwind from the day and begin to look towards "tomorrow".  Morrey really doesn't mind because he is still going to school at night and when I spend 3 hours a night on my schoolwork he spends his time on his own studies -- so everything works out fine.  I guess that is why I've really enjoyed this summer vacation because I've been totally carefree, enjoying my lack of "mental" responsibilities, and spending a good time with the few friends we have.  It is funny but when I teach school we sort of schedule in a little social life on the weekends, and it is so nice in the summer to be able to do anything we want in the evenings, read all night if I want to, and sleep away half of the day!  So much for a description of our "average" lives!

I guess that I'm finally beginning to realize that all my life I've wanted to do just one thing well -- and one thing that I can be proud to have accomplished.  Teaching has a great many opportunities for me to achieve that goal.  I can hardly wait until three or four years have gone by and I have begun to take on other goals and responsibilities as well.  Morrey and I haven't really been joiners in anythings because we like to think that if we join something we share a commitment to participate fully and not just in "name only".  So I guess we'll just take our "slice of life" one bite at a time so that we can cope well with it and do the best we can.  So -- to be (and us) that's what life is all about right now.

Gee -- when I look back on my high school days I can really begin to see how far I've come -- and in many ways it is a good feeling.  I've finally begun to realize the meaning of friendship, devotion, responsibility, and of course, love.  My life is so very different now and my attitudes and ideals have surely changed -- for the better I'd like to think.  I am really wondering when I go back to Warren for my high school class reunion if the others that I had known "way back then" have changed at all.  Did you ever get the feeling Paul that you are just beginning to really "know yourself"?  That's how I feel now.  I've learned to care a lot less about what other people think and a whole lot of the credit belong to my husband whom I feel has a good self-concept and has always been a strong and very independent sort of individual.  It seems that a lot of people I once knew were important to me (Mardi, Barb and the whole gang) I have really lost touch with.  Suffice it to say that we certainly don't' run in the same circles anymore and time has done a lot to change one's feelings and emotions.  I had to learn from Morrey that one must accept people for exactly what they are and the way they are and all the wishing and hoping that they would change to suit me wouldn't do any good for any of us.  I tend to be extremely critical of others, whereas Morrey is very kind and willing to be friendly and accept everyone just the way they are and appreciate them as individuals.  I really have no idea what point it is I'm trying to make -- but I guess I'm just letting my feelings be typed on this paper.  Forgive me if I seem pedantic or overly philosophical.

Morrey and I have one more week of his vacation coming which we are taking the last week in August.  Haven't made any plans about what we're going to do just yet.  We might go to Savannah, Georgia since that's where Morrey's father will be working for the next few months and he's invited us to come down and stay with him for awhile.  We might just go to Pa. and enjoy the peace and serenity at my father's cottage, and we might just go crazy and get on a plane and head for anywhere that sounds appealing.  We really are "spur of the moment people".  I hate to plan things cause by the time we're done planning them and talking about them we're usually bored to death with the whole idea by the time we get to do it.  We've been known to do some pretty crazy and unexpected things -- but that's what makes life such a mystery and so much fun.    As a matter of fact we both hate routines -- like eating every night at 6 on the dot or doing our grocery shopping every (?) Monday, or doing the laundry on Tuesday.  I like to do things when I'm in the mood to do them and not until then.  We feel hemmed in when we start living a routine like that.  In fact, Morrey  commented to me the other night that in the 2 1/2 years we've been  married we've never eaten dinner at the same time two nights in a row!  I guess that's why I'm happy with my teaching job -- never a dull moment -- and working with kids one never knows what to expect.

Well Paul, Morrey just walked in the door after coming back from taking a final exam in Psychology and he's demanding food for the hungry bear so I must close for now.  Please take care and be well.  Write again soon.  Is there any possibility that you might be passing through Columbus on your way back east?  If so we insist that you stay with us for as long as you can.

