May 12, 1976 (Letter from David)

Nice to hear from you.  We have been changing in many ways since you left.

First off we sold the trailer and bought a house.  It is a 1900 model with a lot of work and a big green yard.  The place also came with an old log barn.  The location is nice also, we are just a block and a half from J. C. Park.  Lyn has worked diligently restoring a long unkempt flower garden, we have tulips and poppys in bloom right now.

After eight years without we finally bought a car.  Wow!  More and more middle class each day. We still do not use it in town, just for trips to Missoula and neighboring communities.

Thoroughly enjoyed "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".  Although it had been six years since I read the book, the story and film seemed to appear the same.

The name Raymond Chandler stuck in my mind, I recalled that you had a couple of his books when you left.  I picked up "Farewell My Lovely" and the "Big Sleep".  I like Marlowe's sarcasm and ideals, he never sells out even to the broads.  Ha! it must be fiction.

Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, or Gerald Ford.  I guess I'd better start becoming familiar with their positions, although I'm sure that will be difficult.

I ran in the seven mile race in Missoula in May 1.  I ran well and had a pleasant time, the day was beautiful.  I covered the 7 miles in 46:13 seconds.  Played some tennis today, and started to get the kinks out of my game.  I'm looking forward towards this summer's play.

Levin is 2 1/2 years old now and keeping Lyn and I real busy.  He is forming sentences, trying to count, working at toilet training and imitating all his parents do.  I have to watch what I say.  For one week he was going around saying Oh God! after every mishap.

Home our cat ran away, guess he just tired of us.  Anyhow we now have two 8 week old male kittens.  One is yellow and white, the other is yellow and striped.  Sonja is doing fine at the new house, she is always ready for a walk or bike ride.

The Bretz and Clive trial started last week, it's too early to tell anything.  Since cons are the major witnesses, I can't imagine the trial lasting long or a guilty verdict.

If you head west for a breather, drop in for a stay.

June 9, 1975 (Letter from Grayce)

This is truly a gorgeous day!  I just got back from in town where I bought my father a sweater (summer) for Sunday (Father's Day).  I didn't want to leave uptown because it was so nice, so I just strolled around for awhile, but, unfortunately, I can only stand that for so long -- especially if I can't go into stores and SPEND! It's like a disease.  I wish I could just control myself.  I buy things I really don't need sometimes.  Now that I'm trying to save money, though, I've gotten a bit more control over myself.  Although, with what I make, I doubt very much if I will be able to save much.

Anyway -- I did some weeding in my garden today.  It's really coming along.  I'm quite proud of myself -- as this is my first attempt at outdoor planting.  The tomatoes, lettuce, and onions are really growing quickly.  The lettuce will be ready to eat in a few more weeks, I think.  I'm so excited I can hardly wait!!!  Brook is ready to send me to a loony bin.  The night I planted everything, I couldn't sleep hardly at all and when I did finally get to sleep, I actually dreamed of plants and vegetables.  I had several dreams about them, too.  Some "good and some "bad".  In one of the "good" ones, I can remember seeing my picture in the back of a comic book holding a head of lettuce about 30" in diameter in one of those queer advertisements for fertilizer.  (Isn't that goofy?) Oh well.

Bev told me about her job hunting when she was here, too.  I hope she gets something she likes better. I really thought she liked it there, but I think she doesn't so much, anymore.  In my position, almost any job looks inviting, you know?

You mentioned being a parent.  I'm really scared to death of being in that position.  I think too many people have children who have no idea about what to do with them and don't really think about how they can affect their lives.  It's such an awesome responsibility.

An aside.  (I hope you never really doubted that I cared about your well-being, Tweet!)

Have you heard from Ken and Denise yet again?  I hope he's not too bad, although I can imagine that he's in a lot of pain.

Harvey is in the hospital.  Poor Harvey certainly has his share of problems.  His nerve tendons in both his hands have given him so much trouble.  On top of that he's diabetic and any operation is a risk for him.  He went in last week and it takes several weeks to recover from this thing and then a few months from now he'll have to go in for the other arm.  Well -- enough bad news....

Nothing much is really happening here.  I'm sorry if this letter is extremely boring.  I think I'll only continue it for 2 more pages.  (Paulie says, oh no, 2 more?!!)

I really like having Mondays and Fridays off now (besides weekends).  I really can't take that place full-time and remain sane too (if I may presume that I am presently sane?)

