July 4, 1977 (Letter from Bev)

Happy July 4th!  Did you go away for the holiday or spend it in the Springfield area?  I've been housesitting since June 24 and couldn't go anywhere because I also have a dog to take care of. My family came here yesterday and we had a picnic then went to Valley Forge for a few hours.  It was a beautiful day and I only hope that today shapes up so I can get some sun.  It's been a very warm summer so far and I'm not looking forward to the hot, humid days of August.  It's hard to imagine how cold it actually was in January!

Did you receive my postcard from Williamsburg?  I enjoyed my short stay so much that I'm planning on going back next Spring for 4 days.  Two days just do not give on enough time. Plus I want to see Busch Gardens which we didn't have the time to visit.  There's so much to see in that area -- Jamestown, Carter's Plantation and Richmond isn't far away.  The pace of life is much slower down there and I think it would be a nice place to live.  Maybe when I'm hunting a job again I'll concentrate my efforts on a certain location instead of type of job.

I got my new car on April 21 and it's running well after a few minor problems were taken care.  I'm very disappointed with the way the car came from the factory.  The trim around the vinyl roof had to be repainted because the chrome was showing through.  Also, there's a big crack in the headliner and a new one had to be ordered.  I just had the car back at the dealer's on Tuesday to have the headliner installed, but when they took the new one out of the package, it too had a crack in it. Cars are not coming off those assembly lines like they used to.  You spend $5,000 for a new car and then wonder if you're getting a decent automobile for that huge sum.  I'm very pleased with the gas mileage.  On the Williamsburg trip I got 24 mpg and am averaging 19 around town.  I know that you're probably laughing at these figures since you must get about twice that with your Datsun.  I am pleased with it and hope that it lasts for at least 4 years.

I'm planning on taking General Chemistry at West Chester State College this fall.  I register on July 18th and hope that the course isn't filled yet.  I'm thinking that by taking some chemistry I'll be able to understand some of the terminology which gets thrown at me from time to time.  I've picked up a lot just on my own, but this course certainly won't harm me.  It may be a shore to buckle down and start studying again, but this will give me an indication as to whether I'm ready to go back to graduate school for another Master's or to go on for a Ph.D.  Drexel offers a Ph.D in library administration which requires only half of the credits in library science and the other half is taken in the business department.  Since Wyeth offers the 75% tuition rebate, I'd be foolish not to take advantage and go back to school.  It all sounds great on paper, but will certainly be a lot of work with holding a full-time job.

My assistant is on vacation this week and I'm on my own for the entire 4 days.  I've done all the work before when she took a day off, but I never get everything accomplished.  That library really needs 2 people to run it efficiently.  It will be a hectic week.

Are you planning a vacation this summer?  I don't have any time to take off.  I hope I survive until Labor Day!

I'm going to resume my reading of A Place to Come To out in the sunshine.  It's a good book, after the first 20 pages!

Keep in touch.

February 10, 1977 (Letter from Harriet)

A trip to Northampton to see



Right now I'm in the student center at the University -- yes, I'm a student again!  My life has changed considerably and I wanted to tell you about it in excuse for my lack of correspondence. Oh, by the way, the reason why I sounded so dry over the phone when I spoke to you was that I was using the university watts line & I was sort of in a hurry.

Anyway, I have commenced my sojourn into the world of the scientist doing his preliminary studies.  I am taking a heavy course load consisting of "Geological Oceanography", "Chemical Oceanography", "Statistics in Research",  and Ballet (it's wonderful).  I have also begun some research with good promise of it metamorphosing into a masters thesis.  I have started to learn about the ocean plankton, (the little creatures which live on the ocean surface) something of which I know nothing about.  I am going to take water samples in a few sites in an estuary around here, identify the zooplankton, and then, by next year, have a good idea of the seasonal variation in the community of the river.  Then I will do somewhat of the same for bottom living animals at the same sites & correlate the two.  Since I can't identify any plankton yet, it is a self-teaching experience -- just me & my gold ol' microscope.  All of this, plus laboratories, reports, etc. makes for one pretty busy person.  My only weekend not spent working was when I went to Binghamton.  (Had a great time.)

Otherwise, things have been fine.  My tirp was great -- went to Arizona, California (L.A. & San Diego), and Denver, Colorado.  It was so nice -- I saw all of my close friends who have recently moved from the east, not to mention my closest friend from NYC.  It seems that we did so much in 3 weeks - -we even hit Mexico for a day.  Charlotte & I had a great time with each other, & all in all it was a fine break.

As you can tell from my recent trends, I just haven't been in a writing mood as of late -- I hope that you dont' take this to mean that I haven't been thinking of you because I have.  You are right, it is time we renewed our friendship.  It's so hard for me to plan on anything now though -- so hard to find time for anything except my immediate needs.  I am going to have to get things together. Anyway, I am going to try to get away for a day or so next weekend to Boston.  While I'm there, I'll probably see Tony.  If you get a chance, maybe we could see each other there.  If not, I'm not sure when I will be able to scrounging up another weekend before the spring  other than to see my folks in NYC.  Write or keep in touch -- I hope to see you soon.

October 6, 1973 (Letter from Mike)

Just a short note to let you know what's up.  I got an assistantship and am handling the statistical lab for the dept.  They're paying my tuition and giving me $2,500 for 3 quarters which isn't too bad.  I wound up buying a '68 Kharmann Ghia in case I haven't told you and I really like it.  (It was the tan one next to the red bud I was looking at.)  At any rate, things have settled down to a dull roar and I'm stuck in the middle.  Have to start my thesis this week and I'm not in the mood.  (Bishop is playing this shitty organ music and I'm about to strangle him; all I can think of is Captain Nemo and the Nautilus!)

How's the burgh?  And school, and all the rest of the things that you should tell me?  Hope all is well and that you've settled yourself into a rut.

I really have nothing new to report other than I'll be here until June and after that ... well, who the hell knows?  Gotta head out now.  Here are the vitals:

P.S. Bishop said to say hi.