June 26, 1972 (Letter from Renee)

It seems hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I last heard from you or spoke to you.  I was so very pleased to receive the letter from you this week.  I have often wondered just exactly what you've been up to and I'm also very glad to know that you think enough of me to keep up correspondence -- even though we both have been pretty lax.  I always enjoy your letters and it is a really nice feeling to know that at least one of my hometown friends still wants to keep in touch with me.

I really don't know where to begin to tell you about my life since the last time we talked with one another.  A lot happens in a year.  I may as well start at the beginning -- so here it is!

After I graduated from OSU last year I looked for a job almost the entire summer.  I had decided that teaching was really not for me and I didn't really care to pursue a teaching career.  I guess I had just had it up to my ears with school and I thought it would be nice to come home at 5 o'clock without any worries.  Well, I took a job as a secretary with a big savings and loan company here in Columbus in the downtown office.  What a fateful mistake that was!  I absolutely abhorred my job, couldn't stand my idiot of a boss, didn't feel any sort of satisfaction in what I was doing -- and in general was a lousy secretary.  I worked in the savings and loan from August to November and then I said so long and goodby to the world of business.  At that point I felt like a failure already since I wasn't too successful on my first job venture.  I guess my main problem was that I felt no satisfaction in the job I was doing and really felt like I was helping achieve a big zero.  At any rate, at that point I decided the only way to find out if I really had any knack for teaching was to apply for a job.  It wasn't too easy looking for a full time teaching job in the middle of the year but I plodded along sending applications everywhere in Columbus.  I really struck it lucky though cause I got a position in the wealthiest suburbs of Columbus called Upper Arlington teaching 5 classes of 8th grade English full time.  The teacher I replaced got pregnant and I happened to be in the right place at the right time looking for a job.  Needless to say the pay was super GREAT compared to working as a secretary -- but pay wasn't all that I was really looking for.  It was a difficult task to take over classes during midyear but I survived and I'm still wondering how.  I really do like the school that I teach at.  It is relatively new, the faculty is extremely conscientious and talented, and the materials available and general environment make it quite pleasant to say the least.  I had my moments as a beginning teacher when I thought I would lose my sanity or lose my job -- and the kids weren't terribly cooperative.  They wanted to play games to see how much they could get away with -- but I suppose I've weathered that storm too.  I am not terribly pleased with the quality of my teaching work this year but I am looking forward to going back and starting fresh in the fall.  I guess I've kind of learned all the little do's and don'ts that go along with disciplining and behavioral problems.  Once a teacher has thorough knowledge of her subject matter (which I didn't) then she has half the battle licked.  Between not feeling terribly secure with the subject matter and never having to discipline anyone before, I sure had quite a time of it -- but I had lots of encouragement along the way from other teachers and mostly from my husband.

At any rate Upper Arlington liked me enough to renew my contract for next year and I got a $250 pay raise to boot so I'm not complaining.

I am doing absolutely nothing this summer except being a housewife -- fooling around, reading a lot, cleaning, cooking, swimming and just plain being me.  I made some grandiose plans for all that I was going to accomplish this summer but so far I haven't done much in the way of carrying them out.

Morrey and I are still living in the same apartment on Shanley Drive -- we've finally gotten our apartment to look the way we want it to and to suit out comforts to a T.  Needless to say I am still very happily married and fell very secure and quite content with life as it is right now.  For the first time since we've been married (which is two years) Morrey and I are enjoying freedom from financial worries -- we're not millionaires but our bills are finally all paid and  we have a little to spare for the things we want.  I would like to go back to school  I really wanted a rest from any kind of mental work and Morrey makes few demands upon me and gives me complete freedom to do what I want when I want.  We really do have an ideal marriage-- and we sure do know a lot of screwed up people -- so we're glad to have each other.  It is really unique but my husband really is my best friend and confidant and there is no one else in the world whom I enjoy being with more than he.  I suppose perhaps that this might all seem rather corny to you -- but we re very happy, comfortable, and secure. I guess one might say we've found our "niche" in life.

