February 12, 1973 (Letter from Leslie)

Greetings.  Things are going okay with me -- a few ups and downs but up right now especially after coming home and finding your letter.

Quite a bit has happened and I don't know where to start, so I guess I'll just start rambling and see what happens.  Christmas vacation was okay, I didn't do anything at all -- I just vegetated and didn't see hardly anybody and wasn't overly worried about it.  The realization that I would no longer be living with Carol  and that this whole part of my life was coming to an end put me into a state of shock.  I really understand what you were talking about last semester with your being here, but not the people you associate Buffalo with.

It's nice being back in the apartment, even so.  Right now I am tired of living with my parents and look forward to going away to school and eventually supporting myself.  (Right now I have Blue Oyster Cult playing -- really like the album so I had to buy it for myself.)  Classes are okay -- I'm registered for German 2145, Woman in Contemporary Society, and am still trying to get Pop Radio.  I've been attending that class, taught by Jim Santella, but haven't been recognized by SARA yet.  So I'm taking 12 credits and have an incomplete to make up (ick!).

I've been doing quite a bit of smoking -- at least twice a weekend for the last 3 weekends.  It is escapism and I am enjoying it, but I'm also having the high carry over into the next day so I should start disciplining myself.

I got back by GRE scores -- I'm not very happy, they are kind mediocre, but there is nothing I can do about it.  I received 500 on the verbal and 570 on the quantitative.  Enclosed is a list of testing centers in Pennsylvania.

Just talked to my mom on the phone -- she's going to NYC tomorrow and then she and Aunt Olga are going to Majorca (off the coast of Spain) on the 14th for an eight day adventure.  Hope she has a good time.  Dad is not very happy about it, but he will survive.

I've been playing a lot of basketball -- I'm not a starter, but that is a fact of life.  I only got upset once at not playing in a game at all last Saturday and have since re-arranged my head so that will not happen again (my being upset).  February is basketball month and most of my evenings have been busy and three Saturdays in a row have B.B.  Every once in awhile it h its me that this is my last season andn that soon I will be a college graduate.

I wrote down a whole list of movies that I have seen that I wanted to mention to you -- so here they are by title with no comments:  Child's Play, Jules and Jim, Gimme Shelter, Diary of a Mad Housewife, Five Easy Pieces, The Virgin and the Gypsy, The Best of Everything.

In regards to library science I am applying to 4 schools -- none of them have everything at this time.  The schools are Rutgers University in New Brunswick, Simmons College, University of Denver, and Albany State.  Wish I had a secretary.

I'm going to end now -- there's all kinds of little things but I can't remember them all.  Plus I should be getting some sleep.  I went to find you a happy Valentine's day card tonight but was not successful.  I guess the day will be past when you get this letter, but I have thought of you and hope you have a very good day.  I am very glad to hear from you and I look forward to seeing you again.  Do you wanna dance?  Take care of yourself -- good luck on your job.

P.S.  Wow this letter is a skeleton compared to all of the things that have been happening, but it is a start.  I'm sorry California didn't work out the way you had planned but things have a away of working themselves out -- hopefully always for the good.

Also enclosed is a smile for you from me -- please take care!

July 17, 1970 (Letter from Tony)

Well, here I am in all my splendor and glory, and in answer to your questions, yes, no, and only occasionally.

This has been a strange summer so far.  When school ended I was working 4 hrs/night at Buf. General.  I lounged in the sun the rest of the time.  Then came the post office job and I was working 12 hrs/day and sleeping 6-7.  I grew rich and retired from the post office.  I am now working 5 hrs/night at Buf General.  During my off hours I am trying to catch up on things like letters, laundry, etc.  So far it's been very good, as soon as I grew tired of my current situation, it changed.

On Mon I'm going to sign up for a 3rd session course, Industrial Relations 301.  Also I'm going to go thru a book on my own that should help me with the math I'll need for my Eco course this fall.  It has the clever title of "Mathematics for Economists".

I'm in the music room.  All by myself.  I really miss your stereo.  It was probably one of the finest stereos (stereoes?) I have ever known.

It sounds like you're really enjoying yourself.  That's good.  Here it's OK.  My social life is continuing at the same fever-high pitch.

Thanks for the money.

I didn't have time before to look for apts.  Rich, a transfer student from Ohio State, got the lists from University Housing and he called most of the places.  There wasn't much there, but I didn't expect there to be.  There's a place on Custer I have to check out, I'm going to talk to Mr. Mann, the guy who owns Herbie's apt. and see if he has any others, and I'll be checking the News, and the Amherst Bee (wow).  Are you sure you don't want to go back to Allenhurst?

I just talked to Kenny on the phone yesterday.  Vinnie called him to explain to him why he can't pay his rent just yet.  Vinnie's thinking of selling his car, he's still got $1,800 payments to make on it.

My bicycle's still fine.  I rode it to work Monday, right down Main St.  I was scared shitless.  Bad.

Zelda and Jane are leaving Sun nite for Europe.   I got a letter from Sue, she's really enjoying herself.

Mike worked for 3 wks in a factory then quit in a dispute with his boss.

