October 1, 1969 (Letter from Mark)

Sitting here in an Art&Civ.  The professor sounds like a tape recorder.  My schedule is really going to be hard this quarter -- 33 hours of classes, plus I've got a 4 hr class on Saturday.  Taking painting & compositions, drawing 2-d, figure drawing, typography, photography, and then art&civ.  The Saturday class really ruins all my weekends so I got a job working in the cafeteria about 15 hours a week to earn some money.  Pay 1.75 an hr. if I save enough I'm going to buy a car and if not I think I'll save and go to Europe next summer.

Had a great summer and I only wish that it wasn't all over.  Had a bore in Warren.  Only saw Marti once, never even saw Tina, mostly ran around with Gayle and Leslie and the new boy who moved across the street from Beverly Hills.  Ended up going to Surf about every other nite and to the movies.  Was really terrible and I'm sort of glad to be back at school.  I got my own room, it's in another new dorm.  Not to bad, most of the other rooms are singles and it sure makes school a blot better when living alone.

So how have things been going with you?  You didn't say too much about what you've been up to.  That was really a close call almost getting busted.  I know how you must have felt.  Had a chance to smoke last week but I decided against it.  I have to take tranquilizers and smoking just didn't seem to me as the right thing to do.

Oh, this lecture is a bore!!!  What a bore this is.  Thank heavens it's only a one hour class.

Hope you get a chance to make it up sometime this quarter.  With you working and my working I guess it would be pretty hard.

Renee is engaged now.  She went around flashing her diamond to everyone.  Really glad for her though.  My address is the same as last year.

June 4, 1969 (Letter from Barb Salapek)

Hi there stranger!  Sure was good to hear form you!  I haven't written lately cause I haven't had too much time. I finished school about 2 weeks ago and now I'm working more.  I'm still working at the Penn Laurel Restaurant but tomorrow I'm going to apply for a job at Sylvania.  I'm also going to summer school here this summer.  I thought you would be home soon so I didn't write after I got out.  I got my grades yesterday.  They weren't really goo good!  I got English - B; Math - C; Geography - C; Art - C; World Civilization - F,  I'll probably take it over next year.  I was thinking about transferring to the main campus of Edinboro in January but now I think I will wait.  I was going into Phy Ed but I'm really getting screwed up so I might, at the end of 2 yrs of college, to into airlines.  I really haven't decided for sure.

It sure must be nice to be on your own!  It'll probably be quite awhile before I get that much freedom.

Kids are coming home from school for the summer.  The same old cliques are forming again.  It is funny to see all those "good" popular kids up at the Surf Club and Melody Inn.  You know the bunch who were too good to be caught in places like that.  They sure look out-of-it!  I just laugh at them!

Are you coming back this summer at all?  If you do look me up and say "hi" or something!

Have fun this summer.  Best of luck in your job and school too.  Write back to me when you get a chance?  OK?!  Have fun and take care.

May 11,1969 (Letter from Tina)

It was wonderful hearing from you.  Although I've been neglecting my correspondence, you still put up with me and are thoughtful enough to write.  So, you'll be living and working in the big burg of Buffalo...You can't get rid of us that fast, Paul, dear...We'll be coming up to see you during the summer so we can check the situation out. It just won't be the same without you -- going to the Surf Club, or trying to pass for 21 in the Pub, and going to see a flick at the Wintergarden or even the passion cit..."Chuck" the Whiteway for entertainment...that's a bit below our station, now.  Oh!  I forgot about the Peninsula.  We should get a room for a couple of nights -- the six of us.  You should bring some of your friends home.  It would be great to see a few new faces in that stereotype little town.  I can just imagine what your Q.P. will be for second semester, probably a 3.5, or close to it.  Hope that all is going well for you, especially on the social end, but I need not worry about that aspect of your life at U.B.  Right?  Right!  When is, or was, your Spring Weekend?  Ours is this coming weekend, including the formal, a chariot race, a fashion show, "Shoutout" -- a takeoff on Laugh-In, a concert, and a sports car rally.  I've been asked by someone from campus, but I don't want to go with him.  I've asked a guy from Shady Side that I've been dating since last October, but I don't think that he'll be able to make it.  (To the weekend, Paul....)  I know how your mind works!  He's really a sharp guy, but he's very unassuming, yet very intelligent.  He hopes to become an architect and is going to school in Pittsburgh.  He'll be 21 this summer... This weekend he's at Lake Placid...must be nice.  He's a ski instructor.  Guess it would be nice if I told you his name...Vern.  He went to Mansfield for two years, but decided to transfer because he didn't like the idea of teaching the rest of his life.  Besides, Paul, there's not too much $$$$ in that profession.  You might know that I'd think of the money angle!