In your letter you referred to feeling old -- well my friend, would you believe that my high school class reunion is the 19th of August!  I really do know that I am finally a member of the next generation when I got the invitation to my reunion.  Morrey and I are planning on going -- although I am willing to bet that it will be a boring evening for him and a disappointing one for me.  I really never was very close to any of my high school classmates -- but curiosity killed the cat and I am anxious to see them and hear about what they are doing with their lives.

I was glad to hear that Barb was successful in Boston and really making a go of it.  I feel very badly about her mother's illness and wish that there were something I could do.  As for Mardi -- I probably never will see her again and she has sort of drifted in her own chosen direction.  It is a shame that her life is kind of a mess right now and I wish the best for her.  As for Mike -- the last time I saw him he was too much for me and I'm not really ever impressed by collegiate name droppers -- they are amusing but not very intellectually stimulating to say the least.  Mike seems like one of those late bloomers who will finally grow up when he's about 35.  I saw Mark Van Volkinburg last fall before he got married.  We were supposed to go to his wedding but it was too long of  trip and we didn't have much money for such trips at that time.  He's kind of had a rough go of it in the last 2 years from what he told me but I still like him a lot and he has some very fine and sensitive qualities that make him a nice person to know.  I had met his wife (she came to our wedding with him) and she was a real doll so I hope that they are making it together.  I am wondering whatever happened to Joan Piccirillo and I hope that maybe you can fill me in on some of the details.

I was disappointed that you didn't make it to Columbus last summer and I hope that perhaps on your way back from California you can come here and stay with us for awhile.  We have plenty of room and you are always welcome.  I would be delighted to have you as our guest and I hope that you can arrange to come out here whenever you have a chance.  Just drop me a line or give me a call to let me know when you are coming.

Well Paul, I can't really think of much more to tell you that I haven't said already.  I hope that we can continue to write to each other.  Morrey and I plan to be in Columbus for quite awhile and we will still be at the same address so please try to keep in touch.

May 27, 1970 (Letter from Renee)

I arrived home to our "middle class" apartment and found your letter awaiting me.  It shook the hell out of me -- but for a good reason.  You see Paul, I never realized until now that I've lacked the spirit of getting interested or involved in things lately I have become so enraptured in the world of Morrey and Renee that I almost forgot what was going on around me.  For some reason, your letter pointed out to me and showed me a much wider insight into what my friend Paul Nelson -- the man is like, rather than Paul Nelson the boy I knew only on the surface but not inside.

I suppose I should begin by telling you that all is fine with Morrey and I.  We are very happy, in love, and comfortable in our home.   Our wedding was a success (at least we got married in the process).  The honeymoon was great, and life, in general, is treating us most kindly  I'm not going to school this quarter, but will return for summer session.  I have only 3 more quarters before I graduate with a Bachelor of Ed in English degree (whoopie!).  I am working parttime in the afternoon as a secretary and my job is very nice -- and very easy -- and requires little brain drain.

They've been having real hell here at OSU and the National Guard surrounded the place for 1 week after the campus re-opened.  Things are really shaky with the university -- and the damned-ass administrators move to action so slowly and incompetently that it makes your skin crawl.  Isn't it amazing how a mere handful of strikers and real radicals (SDS and the whole left wing) can lead thousands down the drain with a ruckus that's been going on for about a month.  About 35,000 students commit themselves to "nothingness", while the minority remainder cook up quite a stew - - and end up boiling themselves and everyone else in the pot.  I have to admit, I sit on my fat ass and complain and bitch and don't do a goddamned thing about right"ing" the wrongs, but I don't really feel that this is where an education is to be found.  I could really give a shit about the "poor" black students whose demands are so ridiculous and irrelevant to the cause of their education.  Isn't it stupid that you and I pay taxes so those on welfare can have free time to riot, loot, and raise a stink about being discriminated against?  Hell, that's the easy way out.  The age old adage of God helps them that get up off their asses and help themselves really works, and as far as I'm concerned that IS an admirable cause -- and the only one.  Maybe my views have become more WASPish (if you leave out the P for Protestant).  I just don't believe that any good comes out of destruction, and I'm all for getting an education but not an education in rioting, looting, and then crying sour grapes in my beer.  So much for that.  It's a worn out topic already and it's beginning to sound like  broken record.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about Nixon -- but I feel the real rat of the pack is good old two-faced Agnew.  What a miserably poor excuse of a statesman and representative he is.  What a complete puppet-like asshole!