Another strange aspect of this summer is the people.  It's rare that I talk to someone who has smoked, let alone see any of the stuff.  Everyone drinks a lot.  Next week we're having an office party out in the country and everyone is planing to get really smashed.  These people are nice, but they are a better fit for the early 60's than the 70's.

There are a couple of other college age kids that work with me nights and we sit around the plot the revolution.  Actually, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my politics and I think that a commune or a free store is much more effective than a demonstration.  How's that for heavy, deep, out a sight, and right on?

This campus is really nice during the summer, when it isn't raining.  There are a lot of trees, a lot of grass, a lot of room.

You probably heard that Ketter was picked as president.  Could be trouble this fall.

I've started the world's largest collage on Herbie's bedroom wall.  I've got 3 pictures up.  It could take awhile before I finish it.

If you haven't noticed, I've run out of things to say right now.  So, farewell sweet prince, until we meet again.

June 29, 1970 (Letter from Zelda)

It was really great hearing from you.  Especially since you seem pretty happy and quite well set up.   I meant to write to you the4 first day I got your letter.  I even went to the music room and listened to the Moody Blues to get in the right mood.  But you know the old story I just didn't sit down and write.

Though things sometimes are a bit of a drag, it seems like there is a lot to tell.  (Considering I haven't seen you in over a month, it seems likely that something has occurred.)

I'm sure Tony has filled you in on somethings.  Buffalo is the summer is pretty nice.  There is actually sun, trees grass and all.  The campus is really very pretty and peaceful. I often just sit around on they grass and pretend to study.  It was nice just lazying (?) around for awhile but after a week or so it became boring.  The place is fairly dead -- that is to say no people.  Norton on a busy day has 10 people in it.  The only time you really see anyone is going to classes so I have to go just for that reason alone.  Today starts Freshman orientation so there will be more people around.  As well as more things to do.  You know how they try to impress the new class.  The school has a very good summer activities booklet.  In fact they have more movies and groups during the summer than they do all year.  I've heard 2 bands so far (one was blues -- really good) and tonight they have another.  I've seen some movies (Medium Cool, Oh What a Lovely War) and I've gone to the craft shop a couple times.  It is really lots of fun. I'm trying to make a belt but I sort of messed it up.  I'll probably wear it anyway.  (Don't forget to compliment it or I'll be quite hurt!!)  Well that about covers all the big action up here. I spend the rest of my time in the music room in Norton, in my swan k apt, in my math class or downtown searching for a job.

I worked for one week for a temporary agency.  I really enjoyed it.  The hours were perfect for me -- 5 pm - 11:00.  The men I worked with were dolls.  (About 30 -- quite witty.)  I did regular clerk's work.  I didn't even have to type and we would talk while we worked.  It was great except once they finished the job they didn't need me any longer.  They rarely work overtime like that.  Since I've been among the ranks of the unemployed, I actually haven't been looking that hard.  I plan to resume my search this week.  Now that Karen's back (she came back St.  She had a great time.) she'll be looking as well as one of my roommates Marlene.  Thus, the three of us can troop out all together.

Well, Paul I won't apologize again for being so negligent in answering your letter but I really am sorry.  It has been sitting here in my stationary box for a week now.

I thought I just would add a few more lines and send it out so at least you'd have some word from me before I leave.  Jane and I will be sure to send you another card from Europe.

I'll be leaving in one more week but it will be one hell of a week before I go.  I have an incomplete that I should finish off (but won't have time for), an exam and final, all my packing up in the apt and packing for Europe and so on.  I just can't wait till Mon morning.

I don't know if you've heard from Sue (I presume she doesn't have your address) but anyway she's settled in Paris and quite happy.  She has net some people and is busy regularly running from place to place.  Her french has also improved tremendously.  I'll enclose her address so that you can drop her a line if you'd care to and you can also write back to me care of that address.

Please write back soon.  I promise to answer sooner and hopefully I'll have a lot to say.

P.S.  Hope your job and all are still going well.  Do you plan to stay there all summer or are you moving on? (Send me your address if that's so.)

P.P.S.  Karen and Tony say hi.

September 7, 1968 (Letter from Mike)

Judging from your letter, I think I can safely say that your major is sloppy writing, right?  Was your room on fire or something like that?  My God Nelson!

Well, it sounds like you're having fun anyway.  I still haven't found out who my roommate is.  I probably don't even have a room. I'm really getting mad about it too.

Well, you failed to mention anything about your roommate(s).  I hope he likes collages.  Because we sent three up with Reen.  I just hope she remembers them.  After all the time we spent working on them, they better be up on your wall.  I've got another one for you if I ever get around to mailing it.

As usual, nothing new to report from Warren.  I can't understand why everything got so dull around here...all of a sudden!  Oh shit, is that a joke or what?  Well, I've only got two more weeks of it left so I think I just might survive, but don't count on it.

I'm taking Mardi and her mother to the airport on the 16th I think.  That ride home is going to be murder with her mother crying the whole way back to Warren and then some.  I don't think I'll be able to stand it myself!  (I think I need more practice typing, don't you?)