Right now I'm finishing a weaving for Rich Miller's wedding.  It's kind of primitive in earth tones, but I hope he likes it.  I haven't started on Ange's yet -- or rather, I have started in hers at least 4 times and each time I just take it apart because I'm not satisfied with it.  I guess I'm being ridiculous, but I really want it to be special cause she means so much to me.  We've been really close since 3rd grade and we're almost one person in so many ways.  She's one of the few people that I know who would put my welfare above hers in any kind of crisis.  I mean, some people you think might, but I'm really certain of Ange.  I guess cause I've never had ad sister (and she hasn't either) (she has 4 brothers) we just kind of adopted each other.

We haven't kept one promise very well.  We both promised each other when we were about 19-20 that we definitely would not get married til we were at least 28!  Oh well-

(I'm almost to the end, Tweet!!  Do you think you can bear my ramblings for another side of a page?)

My sewing project right now is a bathing suit.  I haven't had one for 3 years, because 3 years ago I gained 15 pounds in one year and I haven't had the discipline to get rid of them yet (what a dis-grayce I am!!!)  Anyway, I decided not to get a bathing suit til I lost that weight and so far I haven't lost it (yeck!)  But my hand is being forced.  Brook wants to go away for a weekend and I don't think (wherever we go) that the people there will appreciate my cut-offs and halter in their pool (if it has a pool and Brooks likes pools, so...)  I haven't given up yet, though. I'm making this so that it can be taken in, if and when the occasion arises.  Concentrate on that for me, if you please?

Well, I'd better start getting dinner ready.  No dessert!!!  (maybe a grapefruit?)

February 20, 1975 (Letter from Mardi)

It was good to hear from you and I'm really sorry about my slowness in replying.  I just can't write a letter anymore -- I'm "burnt out" from my letter writing days in 68-69-70!

You sounded so happy with your job in the last letter to me, however, Barb mentioned that your attitude was a bit different.  I know you love the job but you have to also live around your job now, which unfortunately  is a total bummer.  Whenever you just want to leave for awhile your work won't let you and you begin to wonder how you can keep a job and live.  The conflict never ends.  I do believe the hardest part is yet to come.

My job is going well, I enjoy the work.  I'm in the trust dept (which I lack knowledge of any considerable amount!) under the Vice-president and trust officers.  The work is a variety and I'm very interested in the procedures of the dept.  We are separate from the bank itself (WNB), here on the second floor; we have new offices with all the "new fangled" equipment -- a secretary's dream come true.  The hours are good and the pay has helped us considerably.  I can't believe I've been here almost five weeks!  The girl that had my job was leaving for Atlanta March 5th and in the meantime changed her mind and decided to stay!  Actually, it all worked out for the best because she loves teller work, which I would never do, and she didn't like the secretarial work and being away from all the bank confusion, which I like!  It doesn't take long to fall into the daily work "women's" routine.

We are all fine here.  Mattie is really growing and is a cutie, I can see the days of mother running behind the kid going "HELP!"  He's going to be a brat, we must start that good old parental discipline at a very early age -- like now!  Wish you could enjoy him now with us, he's amazing -- what can I say!  Duh.  We're such experienced parents!  It's a trip and a half.

The store is holding down itself well, considering the buying power of the consumers in Warren.

Barb is back to work.  She is working at the daily workshop on Fifth Av. Ext, I believe.  Have a hard time remembering the correct name of the "enterprise" itself.  She has a few of the people from the half-way house on our block.

Haven't heard from Mike lately  I guess he's at a pretty permanent type of job now, from the sounds of what Yolanda has to say.

We re taking Yolanda to dinner for her birthday Tues night to the annual Deer Head Inn dinner!!  I'm looking forward to it since it has been quite awhile since I've had the luxury of dining out and had money I didn't have to worry where it was coming from!

Do you think you'll get out this way during the summer months?  It would be hard getting out here and back unless you had some lengthy vacation coming.  I will get a week this summer and that, of course, will be taken to Maine.  I really enjoy it there and have a good time.  Naturally, we are treated like royalty the whole time!  I could just stay at the ocean the entire time and eat lobster all day.  Mattie will be a real treat to take along -- I can't imagine, he'll be a year old almost by then,.  He loves the car so he should be good, "are we there yet" "How much longer?"  I don't think though that he will be very literate.

I must close now and get to work.  Take care.  Ellie and Libby say hello.  Poor Libby has been having a rough time of it lately.  Would you believe she had a false pregnancy?  She is slightly disturbed!?  She is better now and adjusting.  We will breed her this spring!!!  I felt so sorry for her.  Can you believe it?  That dog needs more love and attention than 10 people!  Never a dull moment.

I must close -- hope to see you soon.