June 28, 1970 (Letter from Gail)

Sorry to hear that you didn't make it out to Calif.  I guess Minneapolis will just have to do.  I'm glad that you found a job and that you like it.  God, was I surprised to hear about Foster.  I guess he's all talk and no action. If Mike's gonna be that much of a baby the rest of his life -- he's gonna have a ruff time.  But it will be his own fault.

I started summer school at EOC last week.  I needed three more credits so I could transfer in the fall.  I'm taking a history course.  It's horrible!  Boring as hell!

Two weeks ago Sheryl Larson, Barb Check, Phyllis Valone, and I spent a week at Lake Erie.  We rented a beautiful cabin near Barcelona, N.Y.  We didn't meet many people but we had a good time by ourselves.   Bought a couple  six packs and some gin and got totally smashed on night.  We all were drunk, had thrown up and were in bed by 11:30 pm.  It was hysterical, but I had one hell of a hangover the next day.  Friday night we drove into Westfield and went to the drive-in.  Guess what?  T hey only show dirty, pornographic movies there and they even checked proof.  (You have to be 18 or over.)  The movies we saw weren't' that dirty (shit) but
the previews we saw were censored!  Wow!  We came home last Sunday (regretfully) and now I'm already back in the same damn rut.

I haven't seen much of Mark.  He's lifeguarding down at the pool.  He stops in here on his way home sometimes.  His girlfriend was here last week.

I can't believe that this weekend is the fourth of July.  A couple of us girls are going to the parade in the morning and then to the fireworks that night.  Sounds like fun, huh?

I went to a wedding that your father performed yesterday.  My cousin, Cathy Benson, got married.  She married Terry Stanko.  It was really a nice wedding.  Your father was, oh, should I say magnificent!  Just like his son!

Be good Paul, and take care of yourself.  Write soon.

March 8, 1970 (Letter from Gail)

One night (a couple of wks ago) I was watching TV about 11:00 and the news came on, as I was about to turn the channel, they started showing films of the campus and their riots.  I sat -- glued to the TV.  My mother says -- "Doesn't Paul go there?"  I said yeah!  All I could think of was that I hope Paul's not involved in that.  I beet your parents were kinda upset.  I was.  I hope everything's settled down by now.  I'm sorta glad ECO is so damn small and queer now.  The kids over here wouldn't have the guts to do something like that.  Another thing is that there is really nothing to complain about because there is nothing!!!!!!!

I hope you've recovered from your "accidents".  That's a dirty shame.

Leslie came home for the weekend so we went to DeMarco's last nite.  It was lousy!  Fri nite Sheryl Larson, Pat Suppa, and I went up and had a great time.  The place was jammed and really alive.  Last nite it was -- bleck!  I was home by 11;30.  Guess who was there, tho?  Mardi and Barb L.  I was surprised to see them. I didn't talk to them, tho.

Les told me that she talked to Mark last week and he said he's bringing that Sherry chick home for Easter or spring break or something.  But anyways, it's for 2 weeks.  I can't wait to see her.  See what she looks like?  Have you seen her?  I got a letter from Dody yesterday.  He's fine and school's going fine.  Said the social life stinks.  But I guess Lou went up there this weekend.  So it couldn't be as bad as he says.  Right?

Guess what?  My sister called us yesterday and I'm an aunt!  I can't believe it.  I'm so happy!  They had a little 5 lb. baby boy, Michael David.  I can't wait to see him.  But they're in Arlington, Va.  So it mite be awhile.  We celebrated last nite on my new position as "aunt".

Well kiddo, be good and take care of yourself.  Write soon.

February 25, 1970 (Letter from Gail)

You would not believe how cold it is here tonite.  I was over at the coffee house till about 10:00 so on my way home I checked the temp -- 2+ out!  Oy!  I can't stand this damn weather much longer!  I wish spring would hurry up and get here.  Oh -- for that warm weather!!

I've been keeping myself pretty busy lately.  I'm in 2 plays this semester.  A short 1 act play for the coffee house -- get this -- only 2 people in it -- me and this boy.  Sharp, huh?  Then I have a real small bit part in our Drama Club spring production.  I'm really excited about both of them.  The C.H. one is March 20 and 23 and the other one is the end of April.