About life here at RMJC...not much happening, but that's not so unusual.  I was in a place here at school presented by our Theater Group.  I was Laura in Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie".  I really loved it!  Our director, Mr. Thomas Gaydos, is marvelous to work with.  He's a graduate of Harvard, London Fine Arts (where he went to school with Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney), worked in New York and Hollywood for five years as an actor, and is now working as an English professor here.  The play was presented May 3, 4, and 5, and was a big success.  My. Gaydos asked me if I had ever seriously considered acting because he felt that I could do well if I really had the desire and ambition.  Mom and Karin drove down for the last performance last Monday night.  Vern also came, and they were introduced.  Mom and Karin both like Vern, and good old Mom is all hep on his coming to Warren this summer.  I don't know what Vern is thinking or how he feels about me because we've never really seriously discussed between us how we both feel or what the future will hold.  I really like him, but I don't expect anything from him.  There's no sense in my getting all hot and bothered over someone I may never see again.  Our finals begin this week and will continue until the 27th of May.  They'll be rough, and I can't wait to get them over with.  This week is going to be a bad one -- I've got a research paper due this Thursday, which I haven't even started,; a critical due on Orwell's 1984; an Eng. Comp Lecture final; and finally,, serve as hostess for a tea here at the dorm.  All this is happening on Thursday!!!  I'll probably have a nervous breakdown about 1:00 Friday morning.  Last night I went out with a guy who is a senior at Pitt and is also a football player.  He's so sharp!  After he graduates, he's going on to Law School.  We went to see "Oliver!".  It was really a marvelous, fascinating movie.  His name is Ray Reppert.  His sister, Gina, (really a sharp, egotistical, sophisticated young lady), who rooms right next to us, asked me if I'd like to go out with him. Naturally, I said "Yes!".  I really had a wonderful evening.  Get this one, Paul, he didn't kiss me goodnight, or for that matter all evening.  I had a late pass, so the security guard had to open the door at the dorm. We said goodnight and thanked each other for the wonderful evening.  He said he'd like to see me again -- we'll probably run into each other in another ten years.  Just so it's not in court!  (Damn that security guard!)  A few minutes after I got in, there was a power failure and all the lights went out.  Absolutely no electricity!  We all whipped out our candles, took off our make-up and went to bed.  The traffic lights weren't even working.

About working this summer -- I went to see Mrs. Decker at the Process while I was home over Easter.  She said that they weren't thinking about hiring any of the kids this summer, but then they say that every summer.  They usually hire about 60!  Instead of coming back here in September, I'm going to work in Warren until January and return in February.  I'll finish up my last two semesters here, going February through to the June semester, then June through September.  I'll get my associate, then heaven knows what I'll do.  I'd like to go into some phase of travel, probably the airlines -- as a ground hostess.  My parents don't want me in the air as a stewardess.  That doesn't appeal to me either...Maybe I can grab a prospective husband within the next two years so I won't have to worry about supporting myself for the next five...Yea, I WISH!!!  Have to have the right bait before you put your hook in the sea and get a good catch!

What's this about Mardi going to Florida and working?  Last time I talked to her, she was thinking about going to New England this summer for work.   You're right about Mrs. P not liking it.  She is such a wonderful woman.  I really hate to see her alone, as she is now.  I wish that Mr. Sayles would get the lead out of his feet and take her down the aisle.  She doesn't deserve the loneliness that she has now.  But really, one couldn't expect Mardi to stay close to home because she, too, has her own life and ambitions.  She's such a shaarp girl, and she'll have no trouble adjusting anywhere she settles.  (I haven't written her lately.)

The weather here has been so shitty.  It's been raining for the past week.