Paul, it seems really funny, but even though I'm married I still feel the closeness of our friendship -- nothing like that ever changes.  It's kind of neat to know that even though Morrey and I share a lot of things, I still have very close friends like you that I don't share with my husband.  I can't explain it -0- but it's nice to know that my past life isn't blotted out -- nor are my longtime friends.  Part of me inside is still Renee Shulman and part of me is Prayzer.  Get what I mean?

It was so great to receive your letter.  I'm so glad you took the initiative to write.  Would you believe that I still haven't finished sending thank you notes from our wedding yet?  Your letters are so packed full of ideas and thoughts and I really want to sincerely tell you how much I respect and envy your style of writing -- and your thought processes.  Two years of college has really made a noticeable change on your outlook Paul, and I really like you twice as much as I ever did before.  That sounds stupid perhaps, but there are many things in you which I never saw before -- or perhaps never looked for, and I have a great deal of admiration and respect for you.

It's funny but people like Mardi and Barb and Mike have no effect on me anymore.  They exist and I'm aware of that fact, but they never did, nor do they exist as real for real people to me.  Mike is still off in his wonderland of idealism -- "tell everyone to go to hell" -- "I don't need him or them" stage -- and he lives in a world of what I call unrealism.  As a matter of fact, the last time I saw Mike he totally turned me off.  I'm not easily impressed by his fraternity and friends and social college sphere.  There isn't any substance to his personality, besides the fact that he likes to impress people with who he does things with and where-- rather than what's on his mind or in hi head and why!  This might not make any sense to you at all, but I do feel this way and thought you'd like to know why.  Never never learned to "give of himself" intellectually, materially, or otherwise.

Mardi and Barb are another case altogether.  They live in a dream world to which few can enter.  They're like a couple of "teenagers" with few values, goals or ideas to call their own.  I don't mean to sound snobbish or uppity Paul, I'm just trying to figure out a few things for myself -- as I write this letter.  What I am trying to say is that I doubt if I would choose Mardi, Barb or Mike as friends today if I had just met them.  Being married doesn't make any of the difference -- it's just that I'm slowly taking more time to analyze things, while before I jumped like a bat out of hell.  So much for that!

Glad to hear about y our California trip.  Sound exciting, stimulating, and adventurous.  If you happen to be anywhere near Columbus I'll never forgive you if you don't come and visit -- friends and all.  We've got plenty of room to sleep 3 extra people p-- so please come if you can arrange it.  Just give me a little advance notice so I can pick up the dirty underwear off the floor.  Just joking!

We have a swimming pool and club house with our apartment and we really enjoy it.  Don't have to go much further than our front door for a swim -- so it makes paying the rent a little nicer every month.

Morrey and I are hoping to move to Atlanta Georgia when I graduate and find a job.  We just love it down there and the climate couldn't be better.  I hate Columbus and can't wait to get out of this big farm city!

We are coming to Warren on June 12th, for the weekend, so if you're still in town please give us a buzz.  I expect at least a postcard from you when you get to California.

I really got to stop now cause my hungry husband will be growling at the door for dinner pretty soon and I haven't even set foot in the kitchen since I've been home.

Please take care and write again very soon.

P.S.  Isn't Chaucer unbelievable?  The Miller's Tale is the best.  Can't believe something that funny, risque, and delightful was written hundreds of years ago.  Incredible -- but enjoyable reading.