July 7, 1976 (Letter from Renee)

It was so great to hear from you again.  Since you were so sweet about returning my letter, I felt I couldn't stall in sitting down to write a letter back to you.  So far my summer has been great -- hectic, but great!  I joined a health spa and now I go and exercise three morning a week to get my bod toned up since it looks sort of flabby since I took off so much weight.  I am also macrameing, which is a big hobby of mine.  I just finished doing a huge wall hanging for my brother and sister-in-law and I worked my fingers to the bone tying all the millions of knots in it -- but I sure am proud of the finished product.  Macrame is a very expensive hobby -- so I work at it when I have 10 to 30 extra dollar to throw around.  I would absolutely love to macrame a big tree hammock for the cottage, but it takes about 700 yds of rope and would cost me close to $100 to do it.  One of these days "when my boat comes in" I'll do it too.

Boy, Paul, it makes such a difference being off for the summer.  If I had been in school for even one more week I think I would have lost my mind!  I have really been working hard around the house.  When a person doesn't really clean a place thoroughly for a year, then it takes about 1 1/2 weeks to ear everything apart and put it back together again.  Morrey and I finally cleaned out our closets after living here almost 3 years and I shopped home (via my Dad) about 10 huge boxes of rummage.  Now that I've lost so much weight, practically nothing in my closet fits anymore so I had to give it away (HOORAY!).  By next week I will have taken off 50 lbs, but I have another 50 to go before I'm done!  I should reach my goal by Jan. or Feb.  Morrey had kept a Christmas club account of $500.00 for me just to buy clothes when I reach my goal and I can hardly wait.  We are thinking about going to Las Vegas and Phoenix, Arizona probably around Xmas vacation and I can hardly wait to display the new me!  I swear I'm going to find a long gown that really shows off my boobs and figure.  Something slinky, sexy, and for sure, seducing!

My parents were here last week for a visit and we tried to show them the town.  Went to a dinner theater to see Bob Crane (Hogan's Heroes) in a show called "xxxxx, darn, I forget what it was called -- but it was indeed funny and my parents loved it.  Last night we took them to see Harvey Korman (Carol Burnett's sidekick) in a show called "Norman, Is That You?"  It was really hilarious!

I was just in the middle of preparing my husband a real gourmet dinner for tonight when he called from work to say that a friend of ours is giving us free tickets for a dinner theater tonight -- so the hell with dinner!  I really enjoy potting around in the kitchen these days.  (Excuse the pun!)  I was making Rock Cornish game hen, rice, green beans, salad, and an authentic English Trifle for dessert -- but I will just put it off for tomorrow night instead.  I make the desserts but I stay far away from eating them. When Morrey eats his dessert I eat a piece of fruit, and my stomach doesn't know the difference anyhow.

We spent the 4th of July weekend in Chicago at my brother's.  They just bought a new house, only it isn't new cause it is 50 years old.  It was an honest to God mansion with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 dens, a swimming pool and the whole bit.  We felt like we were staying in the "Grand Hotel" but it was sure fun.  I spent the entire weekend schlepping myself from my chair in the sun into the swimming pool and back again.  Needless to say, I'm none the worse for wear and tear.  My brother is doing very well financially and can afford to really live in style   I admire him and his wife for working so hard o get what they wanted.  My other brother in Omaha is moving into a brand new house this week.  They've been hitting my parents up for quite a bit of money,  which I don't think is quite kosher -- but it's really none of my business how my folks choose to spend their money.  I know that if Morrey and I really needed financial help (which, thank God we don't) they would never refuse us.  My brother in Omaha pisses me off a lot cause he "expects" my parents to give him material objects and monetary gifts.  If he showed a little concern for my folks and appreciations for what they do for him than I wouldn't complain, but he just keeps taking and taking as long as they're willing to give.  Oh well, I guess every family has its peculiarities and quirks -- mine is no exception.

Morrey has really been working hard this summer.  He started on commission June 1 and he's been really pushing it to make a buck.  So far, this month, we're in the hole, but next month looks like it will be a really good one.  I think that with Morrey being on commission we will be a lot more careful with our expenditures since we can never tell what next month will bring in.  I'm not worried and I have every confidence in the world that in another few years we'll be sitting kind of pretty ourselves -- if I live to see it!  HA HA

I really can't complain about anything Paul.  I have absolutely everything I want and more than I need to get along.  Morrey never refuses anything that is really important to me and we've really been putting money away in the hope that next year we can buy some kind of a house.  The way things are going with the price of houses, I think that about all we'll be able to afford is the garage or the basement!

It was great to hear the news you wrote about the "old gang of ours".  It would really be nice someday to have us all get together again.  Really, Paul, you are the only one of my friends from Warren over the years that I have kept in touch with, and I am certainly glad that we both don't mind writing letters once in a while.  Even though I might not write for months, I am always thinking about you and wondering how things are going with you.  My parents always ask about you when I see them.  As a matter of act, we're going to Warren this weekend so Morrey can fish and I can sit in the sun.  Morrey is nuts about the cottage.  Once he's there it gets really hard to convince him to ride into town to visit.  He has simple taste and one of his greatest pleasures is sitting in the board "washing worms" as he calls it, since he's never yet in 8 years of going there caught an edible fish!

I haven't read a decent book all summer and can't seem to find anything on the book racks that I like.  When you write back, please give me some "professional" advice on some good reading materials. I do like biography and historical fiction just about the best of anything in print.  I sure would appreciate some hints on good reading material.

