November 1, 1976 (Note from Barb L)

A happy 27th although a belated one.  After looking at Oct 29 on my calendar all month I still missed the day!  Hope it was happy and the weekend was special for you.  Sorry this has to be just a card -- I ow you the letter of all time!  I enjoyed your last letter although some of your references were somewhat puzzling -- Leslie crops up again (rides again!).  You & I have got to learn to deal with a situation to its end before leaving it -- Patience.  I have much to tell you.  I haven't even told you about my new job & the current scheme of things here in Warren Pa 16365.   Just got a letter from Anderson -- far out!  He's fine & says hi!  Can't believe we won't be seeing you till Christmas.  If I can make it before that -- would you like to do a couple days in Boston?  I wish you had a phone so I could call you!  I will try you at work sometime.  Until then -- take care -- enjoy the days & happy birthday once again.

Birthday Card from Diane (October 29, 1976)

Could you come down to NJ the first weekend in Dec?  Or the second?  There's a reason for the delay -- Bev & I are planning a trip to the Brandywine River Museum and Longwood Gardens for the Christmas displays -- which will not be ready until after Nov.  (If you can't make it then,k we'll just have to take you Christmas shopping!)  There's an excellent -- and expensive -- restaurant near the museum (the memory of their beef tenderloin tips lingers on) if everyone wants to splurge.  However, the details can wait.  Let me know if either weekend is agreeable & we'll take it from there.

I've just returned from a week in Alexandria, Va., and things are still slight chaotic.  I'll write a proper letter later.  Have a happy birthday!

October 27, 1976 (Card from Tony)

I got this card because I thought you'd like the picture.  The saying is just drivel so ignore it please.

I hope you had (oops) have a good birthday.

Say, you know what pisses me off?  The post office.  Here I am ending you this card several days (2) before your birthday and I just know that they p.o. will muck it up & get it to you late.  You just can't trust some people to do anything on time.  Well, I wish you a good year & more just the same.

October 12, 1976

Don't be too upset with Harriet -- it's difficult for most people to love with an open hand.  Maybe she hasn't noticed your bird-like qualities yet -- (which make such non-handling essential).

How are your gums?  My wisdom teeth have been coming in for 2 years now -- they don't trouble me too much, just once in awhile.  I suppose it would be good to have them looked at again soon. The last time the dentist said they were ok.

About your money situation.  I hope you don't have to sell your car -- it would seem like such a waste, don't you think?   To save on your food budget, maybe you could buy beans in bulk at a great savings/  I'm enclosing some recipes I've come across.  On the ones I've tried I've put comments; on the others, no, it can't be good to eat tuna every night -- not because of anything inherently wrong with tuna, but because it's so full of mercury.  I'd think 2-3 times a week would be ok, though, since it's such a good source of protein, iodine, etc.

In case you're wondering what there 2 swatches of material are -- they're samples of the quilt materials I'm going to use.  It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but the fabric store here doesn't have the greatest selection.  It will be predominantly the dark brown fabric with patches of the contrasting white fabric.  I hope it comes out ok.  If not I'll have wasted a lot of money on 15 yards of material!!

This little project should keep me busy & out of trouble for a few weeks, at lest!  That & watering the grass seed -- a few little sprouts have shown themselves.  At least I don't look like I'm watering mud every 2 hours like I did 2 weeks ago.  We're wondering how much will grow through, because we had several days of very heavy rain & it probably washed a lot of the seed away (drat!!).  Well, time will tell (to coin a phrase!)