Well, I must start crackin' those books.  Next time you talk to Mardi, please send my best!  By the way, I've switched from Lark to Marlboro.  Everybody is always kidding me about how horrible Larks are...one thing, they never bummed cigarettes!  It's a pack a day, now...Guess I better cut down, seeing as I'll be going home in a few weeks.  Mom would have a cardiac arrest if she knew how much I smoked.  Mike and I have been writing -- he's at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  He's received orders for Fort Benning, Ga.  He's in the Combat Engineers, and he thinks that he'll be headed for Vietnam sometime this summer or next fall.  I know that I'll never love him enough to marry him, but somehow he'll always be in my thoughts.  I could just never start anew with him because for me it would be impossible to forget the past, as things were before.  His jealousy is a part of him, although maturity will aid in taming it down.  Paul, it's hard for you to understand why I even went back with Mike.  It's hard for me, too.  When I broke up with him at the beginning of my senior year, I hated him.  And yet when the summer came, I wanted so badly to see him, hoping that he had changed; but as I found out, he hadn't.  Neither had I.  I don't know what I'd do if anything never happened to him while he was overseas.  It would give a few people in that Bleech family a chance to think twice.  No two people can experience what Mike and I did for that year and expect, when either of them has tired of the other, to forget everything.  When I never had to worry about seeing him everyday after we'd broken up, it was easy.  But as soon as I knew he was back, I ran to h im.  I guess that I've aid enough on that subject-- it's a sore one.

-My roommate, Pat, went home to Johnstown for Mother's Day weekend. Actually, the real reason she went home is because she didn't have a date.  JoAnn, my other roommate, just left with her boyfriend, Bob, to go over to his apartment.  So, here sits Tina.  That's typical.  A guy who I dated last semester, November through January, is now in the Air Force Reserves.  He went to Penn State for two years, and he flunked out.  When he transferred here, he didn't have enough credits and the draft was on his back.  He received his orders in December and was sent to Lackland AFB, Texas, January 31.  He is now at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.  He will complete his 120 days basic training May 27.  He's from Altoona.  He's the boy who sent me the dozen long-stemmed red roses for Christmas.  He's really a great guy.  We've been writing a lot, and he calls me every Tuesday morning from Mississippi -- we talk for about an hour.  (His parents sent him a credit card.)  He's planning on coming to Warren this summer and stay for the weekend.  Mom has invited him.  He's from a wealthy family, and I just hope that after he sees our home that he won't change his feelings.  Let's face it, Paul, we don't live in any palace.  His name is Bob DiVentura.  I really shouldn't say that about our house, because Bob isn't the kind of guy who judges a person by the car he drives or the house he lives in.  Besides, if he doesn't like it, TUFF SHIT!!!  (I'd better watch my language..)  I really wish you could meet him.  I think you'd like him.  Bob and I care for each other, but it's nothing serious.  That's the only way.  We have no strings on each other, and we've made no promises or commitments.

Did I tell you that I flew out to the Univ. of Missouri for a frat Spring Weekend?  I probably did.  That was about six weeks ago (March 22).  One of Jim Mattson's frat brothers, who I dated while he was in Warren for a week last summer, asked me out.  I had a really great time!  I flew by jet from Pittsburgh to St. Louis.  It's the first time I've flown, and I loved it!

I almost forget to tell you!  Linda Rickert and Jim Pompilio were married last weekend at Holy Redeemer.  I was her maid of honor, and it was a beautiful wedding.  Linda looked lovely, and wore a long gown.  Jim is stationed at Keesler AFB, where Bob is; and they'll be living off base.  They left for Mississippi last Sunday. They don't expect to be back in Warren to visit until next fall or next winter.  Linda is really a beautiful and intelligent girl, and I know that she and Jim are going to be very happy and that she'll be a wonderful wife.

Well, well, well, I REALLY MUST close.  Take care, Paul, and if you have time, write.  I'll be home May 28.  Good luck to you....

February 19, 1969 (Letter from Mardi)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 7, 1969 (Letter from Jodee)

Have a half hour before lunch, so I thought I'd write.  It's about the food around here.  We haven't had a decent meal in 2 weeks!  Well, what are ya gonna do?

Second semester classes aren't too bad.  Civ II is another TV course.  Hope I can get a B out of it.  My calc course is giving me problems already but it's too late to drop it now.  I blew a quiz today -- what's five points anyway?  Fr III doesn't look too bad, but I got a C on my first speech in speech class.  (Where else would you give a speech, huh?)  I have a lot of reading this semester, too, and I'm already behind in it.  I better shape up, huh?

Got a letter from Gus yesterday.  I guess she's really diggin Harry Spackman.  They went to Melody last Thurs.  She's finally over John, too.  They had a date and he turned out to be "a real child".  I'm happy for her.  Tommy and I are getting pretty uptight again.  Hmm.  He came to Edinboro a couple weeks ago to see me.  My roommates thought he was really tough.

