Jan 20 - Picking up Dad, plus big car problems

Thursday, January 20, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem & Rapid City & Mt Rushmore, South Dakota

9:00 AM
I just woke up, and I'm in Storms [the stereo cabin] now. It's snowing outside with very fine snow flakes.

(2:00 PM 1/21/72)
I ran into Fr. Gilbert and got directions for the airport. Then I tried to start the car, gave up, and put the recharger on. After a while, I consulted Wheezie, and over a period of an hour or so, we failed to start it (waiting for the battery to recharge, trying to start the car, then waiting for the battery to recharge -- while waiting I read my book). By 11:00 A.M., I gave up on the car, told Tom (who was in the print shop), he found Fr. Gilbert, and Gil & I went in his car to pick up Dad, who was coming in on Western Airlines at 11:45 (Mom called last night, Father Gil answered -- but no one relayed the message to me).

A 1968 photo of  Lu Lyda & Grady

Picked up Lucifer [my nickname for Lu Lyda, my dad] at 12:00, got back and ate lunch, then I proceeded to pack the rest of our stuff. Matt took a picture of the whole gang in the chapel, then he disassembled his stereo, I packed it, and dad socialized.

Tom, Dick and Phil left in the Chevy to go to town. Fr. Gil began to drive away, but came back when he saw the Chevy was gone (He had to go to a wake, and then to court to act as a character witness -- [wild, nearly illegible writing on the rest of this page] DAMN, THIS ROAD IS BBBMMM  BUMPY). Anyway, we all tried to start the Imperial: Me, Gil, Matt, DAD, Wheezie & Swede. Finally Gil drove up his car and we jumped the batteries. Ultimately the thing started, and Gil drove away. So Dad, and Me, and Matt started on our way but the car stopped again just outside the house, blocking the driveway. Wheez, Swede, Me, Dad, and Matt tried to start it again. Then we put the recharger back on. Wheez found that one of the coils was cracked, so a spark was jumping. He taped it, and we waited 1/2 hour for the battery to recharge. Then Dad & I went to start it, and it worked immediately. We all said goodbye again, and left. The skies by this time had cleared. We went to Rapid to return Matt's library books, and then we went to Mount Rushmore. We left Beth. at 3:15, and got to Rushmore at about 5:00. The place was deserted, and despite the lack of light, Matt took some photos. Then we left (continued on next page >>)

Jan 19 - Last day before Dad comes

Wednesday, January 19, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

10:30 AM
I just got up, after Brad and Keith came in. Matt's still in bed (in the Abbott's cabin: bunk house). It snowed last night -- all the trees look flocked. At 6:30 last night the sky was clear, the stars were out, and the moon was visible -- at 8:00 it was snowing. At nine o'clock the sky was clear, the stars were out, and the moon was gone. Now the sky's overcast. Oh well, this is supposed to be our last day here. Dad's coming tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.

"Have you ever seen wethurr like this before?"
"I'd say that's the worst spell of weather we've ever seen."

7:00 PM
Just finished dinner. I haven't done much today. I finished Zelazny's "Moment of the Storm," read Kuttner's "Absolom," skimmed through "Have Time & Be Free" to get some words and theories about time, and I invented a few more temporal laws.

Yesterday I wrote a letter to Grandma Dot and mailed it. The sky is clear now, but a few hours ago it was overcast. Matt went out with his camera and took a picture. Phil got back today. I recharged the car's battery last night, so the car should work all right tomorrow. Matt slept until 12:30 -- the only time I can remember that I woke up before him. I had to go wake him up for lunch.

I wonder how I can fill up the rest of this page -- so far, I've been pretty good about that but I can't think about anything else to write. Perhaps a famous quote would be appropoeaux (let me try that again) perhaps a famous quote might be apropos.

Perhaps.

Jan 18 - Letter of explanation to Grandma Dot***

Tuesday, January 18, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

(9:00 PM 1/17/72)
Matt just talked with his dad, and he (Matt) is now greatly perturbed. For one thing, plans have changed once again: we're not leaving Tuesday, we're leaving Thursday, and a friend of Jack's isn't flying here, Lucifer (Dad) is! [Lucifer was an affectionate nickname for my father based on his first name Lu]

(9:30 PM 1/17/72)
After I wrote that I called Mom for confirmation. So that's how things are now, probably, presumably, temporarily, so far, as is, so far as I can tell, maybe... etc.

9:00 AM
Everybody got up before me, about 8:30. I got up at five to nine, and went outside. It snowed last night -- the mud's frozen, and there's a thin layer of white on the ground.

7:30 PM
M & I did a few minor tasks today -- we cleaned some trowels with gasoline, then we swept and mopped some rooms in the retreat house so they could put in the carpets. Last night, a guy named Dick McCoy dropped in from Sioux Falls (hitch hiked), and stayed -- he's still here now. Also, late in the day yesterday, a guy named Joe came by. Both of them slept in the bunk cabin, so in our room there are five people sleeping (Dick, Joe, Me, Matt & Brad) -- Keith, Wheezie, and Tom sleep in a bigger room. Phil's been in Rapid for the past few days, but he sleeps with us in one of the bunks. Tom said they haven't been this full since August.

Matt & I had a contest to decide who was the best artist -- he drew Laura Nyro, and I drew Melanie, then we both drew radios (he thought I had an unfair advantage drawing people). Anyway, it's snowing right now.