Last weekend, 3 of Brook's friends from the Pgh. Westinghouse were here (the same 3 we went rafting with).  They were sent out on business (monkey business) by Westinghouse & were here for a week.  It was really nice to see some familiar faces for a change.  We all went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the weekend.  It was beautiful.  It was off-season so it wasn't at all crowded, which was nice.  We had lunch in this "cowboy bar" in Jackson.  I felt strange because I was the only woman in the place, but it wasn't too bad after I got used to it.  Greg escorted me to the "bar" so we could try out the saddle seats. (I was too chicken to go up by myself.   Brook was busy playing "Tank" & "Stunt Cycle" in the game room!)   What class!  I broke down & played a few games with him later on.  I actually beat him once & tied him once.  Those guys couldn't believe it! (Brook was always the champ back there.)  I told them our idea of a big night on the town is to go to the game place at the mall & spend $5 on these games.  (Very seldom, though.)  I mean, I have to play half decently -- just to keep my self respect, you know?  I'm really bad at bi-plane, though -- I guess I'm just not very coordinated!



We looked at all the ski equipment that town had to offer (much) & I think Brook has been bitten -- he wants to buy (not rent).  Actually, I'm not sure I want to ski.  I'll probably kill myself -- or worse!! I told him I'd much rather spend the money on a good camera.  (John had his camera with him [Canon] & all kinds of lenses & I was jealous!!!)   Looking at all the steep slopes scared me; I couldn't see myself going down them at 70 mph.  (I'm afraid to even drive that fast yet!)  The prices for skiing were no less steep than the hills, though.  I'll probably go at lest once, because I'd feel like I missed out on something if I didn't.

I have to water the "grass" -- I'll be back soon.  A few more sprouts today!  Very encouraging!

I have a tale to tell you about one of my last days in Pittsburgh.  I think it would interest you, because it has to do with space & time travel which you have mentioned an interest in.

Anyway, one day before we left, I was to meet Mary Dodson (my partner in crime from Seton Hill -- the cataloger -- remember her?) at GSLIS & later we were going to have lunch.  I was waiting at the bus stop near our house when this guy came along & what first struck was his amazing resemblance to David Bowie, except that he was a blonde, not a redhead.  Anyway, he also had such a presense "presence" about him.  (There are some words which I never have learned to spell!)  Anyway, I was just sitting on the step waiting for the bus & he came along & sat beside me & amazingly enough he said "I feel that you are interested in thought processes."   I must have looked pretty funny because he laughed & he didn't look like a person who laughed very often.  I told him I was, in a way & that I had studied philosophy.  He wanted to know which phil. I believed in most.  I said existentialism & Kierkegaard's version of it seemed like truth to me.  He seemed not to know who K. was (unless he just wanted to see what I knew about him) & asked me to explain a bit about him.  He seemed happy with my "K in a nutshell" story & said did I ever concern myself with Eastern philosophy.  I said I had liked to mediate & had just started a yoga program on my own.  I thought he was going to cry -- he got every emotional about this (if I wasn't so interested in him I would have run away -- I was a little upset by his reactions).  Then the bus came & we got on.  (The idea of meeting someone like this in Wilkinsburg is a little too much to begin with, no?)  He spoke very quietly on the bus about leaving the body -- actually leaving it, not just mentally.  It seems that he felt he had done it.  He asked if I believed him & I said yes, hoping he'd communicate some secret to me.  I asked him where he was from (he really didn't seem like one of "us" -- I'm not kidding).  He said that wasn't "essential"!  He said he'd see me again sometime & I said I was moving far away & he said "so?"  I'll tell you, it was incredible.  The only person I told was Brook & now you.  I wonder if I'll ever see him again.  He also spoke (& this scared me) of becoming a person in another person's body.  What do you think of all this?  Do you think he was just a nut, or really had some valid system worked out.  He may have been a nut, but I believe that "nuts" really have knowledge that "sane" people don't have.  (I really like this point Lessing makes in her works.)

Anyway -- this letter is incoherent.  I'm trying to write & think above a lot of banging noise in the basement.  We're having a water softener installed because the water her is so hard that is you don't have one, the plumbing has to be re-done every year & we can't look forward to that!  I made this guy keep the cold water tap in the kitchen hard though, because I want to drink & cook with the water that's so calcium & magnesium enriched.  I'm sure he thinks I'm really crazy!

Well, write when you can & take care.

October 2, 1976 (Letter from Barb N)

Edgar Cayce

I am writing you a letter now to find out some information concerning health education.

