July 7, 1976 (Letter from Kathy)

Glad to hear from you.  We were beginning to really wonder what happened to you.  Meet any neat gals this summer yet?  Your new job sounds great -- still think so?

My brother went to college in Springfield.  (little trivia for you)

I'm waiting for Gary to get home.  He's applied for several jobs here and in Boise in hopes that he'll come up with something that'll have a future.  He was hoping to hear from the Ford place today. Think things would be perfect if he'd get a job that pays for the hard worker he is.  He finally realized that he wasn't going to get anywhere at the cycle shop.  Tried this spring to buy in -- even thought about buying a business here and eventually convert it to a cycle shop -- hopefully on the good name he's built up, but everything led to a dead end.  I try to keep my big mouth shut.  We went to Colorado in March to see about job prospects there in the bike business -- nothing.  If this job at Ford doesn't come through, maybe an electrical job in Boise will.  H ate to move, but yet wouldn't mind if Gary could find himself.

I had the day off.  Spent the entire morning mowing our lawn and the neighbors (8:30 - 1:30).  Don't care if I see a green lawn again.  It's been so hot (in the 100s) that the lawn grew really fast as it was twice as hard and time consuming.  Used the afternoon for general housecleaning and defrosting refrigerator.

I recently quit the office you were in to work the other office 4 days a week.  Dr. Reynolds really does provide better working conditions, better benefits, and better salary. Just really got disgusted with the disorganization.  Was waiting it out until Dr. Reynolds felt he could use me more time.

The winter was hard for us financially, things are starting to look up a little, but the cycle business has never really started to boom yet.  (Bad is just no fun money!)

We kinda "fell into" a 1967 Corvette -- 36,000 miles on it in beautiful or "cherry" condition as Gary would say.  Trying to sell our truck.  Haven't had any bites yet.

Got 5 3/5  tons of alfalfa (hay) off our 2 acres -- made $200 this month on that.

Garden not doing too well unless you really like peas.  We had a hard frost June 28th. Unbelievable!!

Gary's been riding mountain trails now and raced through the winter.  Has also been neat to though.  He helps me more than ever with the daily chores and gets me out now and then.

May take a trip to Pa. in Sept. if we can both take 2 weeks.  Otherwise we'll probably take just a few days and visit my aunt in Victoria, Brit. Columbia.  We'd take in the Oregon and Washington coast on our way.

We did take a trip to Oklahoma City to visit Jeff Tuller & family for Christmas.  Jeff was getting around on his leg pretty well by then.  (He crushed it between 2 of his cars while jumping the batteries.)  Couldn't remember when in Sept. it happened -- whether you had been and gone or not.  Gary's parents did stay here on night as a result of flying to Oklahoma for Jeff -- they took a little side trip here.

Know a really neat gal -- teaches grade school.  Used to live here -- now in Grays Lake, Illinois. You're everything she'd like in a guy.  Don't know your likes in "women".  Too bad we can't get a match going.  She's almost as wonderful as me!!!

We got the rests of our lawn in this spring.  Gary and I laugh about it now but it we didn't divorce each other thru that we never will!!!  We do not work well in the yard together cuz Gary hates it. (My hand is sweating so that is why the writing is worse than ever!!)

Have a really neat neighbor that's been helping me with interior decorating.  Her 11 and 13 year old girls sure are great kids.  I kidnap them somedays all day to keep me company   (I'd like to start getting some money stashed away for a baby.)  Think I could convince Gary if he was happy with himself.  Time will tell.

Sounds like you're getting pretty good at taking care of yourself.  By the time you marry she won't have to break you in like I had to do with Gary!!  Paul -- take care.

Let us know how life treats you.  Maybe we'll see you for our 10 y ear class reunion or maybe you'll honeymoon out west!!

What do you hear from anyone?  Did you spend the winter in Warren?

August 2, 1970 (Letter from Kathy)

I'm at Kinzua -- enjoying what the residents of Warren consider a nice day because the sky has a few blotches of blue among the many clouds.  Here with Cam and her younger sister and brother.

Thank you for your congratulations.  Mrs. Tuller has been really nice to me since we've been engaged.  We had told them we were going to get married so they weren't shocked.  We're waiting for Gary to find out just exactly when his leave will be, and we figured around Dec. 5.  He has two weeks then and that's when we'll be getting married.  I'll go with him wherever he goes the next four years (unless he goes someplace overseas where I can't go -- I hope not) and hope I'll be able to work as a hygienist.  If not, I'll get something.  Probably will waitress the four months we're in Illinois, because it hardly seems worth it to go to a dental office for that short a time.  Never know what the future brings, but I certainly don't' mind.  We'll be together like we want to be for the first time in 3 years.

I must say I was disappointed when I heard you hadn't made it to Calif.  I must have called you a fool a couple times, but you seem to be pretty happy where you are and that's what counts.  Be sure to say hello to Barb and Mardi for me.

Your job sounds interesting.  At the end of basics, Gary spent a few days doing the same floors over and over and I doubt he'll ever want to do anything that has to do with them (floors) again.

Paul, Gary is in Illinois now.  Don't know how far he is from Rockford, but he's 120 miles south of Chicago.  Don't know whether you're interested or not, but his address is.....

I missed the fourth in Warren also.  Spent two weeks in Colorado and five days with Gary in Illinois.  He's waiting for school to start tomorrow.  For the past couple weeks, he's been distributing linen, pulling weeds, KP, and distributing directions to incoming troops.  He's really anxious to get in school.

Hi, I'm back (in case you didn't notice I went swimming!)

Sounds like you finished last year well.  It was my worst quarter.  Between the moratorium, the sun, my laziness, and graduation I just cut too many classes.

Hope you're feeling better.  Always thought you were a strong, healthy male, what happened?

Work is going well.  So far I've had Rick Brewster and Gloria Hahn as patients and among the more prominent people of Warren Dr. Whipple and Mrs. Eaton.  What a laugh, but Dr. Whipple is really nice.  Most of my patients (60-70% are children, and I really like them.  I practically get hoarse from talking to them though if I have a lot of them in a row!

My parents are in Colorado Springs with my sister and her husband.  Last I heard they had just gotten down from Pikes Peak and were on their way to the Grand Canyon.  They'll be coming back from their 18 day vacation Wed or Thurs.

Well, that about concludes Warren business.  I refuse to hit any bars so all my info is late and third hand.

Take care.

P.S.  Cam said "hi".  She wanted me to say -- well, hell she can write it --

I talked to your Miss Right the other day and she says she's not gonna look for you either, but you'll probably run into each other some day anyway.   Have fun!  Cam