Last weekend I stayed at Patti Suppa's house.  Her parents went to Fla for 2 wks ( those lucky SOB's) so 3 of us stayed there for the weekend, Sheryl Larson, Barb Check, and me.  Barb is staying for the full 2 wks.  Well, Friday night we went bar-hopping.  We hit the biggest dives in J'town I think.  1st Shorty's (naturally) then Pejo's -- picked up some EOC kids, went to the Silver Dollar and Samuels.  We got back in town at 1:00 and Pat and this other girl that was with us stopped at the T&C and Allegheny Hotel and got served!  Oh wow -- what a night.  I didn't get drunk though.  Got in about 2:30.  Sat nite was even better, we went to Satellite Lounge bowling for awhile -- then barhopping again.  We went to one place -- oh god -- it was a real western saloon -- with Merle Haggard on the juke box and real cowboys dancing with their chicks!  Funny!  Then at 5 to 1 we found the greatest bar -- called the Sportsman Cafe -- the place isn't much, but the bartender is fabulous!  A young Italian guy -- "Bootsie" they call him.  Well he told us if we came back in 2 weeks, he'd buy us all a free drink -- there were 8 of us.  Great!!!  We got back about 2:00 then everyone came in and ate pizza.  Then at 4:00 we went for a ride around town with a six pack.  All I could see was the cops pulling us over.  Oy, I was scared but nothing happened -- thank god!  We got home at 5:00 and I finally went to bed.  I was absolutely exhausted -- a little drunk too, but that's beside the point.  I had a great weekend!  So now you probably think I'm a lush, etc.  But you know me better than that.  Right?  Hey, have you heard from Mark?  I haven't.  When are you coming home.  Be good and take care.

October 26, 1969 (Letter from Gail)

If you only knew how sorry I was for not writing to you sooner -- you have my most heart-felt apologies.  Do you accept them and am I forgiven?

It was really great hearing from you and I guess when you lose touch with someone like that over the summer, it makes that first letter in the fall sound so much better.  Right?  My summer sounds about the same as yours. I ate, slept, worked at gold ole Tiny Town, and took a 3 hr. course at EOC for 6 wks.  I hated to start school in the fall because none of the kids that we were really friendly with last year were coming back.  I miss them.  EOC ain't what it used to be.  I got elected to be a member of student govt again this yr and plus on the board -- govt is so-so.  Not too much has been happening in my life so far.  A bunch of us girls went to Shorty's last weekend and then again this past Fri nite.  It was so damn crowded that we all left and went to -- ready -- Pejo's.  God it was funny!  I haven't been there since senior week 1968!  Angie was unreal -- we bought 2 pitchers of beer so she gave us a third one FREE plus a big dish of popcorn!  But seeing as how we were the only people in the joint, she figured she had to be nice to us to get us to come back. There were 56 of us girls and then 7 more kids that go to EOC followed us up there.  It was really beautiful.  Then we stopped off at Shorty's on the way home just long enough to use the bathroom, then we left.  God, if that didn't look obvious!

We had midterms this past week.  Oy vay!  They were so tuff!  But I can't believe 1/2 of the semester is gone already!  Wow!

Last Sun my parents were going down around Penn State to visit some friends, so Sheryl Larson and I went along and they dropped us off at PSU to spend the day with Leslie Stein.  Well we got right before Ridgway and the hood of the car pops up -- right in our faces!  I was panic stricken. The damn thing did it twice.  So my dad bought a chain and chained it down and it was ok for the rest of the trip and on the way home.  To top this off -- my dad made a wrong turn and to get back on the right road he had to cross a median in the road and just as he got on the damn thing, a state trooper comes by and pulls us over.  My father got a $15 fine for driving on the wrong side of the road!  It was quite some day.  I'll say!  I hope I never have to go through it again.  I sat for the rest of the trip (after the hood flew up) with my fingers crossed and my eyes closed.  I was so-o-o scared!!!

Nothing much has happened in Warren lately.  Except it snowed here for 2 days last week.  Ugh!

Congratulations on your new car.  It sounds really nice.  Bring it home some weekend.  I'd like to see it.  What color is it?

I'm so mad at Mark.  I wrote him 3 wks ago and he hasn't answered me back.  Oh well.  Leslie hears from him quite regularly.  He calls her up at lest once a week and he's going down to see her sometime next month.  I guess.  Oh well.  WAHS played Kane yesterday.  We beat them 46-0  That's not saying much for the Dragons though, Kane kicked 14 guys off their team for drinking.  See what I mean.