I called home Wed night, talked about 20 min.  Did you know that Tim Nuhfer's older brother Danny got killed in Vietnam?  I guess my brother felt pretty bad cuz he used to be a frat brother.  I think it kind of scared him to think that going into the service could mean getting killed.  I'm sure glad I'm not a guy!!  Anyway, I wanna go home at the end of the month an bring one of my roommates.  Me and Donna are gonna hit Shorty's.  Can you imagine, she's never been to a bar!!  My goodness!!

Last weekend was a real dud.  Fri nite Don and I went to an Alpha Phi Omega party.  We got our signals crossed.  I thought she wanted to go and she thought I wanted to go and neither of us would go without the other.  We spent most of the time in the bathroom talking about what asses we were.  It was bad.  Sat night Connie and I went to a Delta Sig party.  Everyone was drunk (but us, that is) and threw furniture and bottles all over the place.  Can't wait to see what's in store for this weekend.

The sororities around here have started throwing their rush parties.  I'd sure like to get into Alpha Sigma Alpha.  Spent three hours there last night getting better acquainted with the sisters.  They're all so nice.

What have you heard from the Humboldt girls?  I got a letter from Sue last week.  Sure wish Nancy'd get around to writing.

How's the weather in Buffalo?  It's so cold here, I can't stand it.  I wish it were summertime and that we were hitting Surf and Snug every weekend.  Oh well, only a couple more months.

Well, Paul, it's time now for another delicious Edinboro lunch.  See ya at Easter OK. Be good and study hard.

February 2, 1969 (Letter from Barb)

I've been trying to write to you all weekend -- this go, go, go -- party, party, party life is getting me down.  Yes, right, don't I wish...The collage doesn't make any sense at all -- it's one of those "pick out a page and cut everything out" ones.

Thanks for writing, letters always make ya feel good.  I wasn't surprised to hear that Mike is the same.  He probably has a couple of friends and considers everybody else really "hoody" or dumb -- does he date anybody?  Poor Michael, but what are you going to do -- Mardi's in a bad way -- between freezing weather, crummy social life, school (blah!), dirty kitchens, and pot raids, she's about ready to shove it all.  It takes time to learn how to handle all the shit they dish out to ya at school.  We have a break (ten days) starting Feb 21-March 2.  I really want to go out and see her.  I could pull if off for $30 or $40.  I really can't afford it since I'm a couple hundred short for school anyway, but I think I'll do it anyway.  If I'm gonna go every day and work at that lousy job I might as well do something I want to do with my money.  Right?!

Things are their usual duddy self here but I really don't mind anymore.  My shoot-down from last semester is haunting me.  I just had Dorm Council for one time I came in an hour late last October and got campused for last night -- neat, huh?  I saw Mr. Wonderful at a party Friday night but he didn't speak -- why are guys always so nice, it must be a real effort.

I have a feeling my grades will be at a new all-time low at the end of this semester.  I haven't done one thing yet this semester!  During the week I don't even have time to breathe right.  I have four hours of classes a day -- that's not much at all, but I work 4 hours a day too, so I have time to squeeze in lunch and a cigarette and that's about it.  Then at night I clunk out for a couple hours in a dead sleep, get up, and shit around -- school, what school?  Missed a test on Friday that I'll have to take a zero for, oh yes, life is a shit sandwich and every day is another bite!  This Friday Smokey Robinson is here.  I'm supposed to have a date with some guy who might not go and I've never even met the kid anyway and you know I'd go alone in my jeans and bare feet and stand in the snow to see Smokey Robinson!  Not get this, that's Friday night and Saturday I'm supposed to go down to Penn State to go to the Chambers Bros with some kid I met there last week (went down last weekend, had a great time) but his roommate called me today and said he's been missing all weekend.  They called the cops, the whole bit.  He took all their hash and said he was coming up here to see me and nobody's heard form him. This poor guy takes LSD and is kind of screwed in the head, if ya know what I mean -- Is this making any sense?

Like I said before -- Help!!  Can't wait to get out of here and take off this summer.  We're going up to Cape Cod if it kills us; I can't take another summer at home working at New Process and sitting up in Shorty's everynight.  Oh, I forgot, Surf Club every weekend.  I feel like I should have my Friday night barstool reserved.  We'll do all that stuff at Easter and that'll hold me for awhile.  I go home April 2-7.

