March 19, 1975 (Letter from Ken and Denise)

 

Well hi there.  Sounds like things are going somewhat rough for you on the social scene.  Often Denise and I have remarked:  "Too bad Paul isn't here now."  There is so much news to catch up on, but first, a bit about your last letter.  At the onset, I thought maybe it was just a temporary change you were going thru but after I thought awhile, I can see you and your setting don't mix beyond a span of vacation.  Let me assure you that if you return to Pgh, you will immediately have a family to move in with.  If you don't like it there, and you're going to leave "sometime" anyway -- why not now.  a lot of things are happening here and we wish you were here!

To give you some of our news -- well I'll let Denise take a shot at this.  So here's the one, the only Neecy!  Da-da-goo-ga-goo Bab a lob a koo.

Boy, how did you like that introduction?  I thought it was kind of gooey myself.

Well, just as Kenny said, there are a lot of things happening.  The most recent bit of news is that we moved again.  Our new address is: 20-F Midway Dr., W. Mifflin, Pa 15122.  This is out hear Homestead, which is near Kennywood.  This is a housing project out here where the rent is really low.  We got a two bedroom apartment one which we use, and one which a brother uses, which brings us to our second bit of news.  The brother of ours that lives with us just came out of prison.  We met him through someone else.  His name is Mickey by the way.  So anyway, Mickey came over one day by himself, I think it was to buy some grass.  But anyway, he was looking for a place to stay, and didn't have enough money, so he's living with us now.  That day, the first day when he came over, Kenny asked him how much money he had.  Mickey pulls out all of it which totaled an amount of 75 or 80 dollars.  Kenny said OK and grabbed it and put it in his pocket, which helped all 3 of us stay high on the weed.  We all had to get adjusted to each other's lifestyle for awhile, but we've got it pretty together now.  Mickey's been living with us now since January, and it's really been kind of neat.  It seems like the both of us are more on the ball now that there is a third person living with us.

Another piece of news is that Kenny's friend Steve who is in the joint, is probably getting out soon.  We're both his parole sponsors.  When he gets out, he'll have a place to stay also.  (If anything happens to you, you'll always have a place to stay as long as we're around.)  This is our biggest news is that we've moved again.  Our new address is 20F Midway Dr., W. Mifflin, Pa 15122.  What this is, is a housing project.  We have a two bedroom apartment which consists of two bedrooms upstairs with a bath, and a linen closer.  Now, downstairs we have a huge, or a pretty big living room, a kitchen and a little office space which is actually in the living room.  Outside we have a back porch, a backyard, and a front yard.  This is all for $89.00 a month.  We didn't have too hard of a time moving, we just moved everything in Mickey's car.  We made about ten trips, but we saved a lot of money moving.  Everything is pretty well straightened up except for our bedroom.  We haven't even got the bed together.  We're getting to that today though.

I'm still working with Dollar Date.  We're waiting for Steve to get out so he can take it over though.

Oh, guess what?  Before we moved out of the apartment at Aiken, we, or Kenny called Mrs. Annolik which was the one who owned the house on Wellesley.  Ken didn't say who he was at first, but later on in the conversation he did.  She was telling Kenny how dirty the people left the place who were living there before.  And she went on telling Ken that they (us) left garbage all over the place.  All of a sudden Ken said, well, you're speaking to the person who used to live there.  Ken called to find out if we could go back there, but Annolik didn't like the idea at all, and said no, that she wouldn't take us back.

Well, I think it's time to close this letter.  Don't forget that if there's anything that we can do don't hesitate to ask.  If you're coming back to Pa., you already have a place you can come back to, and that's our place.

Waiting to hear from you.

July 27, 1972 (Letter from Mardi)

Good day!  Thought I'd test out my new stationary on you.  I only ordered about 5 mos. ago.

I'm actually leaving for Boston Sunday!  Shock.  Here it is Thursday and I'm planning to go.  And we are also moving into a house!!!!  We have finally found what we've been looking for.  The upstairs of a house!  The people are young that own it and have a daughter about 7-8.  They love the dog and the upstairs is big.  It has a neat sun room, living room, dining room, bedroom, kit, and bath.  The rent is what we are paying now and there was no deposit.  We have a small back yard and porch, but the backporch is kinda a mess right now.  So we are moving all the stuff tomorrow and should be fairly settled by Sat night.  Bill is painting the bathroom and finishing the kitchen tonight.  The address is 4529 Lyndale Avenue South about 9 blocks from us now.  If you're stopping in Mpls again you'll like it.  Just don't ever come back -- you're back luck -- we'll have to move again -- just kidding!!!!   But I'm getting a little paranoid about seeing you!!!!

Oh!  I talked to my mother last night and she said she was sitting in the living room Mon or Tues and who walks in but Mike.  He said when he got to Toledo there were 2 other guys staying with his friend that apparently he knew nothing about.  He said it was really crowded and messy.  Of course it's his idea to live comfortably and I suppose there is nothing wrong with that except the guy does not have a ounce of confidence or reassurance that I can see.  You can tell he's very nervous and I know he's just plain SCARED!  He's got to be.  He's the only person I know who is so upset about graduating and leaving old BW!!!!?  What's a little inconvenience and misery when you are looking for a job?  He could have managed somehow.  He'll drive himself crazy.  My mother says she just listens to him and doesn't say anything anymore!  My mother also said Mark was in the store last week and shocked her.  He's going to be home for awhile and said he wanted to have a long talk with my mother when he got home.  He said he's been moving around and things could be better.  My mother knows a lot about Mark that's she's never said anything about.

Guess what?  Anderson finally got his tattoo!!! Do you believe?  Bob and Dave Swieberger and Bill Peterson, and Bill went to Milwaukee to see some friends etc and who comes back with tattoos but Bob, Bill, and Dave. Bill Peterson already had his!!!  It really isn't bad.  Anderson got a clipper ship on the most "manly" part of his person -- his chest.  But the things done in different colors and doesn't look bad.  Bob got a crow, dressed up in top hat and tails and shoes smoking a joint that is really funny.  None of them got big tattoos, thank god!  What's the plural of tattoo anyway?  Bill said there were girls in the place getting a tattoo.  I never thought they'd do it because they are all afraid of needles.

 Well, I had better close.  I've been up since 5:30am.  The Savings and Loan Institute had a breakfast that was being offered if anyone wanted to go.  The speaker was very good and worthwhile listening to.  She is the head of one of the houses in the city for girls that have been addicted.  She was telling us how long she had been on heroin etc before she could get straight again.  It was worth the sacrifice of a few hours sleep I guess.

Anyway I'll be seeing you some time in the future I reckon!  Take care and write.