Take care and come home soon.  Get out of the smog and get some fresh clean country air in your lungs!  Ha!

March 19, 1969 (Letter from Gail)

Boy, was my face red tonite!  Bonnie Freund and I were sitting in History tonite and we were talking while the teacher was lecturing.  Well he got a little pissed and told us to shut up and stop acting like high school girls!  He stood there and carried on like that for about 5 min -- giving us this big lecture on class behavior, how it's rude to talk while someone else is and blah-blah-blah.  I was so humiliated, I could have spit in his face.  Bon was really embarrassed, too.

Well, Mark came home last wk.  I've only seen him once, Fri night.  Sheryl and I took him over to our coffee house but before we walked in, I saw this guy I haven't seen in 13 months.  He just got home from the service, so I started talking to him.  Well, Sheryl got upset and went home and Mark got pissed and he took off and went to Y'ville with his sister.  He never did make it up there.  But really, I don't think he'd like it.  It's just not his type of place  So I'm not going to force him to come with us anymore when we go there.  I've talked to him once since Fri -- on Monday -- so I think he's up tight about me.  Enuf about Mark.  How's you?  How's all your campus protesting and sit-ins coming along?  Quarters are here on Fri so we should be getting our grades within a couple week.  I'm not really sure what any of them will be but I know that they'll be somewhere around average, as usual.

We were supposed to go see the 5th Dimension at the main campus tomorrow, but as usual our plans were screwed up and we won't be going.  Damn.  Count Basie will be at the high school pretty soon, so we'll probably see that.

Boy, has the weather ever been beautiful here the past 2 days.  Everybody was riding around with their convertibles down, guys were wearing shorts and playing baseball already. But tonight it got cold, so I don't know what it'll be like tomorrow.

Are you coming home for Easter?  Gee if you are, the whole gang, or those who made it home will have to get together and have another New Years party!  Right?  Except this time, there will be no whiskey, no "friends" of Joan's and NO throwing up or passing out till 5:30 in the morning.  If we eliminated these, it sounds like a hell of a boring time, no really, sounds like fun. We'll have to see what we can do about it.

 Well, Mr. Nelson, gotta hit the sack.  Take care and be careful.  See ya soon, right?  XOXOXO.

February 19, 1969 (Letter from Gail)

Sorry it took me so long to write back.  I guess I just never got around to it.  You know how it goes.  And then, there hasn't been anything going on that's worthwhile to talk about.

School is the same old drag.  I've got so much extra work to do, but I don't seem to have the urge to do it.  I just sit around and do nothing.  Sounds like fun, right?

Last night we had tryouts for the play at school.  I tried out but we have to tryout again Thurs night and then we'll find out who made it.  I would really like to make it.  I think it would be a lot of fun.  But if I don't make it this time, I'll have two more chances at it next year.

We're having a talent show next month.  A bunch of us girls were gonna do something, but it fell through and I guess we're not gonna do it.

Sheryl and I are still hitting Shorty's every Friday night.  This weekend Leslie is coming home, and I guess Sherry and I will include her in on our little Friday night drinking club.  Too bad you couldn't join us.

Thanks for inviting me to Buffalo to see you.  Maybe the next time you come home, we can make some plans.

I told Dody to write to you.  I hope he did.  I heard from Mark yesterday.  He's fine except for his ulcer.  He really likes school now.  I'm sure he told you.

Well, take it easy (or anyway you can get it) and write soon.

February 4, 1969 (Letter from Gail)

I hope you're not going thru hell in Buff like we are here.  It is so cold here, it hasn't stopped snowing all day and the wind is blowing really hard.  I'm upstairs in my room writing and I'm getting frostbitten instead of writer' cramp.

Mark was home this past weekend.  I talked to him on the phone about 4 times but I didn't get one chance to see him.  He came late Fri night and he never called till Sat.  He wasn't going out at all on Sat night. so I didn't see him.  But he said he'll probably be home in another month.

