November 5, 1976 (Letter from Cheryl)

Sure seems like it's been along time since I wrote or heard from you -- hope your still at the same place.

Alot has changed & alot has happened since I wrote last.  George and I aren't tog and haven't been for some time.  When he left he said he may go to Portland or he may turn himself back in to the joint.  No one has heard from him since so I don't know where he's at or what he's doin.   He doesn't even write to Georgie.  But he said he'd drop by Xmas so we'll see then.  Maybe.  I'd still like to know if he's okay tho, even if we aren't tog anymore.  If & when I heard from him I'll let you know.  I think I gave him your address & maybe you've heard from him?  Let me know if yo have okay.

In Sept. I moved to Washington but after a month of being there I got home sick for the mountains and came back.  It's nice to be back here again.  The hills are really pretty with all the leaves changing.  We haven't gotten any now yet; in fact it's been in the 50's most every day.  Which is nice for Nov.  While I was in Wash.  I caught hepatitis from firing up drugs.  Isn't that dumb?  I didn't even know I had it  till someone told me I should see a doc.  I'm kinda ignorant on diseases like that cuz I've never had it or seen it.  But a couple days before I went to the doc's I felt really tired & couldn't stay awake.  Guess I've had it about 3 wks now.  Should be over it soon, I hope. One good thing I've lost alot of weight from it.

I guess from what George said Brian Borgen is back in the joint.  Don't know what he did tho. Clayton Cline got in a fight and got shot 3 times and is now a vegetable.  That's too bad -- I kinda liked him.  Really even if I didn't like him I'd still hate to see it happen.

What are you doin for turkey day?  We're havin a big bird with all the trimmings and a bunch of people up for a party.  Hopefully the people we use to live with here will be up by then. They moved to Calif. in Aug.  Sure would make for a good party.

In Aug. we went all the way back to North Dakota, right on the Minnesota border to see my brother.  It was really a good trip.  Had alot of fun.  On the way back I got to see my mother in Montana and I'm happy for that, cuz she died in Sept.  Was quite a shock to us all.  Ya don't realize how much they mean to ya till there gone.  Then it's too late.

The kids are really gettin big.  George is as tall as me an Lawana is already in school.  She really enjoys it and even tho she doesn't have any homework she pretends to just like her bother.  Their both gettin' all excited over Xmas.  Sure does seem like it comes around fast any more.

Well I'd better go for now -- gotta do some stuff.  So take care & write sooner than I did.  Have a good Thanksgiving -- Bye for now.

November 29, 1973 (Letter from Leslie)

Well hello sweetie.  Thank you for sending the postcard so I know you are still alive.  I had imagined that you were busy.  I don't know what to say about us, I guess my last postcard is the most correct.  The subject is not a very good one for discussion by letter.  I hope in your next missal you will make some comments on the things I wrote -- your letter to me was a hard one to write an answer to and continuing thoughts on it have made me cover a lot of ground but if I am still important to you and your feelings haven't changed then I will be comfortable with that.  Please write a letter, though, because I miss your chatty letters discussing what you have been doing.  So no more on that until I hear from you again.

Your independent study project sounds interesting.  I have read (and will enclose it) that Rolling Stone has published a volume of select reviews and has just come our with record reviews from its early years of publication complete with a 20 page index.  As far as I can tell those are the only two aspect indexed.  I imagine you have your sources already but just in case not, Collison has written Indexes and Indexing and is somebody at least readable.

A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday I went to an antique show with my aunt.  I loved it and I think you would have enjoyed it.  It was at least 30 independent dealers showing select wares -- lots of crystal, boxes, and a few specializing in books.  One dealer was the best as far as having books, manuscripts, maps, and personal correspondence.  I could see myself getting into that whole racket -- I already collect stuff.

My car has been acting up and continues to eat gas so I've gone to the dealer where I bought my other motorcycle and have put down a deposit on a new Honda 350F.  It is the baby of the four cylinder bikes and should be smooth as glass -- no vibration like you have with twin cylinder bikes.  It will make a nice small touring bike, very comfortable, which is what I will need commuting to Albany as much as I do.  I'm looking forward to being on two wheels again.

Not much else -- I've been doing a lot of reading lately trying to get most things out of the way.  Had a nice Thanksgiving -- went to NYC for a hot minute.  My father forgot to leave the bills of lading at the terminal in Edgewater, N.J. and my granny was going down Friday to visit so Mom, Nana, and I left after dinner on Thurs and ran the errand.  Unfortunately the people I wanted to see were all busy.  Mom and I drove back on Friday.  I drove up through Manhattan and Yonkers and part way up the Taconic Parkway.  It was the most driving I have done in NYC and wasn't as bad as it looks.  Saturday I went to a party and it was like a small old home week with some long unseen faces.  Sunday was a second Thanksgiving dinner in Troy with friends.  The food was great -- everybody had contributed something -- I made the gravy.  It was good -- I like lots of people around holidays.

Will continue later.

Friday 30:Nov '73 - Good afternoon -- am sitting in the library school  library and thought I would finish writing this before doing some work.

The other day I picked up my pictures and I was really pleased the way they came out.  It was the first time using a tripod.  The longest exposure was 1 second.  I shot a roll of black and white and a roll of color.  The quality of the color pictures was really fine -- I was pleasantly surprised.  Took portrait shots of Mom, Nana, and Dad and they came out great.  So whenever I see you again, will you sit for me?

On the local AM stations they are starting to play Steely Dan's new song.  I don't know the title but it has the phrase "But I did not think that girl could be so cruel and I'm never going back to my old school."   Really fine.  Last night a bunch of us went to the Pub and they were playig some fine listening music by Aretha Franklin, Laura Nyro, and Carole King.  (I think mostly from the Fantasy album.)  Feel like dancing now again -- haven't been since I was in Pittsburgh.

Tonight Chris and I are going to see American Graffiti.  Have you seen it yet?  I've been meaning to go for at least a month and so am looking forward to it.  Still haven't gotten my records from RCA so no comments on Lookin' In.

I guess that's it for now.  I continue to try and understand you more than before and care for you very much.  Take care of yourself.

November 18, 1970 (Letter from Barb Lucia)

It's a bleak, windy and rainy November day and again I sit and wonder "What in the hell am I doing here???"  Have have you been?  I talked to Mardi Monday night -- get this -- she and Anderson are now in Las Vegas for a week, starting today.  Bill won the trip from the Star-Tribune, since he's such a lousy district manager.  But they'll get the last screw in the end because he has to work Christmas Day, so can't come home to Warren, Pa 16365!  Maybe he ca get out of it somehow, knowing Anderson.

I'm pretty sure I'm going home for Thanksgiving -- I'll be flying the nite of Wed, the 25th -- one week from today.  Will you be anywhere around Buffalo then?  I could really dig a ride home with you, since no telling where Timmy is and if he can come and my Dad doesn't know how to get there.  Will you call me and let me know?  You can call collect say, Sunday nite -- late.  I should be able to stay home Thurs-Fri-Sat and leave Sun. So I'll be sure to see you then -- we can go to Shorty's stoned for a real bummer.  I might bring a guy home -- he will freak at the sights and sounds of downtown Warren, Pa, "Hooterville" -- what can I say?  It's going to be ugly there now -- blah!  Sometimes I even wish we were back on Lake Street in 95 degrees bitching about who should take out the garbage -- where shall we live next summer?  California?!  There's nothing new to report from her e-- nothing is uglier than Boston in the winter except Buffalo in the winter.  Yech.

Take care, se you next week sometime -- will we be graced with Mike and Mark's presence this Thanksgiving, not to mention Joan -- old friends -- ???