Jun 29 - Preparing for South Dakota trip

Thursday, June 29, 1972 - Page 181
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

8:30 PM
OH YEAH -- I'M SPOSED TO WRITE IN HERE, HUH. OKAY, HERE IT IS.

Got up about 10:00 when mom called to suggest her driving over here to pick me up so I could cash my check. I took a bath, during which, I am told, Grandma Dot came by bringing a bunch of flowers (the flowers were meant for Brazel, but due to technical difficulties they couldn't be accepted, so Dot gave them to Mom). I called to get on the Western Airlines standby list, but learned there was slight chance of getting a seat (busy weekend). Mom came by at noon. I got a letter in the mail from Bethlehem, S.D. 'bout the flood [see June 27 entry].

I withdrew $40 from Mariners (it was decided I'd get a reserved seat for $83, instead of standby for $55). I got home and called for the reservation, and then I called Beth to tell them I was coming tomorrow at noon. Sunned for a couple hours, then picked up mom, and we drove to her bank, Centinella (we met Mike there) and she did some transactions. It was in the 80°s today, and due to the 4th of July weekend, Newport was beset with tourists, traffic, and scantily clad folks of the California type. Anyway, I now have $144.89 in my wallet for tomorrow -- minus the $83 ticket, and I have a bit for pocket money. Mom and I drove to Penny's and bought me clothes. I now am packing my stuff, cause I'll be leaving early tomorrow. That's all I have room fo[end of page]

Jun 09 - Job Day 4 - Digging holes, planting plants

Friday, June 9, 1972 - Page 161
LOCATION: Oxnard & Anaheim & Newport Beach, California

(12:00 PM Saturday 6/10/1972)
Woke up with the ringing of the phone -- again, I only allowed it one ring, but I wasn't conscious enough to recall what the guy said. I was last to get up, as usual -- the pecking order seems to have been tentatively established from oldest to youngest. Et breakfast, talked, limped and ached and got to work at 7:00, running into Fernando driving his car into the parking lot.

Chunk & I got saw dust and I wheelbarrowed it to him, and he scattered it in the pool area. Me, Chunk, John, Frank, Bob (or Rego), Fernando, and, at 11:00, Rick showed up -- and we all worked, digging holes and planting plants. The food truck was an hour late for the first break, coming at 10:15 instead of 9:15. At lunch, Frank and I played a game of chess with a chess set he'd brought. He's a lousy player, but he beat me. I can't adapt to new chess sets very easily. Any way, now we're even. Next week we'll have a tie-breaker.

The day finally ended at 2:30, and we all were gone by three o'clock, and back home (or rather back at the yard) by 4:45. A note on the door sent us looking at a nearby shopping center for his [John's] wife, who had the money. We couldn't find her, so we came back to the yard and found her waiting for us. She had arrived at 5:00, and we had gone out to find her at 5:00, so we narrowly missed each other. She's a pretty humorous gal who doesn't wear a bra (Rah!).

John is burned up about Jerry. We got paid and Mom arrived. I saw Part II [of Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man], and John called, saying he'd underpaid me one dollar an hour. I got $32, was supposed to get $48. Jordan came by at 10:00. FOR THE LAST TIME, IT TURNED OUT.

Jan 11 - Matt's letter to girlfriend Judy***

Tuesday, January 11, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

10:30 AM
Got to sleep last night at 1:30 in the stereo cabin. The three of us -- Matt, Me, and Phil (social sciences investigator or something) -- stayed there till 1:00, listening to the stereo and reading. I found out a button is missing on my new jacket.

12:00 AM
We had lunch at 1:00, and I went to the stereo cabin to draw an abstract painting from one of Fr. Gilbert's books. It took me most of the day to finish. I helped Brad put up wood strips on the ceiling of the chapel in the retreat house. Afterwards, I returned to the Stereo Cabin to finish my drawing.

Dinner was at 6:30 -- we had Chow Mein, rice, thingamajigs, whatjamacallits, and banana bread. I checked the Imperial for anti-freeze at the suggestion of Fr. Gilbert -- the car started fine, and registered plenty of anti-freeze.

I called mom and dad to tell them to send the $60.00, and they complied with Gilbert's thinking about building a geodesic dome to plant vegetables in. Tomorrow, M & I have to go to Rapid for our glasses -- we asked Fr. for $30 for me, and $8 for Matt, telling him we'd pay him back as soon as M's check ($40) and my bank account ($60) comes in.

It started snowing again, giving the land a fresh look and guaranteeing snow shoveling jobs tomorrow.

[Inserted here is a letter by Matt to his girlfriend, but he never mailed it so Grady grabbed the letter and put it in this book]

*judy

if you're travelling to the North Country fair

where the wind is heavy on the borderline

remember me to one who lives there...

Leon Russell

Its a week since I left newport.  in that time I have seen more things than ever before I have seen.  It's supported my idea that newport was a severely limited and limiting place.  I have visited states, driven hiways, been a temporary drifter, and subjected myself to the theoretical forces of the Gestapo.  And I am not finished yet.  I find myself in a commune in the unlikely and remote black hills of south dakota.  It's run by a catholic father, and the people and philosophy are both as beautiful as the forest surrounding.  The big town, Rapid City, is perhaps a normal midwestern town, but with my conditioning I can't help but describe it as strange... strange.  the plan of me and my colleague, Grady Lyda, is to live here and work in Rapid City 'till we have enough filthy green to travel to New York City, there to establish ourselves, get interesting work or develop a business.  I have with me - myself, which includes all clothes, the stereo, and personal effects.  the car is a portable sanitarium. anyway, this is asking you if you would like to visit me in New York this summer (after you've finished school).  I will feed you bagels & cheese every morning, take you to see the sights, and provide snappy repartee.  See what it's really like to live outside sunny Calif.  let life drive you crazy.  take it from someone who's seen both sides of the sanity fence.  It's better.  but that depends on definition of 'better' . or maybe 'bet' . or 'ter' . (give up) think about it and write me.  that address again -- Bethlehem, South Dakota 57708 (THEIR OWN ZIPCODE, YET.)

I think, at this point, I can definitely and unequivicably make the compulsively profound statement - - - - I miss you.
Matt Gold
P.S. don't worry about money.  I'll pay 4 you in the City.

see for me if her hair's hanging long --
that's the way I remember her best. -- L. Russell

[Below are the Front & Back photos of this letter. Matt was a clever artist: if you

click on this image & look carefully, you can see a giant Question Mark behind his text.]