I just overheard a conversation where an officer's son has a bone disease and the hospital does not know what he has.  T hey have been shooting him up with medication to help solve the swelling and they have been feeding him intravenously.  I am very against that sort of "natural" healing.  But then again what else does society know about our bodies that today's educators have forgot to inform us about?

I was reading a lot of Edgar Cayce and he spoke of natural medicines taken from plants, herbs, etc.  He also spoke of osteopathic treatment.  I am interested in learning more concerning this sort of treatment but I'm not too sure of just where to look.  Do you have any idea?  Should I just look into a nursing school and expand from that direction?

I feel the need to learn about our body and how to heal in a natural way.  We are so ignorant of ourselves and what we consist of.  If we could explore the vast channels that lay at the ends of our senses each human would only gain true contentment in living.  Look at the gains of yoga.  It is a truly relaxing art with years of added life.

I find it hard to reach people concerning diet, attitudes; what is beneficial generally, concerning our own being.  It's like teaching religion to an atheist who shuts his mind to every word spoken concerning God.  So I feel that in order to reach people I need to set a better example through finding my path.  Also I need more knowledge to stand on firm ground in my beliefs.

I would appreciate any help from you.

September 29, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

I had the strangest dream last night -- actually, it was so vivid, I went around to check that it hadn't really happened!  I walked into our house (in the dream) & on every window someone had put these curtain  -- hand-embroidered with teddy bears!  I can't remember who made them, but I remember that I was "afraid" of them -- (maybe fear is too strong -- just apprehensive about them) -- I remember not liking them there, but I couldn't give them back to the person because it would be an insult.  It was very upsetting because the person (I wish I could remember who it was) would be to see me fairly often and I couldn't no have them up.

Well -- nothing like a strange beginning to a letter from a strange person.  Teddy bears!  A sure sign of senility -- I'm reverting to my childhood which I actually never did leave!

Today was a full day!  In between watering our "lawn" (I hope, I hope) so the grass seedlings will know I care about them & won't let them die of thirst, I went to the market (more about that later) by MYSELF in the car!  (After driving Brook to the bus station, of course.)  I felt quite independent, but nervous.  ( bargained with God to please let me arrive safely -- we do that a lot, He & I -- we've made some really strong commitments in certain areas.  Also, I got rejected (snif, snif -- violins, softly) by Allied Chemical who said I did not (no kidding?!?) have the proper background to be given a job there.  I also received the good news:

(1)  The site where Brook works does not hire relatives of present employees....

(2)  Aerojet (the other company where it was possible for me to get a job -- even though no science degree) is moving to another state.

Do you think there are degrees of unemployment (not to be confused with DEGREED unemployment -- which there definitely is -- and it seem to settle near me very decidedly -- no?)

I'm not really upset about all this -- actually, being the laaazzzzy person that I am, I'm content to wallow in nothingness for awhile.  I mean, if I get desperate, there's always Taco Bell!  (Actually, the only fast food place of which I slightly approve -- I fell that their food is the most wholesome -- & at least they offer non-meat things, you know?)

Back to the market (are you dizzy?).  I'm sorry.  I found this really neat supermarket -- it's called Waremart.  You go in & pick what you want & put it in a box on this large push cart & mark the price yourself (so they don't have to hire someone else to do it & you save about 15-20%.)  Also, they have a nice selection of "natural" foods & they are sold out of large bins (like at a co-op) & you weight everything yourself & mark & bag it.  I was able to get bulgar wheat (which was hard to find in Pgh.) and cheap wheat germ (which I use as a substitute for any recipe that needs bread crumbs) and nice brown rice.  They have a great selection of dried beans & also different flours. I'm going to try Rye Bread this winter.  I'm also going to try whole wheat manicotti (with bulgar wheat thrown into the dough.)  Poor Brook -- he gets to digest all my experiments. Actually, he's been pretty patient with my meatless concoctions -- for someone who was used to meat & potatoes & peas for 24 years before I started to be the cook.  He actually ate some broccoli the other night & said it wasn't bad.  (He was pretty hungry when he came home & that was the first thing I'd let him eat.)  He also now consents to raw cauliflower in the salad -- a big step for mankind!