Well, I'm doing the laundry again and I have to hang up our clothes so I'll be closing for now.  Hope this letter finds you well and prospering in Springfield, Mass.  By the way, have you been to Sturbridge?  We went last year and I absolutely loved it!  What interesting things are there to do in Springfield?  One of these days I might just hop in the car and drive out for the hell of it.

My typing has gone from bad to worse to please try to overlook the errors.

October 21, 1971 (Letter from Mike)

Sorry about the delay, things have been unbelievably hectic lately.  Glad to hear that you're digging Calif.  Thanks for trying to get a hold of Bagwell for me.  Guess I didn't really expect that you'd find her.

Sound like you might be getting carried away w/ the dope bit.  But it's your life, right?  I'm not even into alcohol anymore.  Maybe I'll tackle smoking next.  T hat's one thing I really should kick.

I won't find out about the Peace Corps until at least January, so I'm applying to a couple mining and exploration firms for a job.  Thought I'd see what I could get. Right now my major objective is to get my ass out of school, I just want to be on my own in some capacity and away from all the fuckin' hassle.  The companies are all over the States -- D. C., Minnesota, Texas, Utah, etc.  I'd really dig Utah because I'd be based in Salt Lake City.  Might be cool for a change.  More on that later.

Mrs. P will be glad to know you're going back to school.  Write her a letter if you haven't already.  I'm sure she' probably worried about you.

My love life has deteriorated almost completely.  She was starting to hang on too tightly and I got scared.  The sex bit was also getting slightly out of hand.  Anyways I wasn't pleased with the way I was acting so I got out of the mess.  When I think of how that could have ended up, I get really scared.  I'm not getting married for NOBODY!!!

Just thought I'd tell you that picture you had of me, with all the colored trees, etc?  Forget it, because the leaves just turn brown in Berea and fall off.  None of the color like the forest at home.  Hate to spoil your images, but that's the way it is.

I still weigh between 130-135 so I think I may have succeeded in beating the fat racket.  However, I'm still eating only one meal a day because that's about all I can handle anymore.

I'm taking a great seminar on psychological anthropology taught by a friend and student of Margaret Mead.  Mead is coming here this spring to take over Anthro classes for a week. Should be great.

Haven't heard from anyone since I've been back.  Dody's student teaching in Warren till December or something like that.  Mark is married in case you didn't know and are really interested.  Needless to say, I care.  No word form Tina and Rusty.  They're probably too busy screwing every chance they get.  As for Mardi well I owe her a letter so I'd better get busy and write to her.

We'll, I've gotta go.  I know this is short, but I never was too good at writing anyhow.  See you this winter.

March 22, 1971 (Letter from Mardi)

Hi kid!  Your really on a writing spree aren't you?  Two letters in a row!  March really improved your spirits.  I admit January and February are shitty but I wouldn't go as far to say March has cured your ills!  But I'm glad to hear you're over your ills.  How did March actually prove to be?  I guess it was ok.  January, Feb. and Mar this year certainly have gone fast.

Anderson and I have found an apartment.  As a matter of fact, this was the apartment we had seen for rent exactly a year ago but were too late to get.  The place is a great deal.  It's furnished (completely) (except for TV and stereo, etc), it's right on the bus line, Lake Calhoun is six short blocks away, a "shopping" center is around the corner -- small stores.  The area is residential and the apartment is in a 4-plex so it's not huge.  It's so much more convenient.  The place is pretty big, a log bigger than Lake Street.  It's long like Renee's parents place.  (Oh, my mother was talking to Mrs. Shulman and I guess Renee is losing weight.  She's lost 20 lbs so far.  Of course she'll have to lose about 120 more for it to do any good.)  Did you get all that?  I write such spontaneous letters!  Anderson and I are trying to get ahead here.  So we figure the apt. will be a lot better all around.  Home sweet home.  NO ONE is staying with us this summer -- the understatement of the year probably.  I don't think I'll give my address to anyone like Barney or Mohney!!  But you know if you ever are passing by you can stop in.  You'll have to take out the garbage and cook dinner and clean and iron and wash etc.  OK?  Just kidding!  SURE!

Nothing fantastic happening here.  Enough though.  Last night was our usual Sunday night w/ Comedy for Big Kids w/ a W. C. Fields movie followed by the Marx Brothers.  Unfortunately, no 3 Stooges!  YICK.  I will never forget your awful laughing at those 3 Stooges!!!

I'm sitting here completely bored.  I always get all my work done by 4:30 on Monday nights and I still have 2 1/2 hours to go!  I should be studying for my class tomorrow, but I'm not in the mood!  I can't wait till I'm done w/ classes -- I'm getting spring fever and it's impossible for me to concentrate on "Financial Lending".  YICK  It was a great course in Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb but I'm getting ants in my drawers now!  Plus I'm just dying to get out in the sun.  I definitely have to go up and see Barb in May or June for a couple of days then I want to go South w/ my mother, Mr. S. and Bill some time.  I'm really contemplating moving to Florida in about 1 yr for good.  If I can line up a job at a bank I'll be fine.  Only Anderson would have to find a job too because I would feel guilty about leaving him here to freeze to death.

I must close before someone sets me to work!

Take care and write soon?  When are you through with school for the year?  "Have you any idea where you'll go?"  Just don't listen to anyone else's plans!  You know how that goes?!!!!

I guess my mother was talking to Mike and Dody -- they are both home for vacation!  I haven't heard from either one since Xmas.

Hope I can see ya soon?