Sheryl and I went to Shorty's last Fri nite, an every Friday nite happening with us.  I won't be able to go this Fri cuz I have to go to a Bar Mitzvah.  Shit!  We met this boy there that used to go to school with us, but he moved away after ninth grade.  His name is Jay Bowes, he grad in 1967.  Do you remember him?  I didn't at all, but Sheryl did.  We sat and talked for awhile about "the good old days".  (?)  We were getting ready to leave about 11:45 and just then a whole bunch of EOC kids came in so we stayed for an extra 1/2 hour.  It was great!  Mary Speidel was home this weekend, too.  I got to see her.  Wouldn't you know it, I always see the girls and not the guys.  Strange!  I hope you're keeping your apt nice and clean and oh god, how can you stand Pall Mall?  Yeech!  Well, it's your lungs!  With that, I'll close for now.  Take care.

January 26, 1969 (Letter from Gail)

I was really happy to hear from you so soon and I'm sorry we didn't get to see you before you left, and the end of May seems so far away but I'll survive if you will -- OK!

We got our grades yesterday.  I got 3 B's, 1 C, and 1 D in World Civ which is better than the F I had at quarters.  I was satisfied with them I guess.  Sheryl and I went to Shorty's Fri nite.  Wow what a great time.  It was like old home week and the '68 class reunion combined.  I got really drunk and I paid for it on Sat.  What a hangover and I had to work all day.  Then last night I went to a party which didn't matter any.  Today I'm just taking it easy -- writing letters all day.

Sorry this is so messy but this paper is a real bitch to write on, plus my Bic keeps blobbing all over.  If y ou can't read it, send it back and I'll translate it for you.

How's school going?  I hope you've cleaned your apt by now.  If not, I'll be glad to come and do it for you, only on 1 condition, you won't let me go back to Warren cuz once I'm out of this town, I'm never coming back and I mean it too!  Have you heard from any of the gang lately?  I haven't -- I finally wrote Mark back but he hasn't responded.  Oh well, probably a delayed reaction, you know Mark!

Well, Paul, I better go.  I've gotta write to my grandparents.  They've been gone 2 1/2 months and I haven't written to them yet.  So I better get busy.  Take care and have a great time but study once in awhile.

December 5, 1968 (Letter from Gail)

I figured since I had the old typewriter out I'd write you a letter on it.  I hope you don't mind and that you can read it cuz my typing is not too good.

Boy that was quite some envelope you sent your letter in.  When I got it, I could not figure out what it was.  Then when I turned it over and saw it was from you, then I knew.

I'm glad you had a nice Thanksgiving.  I did, too.  I saw Mark quite a few times.  The 1st night he was home we went to Jamestown to see "Gone with the Wind".  Then on Saturday night, Mark, Sheryl Larson and I went to the Gloves.  What a place!  I really like it there.  About 10:15 we left and went to the 4:00 Club, stayed there about 1/2 hour, then we went back to the Gloves until 11:30.  We gave Patti Suppa and Missi V. a ride home.  Patti was so drunk she didn't know what she was doing.   So we stopped at Shorty's on the way home to sober Patti up a little.  So I guess we sort of made the rounds that night.  Right?  Mark says your hair is really long.  I can't wait to see it.  What did you parents say about it?  Don't get it cut till after Xmas so I can see it.  OK?

How's school going for you?  We got quarter grades a couple weeks ago (really about a month ago now).  I got 2 B's, 2 C's, and an F in World Civ.  We had a W.C. test about 3 wks ago and I flunked it, too.  So I'm not doing too well in that class.  As long as I can keep my other grades up, I'll be satisfied.

Tomorrow night is EOC's dance at the Women's Club.  I got asked by this boy from Aliquippa, Pa.  We're really just good friends and he's a great kid, only one thing - he's just about my height.  And I just pray I won't be taller than him in my 1/2 inch heels.  I think we'll just sit out the slow dances.  We're doubling with Bonnie Freund and her date so we'll probably leave the dance around 10:00 and go to Shorty's.  See, it's a dinner-dance.  Din is at 6:30 and the dance is from 9 to 1.  It should be fun cuz all 4 of us are real good friends.

It finally snowed today.  This whole week it was really nice except it rained a lot.  The wind is really blowing hard and it's pretty cold out.

We got a new dog a couple weeks ago.  We had to put our other one away.  He was really sick and he could hardly walk.  We got the new one the same night we took Scamp away.  The new one's name is Timmy.  He's a beagle, 3 1/2 years old, and I love him to death.  When you come home you'll have to come down and see him.

I know typewritten letters aren't very personal, but the tw. was out and I do need practice.  I hope you don't mind.  I really missed seeing you over Thanksgiving but I'm sure we'll get together over Christmas.  Right?  Right!

Be good and take care of yourself.