My friend Eleanor (my yoga buddy) is going to begin raising bees (is that what it's called?) -- that should be a good experience, huh?

This seems to be a food letter -- I'm making myself hungry!

(I made chicken with sesame seeds & P. cheese -- it was very good.  Thank you.)

Maybe I'll be able to change the subject now.  (Paul says, "Thank god!")

I heard something pretty interesting.  (At least, I thought it's interesting.)  Sugar City, Idaho may be able to get all their energy by geo-thermal means.  At the site where Brook works (ERDA) they do searcher in this area, also  & they think it's possible in certain parts of Idaho (but not many). Anyway -- isn't that somewhat encouraging?  It's already being done in Boise, but on a very small, experimental scale.  It isn't likely to be THE energy source, but it can contribute a lot if gov't has the sense to put some money into it.  It won't be a substitute for what Brook was involved in -- energy for ships -- they will probably have to stay with breeder-reactors on board, but they are very safe & pose none of the problems to the environment that land-core reactors might -- also they use up & recycle their own pellet fuel products, which not many others can do.  Anyway, ti's something to think about !  It would be nice if we didn't have to unearth all the coal available -- it will make such a mess of the land-- one big mine -- yech!

I just read my cards a few hours ago -- and I hadn't read them for months.  I don't like to read my own because when you're too close to a situation, it's sometimes difficult to sort things out correctly -- but as a final outcome today, I got #XXI (the world).  The description of that card is: "Fulfillment of all desires.  Reward; assured success.  Freedom to move ahead in all undertakings.  The ability to make others happy.  Change of home or means of livelihood (not too soon, I hope).; travel.  *Arrival at a state of cosmic consciousness (hopefully thru yoga?)  The path of liberation."

It's kind of difficult to misinterpret such good news, I think.  anyway -- it made my day!  Also, I still keep getting the Hermit & the Magician & the Hanged Man. (All predict the ability to prophesy to some degree.)  I seem to get them in the fear position pretty often, though -- or else they cover the Queen of Pentacles (my card).  Today, the Hermit was in the near past and the Hanged Man covered my card.  Interesting.

I have a new friend -- our mailman.  He comes by at 4:30 everyday & one day he asked me if he could take a drink of water from our hose.  I said he certainly could not (in a stern tone) & he looked quite surprised.  Then I told him to wait til I could get him some lemonade.  He was really funny.  I think he recently graduated from ISU & is looking for a job, & this is only temporary . Anyway, it's nice to see a friendly face.

I haven't met many people yet.  Our neighborhood is new & there's no one living on one side of us & the people on the other side just moved in 2 days ago, and I didn't want to bother them now. They are an older couple (in their 50's) & seem very nice. Also, there is a couple (also in their 50's) across the street form us who we've become friendly with -- the Hunters.  These neighbors seem like a real change from our newsy Wilkinsburg neighbors (except for our upstairs neighbors the Michauxs and our one next door neighbor, the Guys.)

Well, I guess I've babbled on enought now about trivia, and will let you rest.

Take care & please be careful driving.

P.S.  Brook says to say "hello".

P.P.S  Have Diane take you to "Bank Street 5" next time you're in Philly.  It's a hole in the wall, but very good Italian food & you gete delicious sauteed mushrooms free as an appetizer -- I think you'd like it.

September 27, 1976

[Postmarked 11/5]

Happy 27th!  How the years fly!  Sorry I haven't had time for a card!  Things are very busy around our house for awhile now.  Marti & I have a million little things going that we want to tie the ends up on before the dead of winter!  All is well here.

I see Renee's grandfather past away --- I went her a note just a week before!

Have heard no news from anyone -- Mike -- Joan (no shock) -- Tina, etc.  Barb is still here, don't know what she his going to do now, thought she'd be out of here but she likes Rick& possibly will stay here?!?

Take care & have a good day.  Barb has told me to expect your around Christmas time.