So, Paul, you see, Mardi and I need a few words of wisdom -- got any handy?  I imagine Joan needs more than a few -- I haven't heard from her except she sent me a birthday present.  I wonder if she's married to Rick, hehe, unless of course he hasn't gotten over his "fuckin crab yet".  W hat a case that kid is.  Swinging New Years at Renee's.

So you're going out with Gussie at home -- where is your taste?  I'm just kidding you, she's probably a "very fine person", cough.

P.S.  Was your spirit right about Cheryl!???   You mover, you!

October 26, 1968 (Card from Mardi)

I hope you're feeling better, what happened?  You can't be sick for your birthday.

I don't feel too well today myself.  Wendy and I went to a huge party last night and I drank way too much but I'm not sick from that.  I woke up with a beautiful case of slightly swollen glands -- mono maybe?  I'm sitting here eating throat discs.  It feels better.

Have you by any chanced looked at this month's Playboy.  Sally Eaton has a full page -- nude and pregnant.  Cool.

Sally Eaton, Warren Area High School class of 1965.  

Jill O'Hara made a page in this past week's Times.  It was really great.  From Playboy to Times.

Jill O'Hara.  Warren Area High School class of 1963.  "All the world's a stage."

So how are you doing?

School is getting harder, Psych is getting worse if that's possible.

Oh, by the way!  Nancy Rush picked this card for you.  I couldn't get down to find a card and she was going downtown.

So write as soon as you can.

Barb might be coming out Thanksgiving.

Tonight the Surf closes down -- a moment of silence -- 

Take care.  See you in 51 days.

October 9, 1968 (Letter from Dody)

Howdy!  Well, the big tests begin Friday and Monday, so I'll be hitting the book triple hard.  Phys Sci, World Civ, and Psych.  3 real drags.

Got home from homecoming 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  I came home and absolutely fell.  It was really great though.  (We lost to Indiana, 58-0.)

This weekend I'm going to hit Shorty's and maybe the Surf Club.  God only knows.  Ya know one can lose his direction in Shorty's.

I got a letter from Mike.  I guess he's actually studying pretty hard.  Neat!  Now he's not laughing so hard at you and me.

Hey, when yall comin' home for Thanksgiving?  Let me know will ya?
\
The courses have finally leveled off to a bunch of learning brain teasers.  So far I've fallen asleep in Eng. all but once.

Tuller came home last weekend.  I see by his face that things are pretty rough, too.  Wouldn't it be nice if everyone passes their first year?

As for coming up, I probably won't be able to come up until the 2nd quarter or  maybe not even until 2nd semester.  But I'll do everything I can to come.  Thanks for the invite, I'll use it in the future.

Would you believe that I'm getting fat?  Yep!  I started this year around 155-160, now I'm between 165-170.  I feel like a big fat toad.

How's the girl situation?  I'm absolutely starving down here.  They get uglier every single day.  Puke.

Well, the kid's got lots of studying to do so I'll add a later to the end.

September 14, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Not to much to do down here.  Last week Joan, Marti, Mike and I went to the Surf Club.  Joan had ten dollars taken from her purse and Mike had two packs of cigarettes stolen.  Gayle and I went to the show last night and to the 4 O'Clock Club.  It was "Boom" with Liz Taylor and Burton and it had to be the worst movie I've seen all year.  There was no plot and was it ever boring.  Tonite Barb,m Marti, and Mike went to Surf.  I'd gone but I'm pretty broke right now.



Starting to get ready for school.  Starting to get things in boxes and suitcases.  I've cleaned my room out and it really looks like a morg.

Your apartment sounds great.  Mary Jane Miller said to say something about the "Inferno".  She says it is a really wild nightclub where some really great groups play.

I'm sort of looking forward to having 3 roommates.  I have a feeling it will really be crowded and messy, but I know I'll have a great time.

Have you been dating any girls?  Did Rene get your collages to you?  Marti and Mike spent a whole night making them.  Mike's and Marti's looked pretty good, but I don't know about Rene's!

Mike got his roommate last week.  He got in a new dorm I guess and his roomate's Polish.  We went up and saw Dody the other night.  Boy I sure feel sorry for him stuck at EOC.  It sounds like a dinky high school.  He's been there a week and knows everyone.  They have a code of dress and one kid came in with beads and they kicked him out.  Dody has a ruff schedule and he has a job working every morning. 

I guess Gary likes Titusville - he's been home twice already though.

Mart's leaving Monday morning .  She still doesn't believe she's leaving.  Mike's taking her to the airport.

Well, got ta go.