[In the previous year, Grady accompanied his Mother (Charmian), and Grandmother (Dorothea), on a tour to Denmark, Spain & Italy organized by the Shrine of the Nativity. Sending tour groups to various parts of the planet was a means of generating funds for the Conception Abbey, Order of St. Benedict, which maintained Father Gilbert's Retreat Facility at Bethlehem, South Dakota. This is how Grady became aware of the Shrine and Fr. Gil's invitation to visit Bethlehem Cave led to this January '72 road trip with Matt.]

Me, Mom & Grandma Dot starting our trip to Europe in 1971

 8:00 PM
[Inserted here is "Young Grady's" copy of his letter to Grandma Dot -- Dorothea Scheneman, my Mom's mother -- who was close friends with Father Gilbert since they both originated in Kansas City, Missouri]

1/18/72

Dear Grandma Dot,

Sorry it's taken me so long to write -- I haven't written to anybody because I knew all this was temporary and I'd be back soon to talk to everyone in person. But since you're on a case now [Dorothea earned an income as a home care nurse], I may not see you for a while.

The trip up here was not at all difficult. I took a relatively straight path, staying on the major interstate highways, knowing they'd be safe no matter what the weather was. (From the Newport Beach Freeway to Highway 15 to Salt Lake City. Then to Highway 80 as far as Cheyenne. From there, to 25, then to 90, straight to Rapid City.) But surprisingly, the weather was great -- clear sunny skies from California to Wyoming. Things only started getting bad when we got to South Dakota, but it didn't start snowing until we had already reached Bethlehem. Unintentionally, the timing was perfect. We got here just before the weather got really harsh -- the first night we were here it snowed, and during the past week it snowed pretty strongly, and temperatures dropped to -40° -- that was unusually cold even for this area. Right now (8:10 P.M., Tuesday, January 18), it's snowing, but only a couple of days ago it was clear, sunny, and warm (56°+). The weather, needless to say, has been inconsistent.

I must know you pretty well, because I wasn't surprised when -- after seeing Tom -- I immediately heard that you had phoned. I was pretty sure you'd guess I'd come here, and then communications would open up among all parties concerned. I couldn't take Matt to New York without knowing how his parents felt, and I couldn't ask them while I was in Newport, because they'd stop us of course. This way, they'd know what we were capable of, and make a more reasonable decision. The decision's been made, and we're returning to Newport Beach (mostly due to the legal complications), but I feel successful because Matt's parents will respect his freedom a little more -- and if he still wants to go to New York, after thinking it over a little better, he'll be free to do it with his parents' consent. That was my reasoning -- I wasn't running away from anything. I'm lucky enough to have parents (& Grandparents) who respect and trust me. I'm glad about that.

Everyone here talks about you constantly. I'm known as "Mrs. Schenemen's Grandson," and Mrs. Rogers hardly ever talks to me without mentioning you. We got your pictures of Israel, and we also got your vitamins. I have a pocket full of Vitamin-C and I was eating them a lot until Mrs. Rogers said that if I had too much I'd get an allergy or something. Is that right? I don't care, I'm still eating them -- but not as much.

I hadn't realized how much I owed to you until recently. If it weren't for you, I would have never gone to New York, or Europe (one of the most memorable things I'd ever done, before this), I would have never known about Bethlehem, S.D. and Father Gil, or the Latkas (with whom I've been corresponding quite a bit), and I wouldn't have a car, since the Chrysler was yours originally. If it weren't for you my life would be pretty darn dull. You're responsible for this little escapade -- you made it possible -- so if there's anyone to blame, or give thanks to, it's you.

THANKS MUCH,

GRADE-A

Jan 17 - Lame jokes & newer plans

Monday, January 17, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

3:00 PM
This is our last day here. Matt talked with his parents last night: A friend of Jack's will fly here in the morning, Matt & I will drive to the airport, and the three of us will go back. I'm spending the day packing, and Matt's recording some records before we disassemble the stereo.

The characters here have been: Fr. Gilbert Stack, Tom Hildebrand, Wheezie (Steve Minor), Keith Koball, Brad, Dotty, Dorothy, Pearce, Mrs. Rogers, Swede, and Phil (who is now in Rapid City visiting friends for a while). Matt vacuumed Storms (the Stereo Cabin), and I put away the chairs in the main room of the retreat house, which had been put there for the big meeting a few days ago.

We've been talking alot at dinner -- last night during a conversation somebody asked what's black and white and red all over. I said, of course, a pregnant nun, and Fr. Gil chuckled uncontrollably for a few moments. Today I suggested (while reaching for a fried egg) that eggs are the largest single cell in existence (it's not true, and everybody knows that, but that's what my physiology teacher said once) and that started a big discussion on physics, surface tension, calculus, tetrahedrons, pi and various other odd things, most of which were brought up by Gil, and explained. He's bright and he lets everyone know it.

8:30 PM
Matt came in -- "Ta da!" I exclaimed upon his entrance. The stereo was blaring, and I said, "Are we packing that tonight or tomorrow morning?" -- "Huh?" he said. "Have you called your parents yet?" -- "What?" -- "When are we leaving tomorrow?" -- "I... better call," he answered, moving for the door. "Mayhaps you ought," I replied -- "What?" he said, opening the door. "Mayhaps you ought," I repeated more clearly. "Huh?" he asked, and I repeated again. "Oh," he said going out the door. -- "I wax poetic in my phrase," I explained. "I wax deaf in my ears," he finished. Then I turned the stereo off. 

Jan 15 - Parents attempt to exert authority

Saturday, January 15, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

1:30 PM
Got to sleep last night at around one thirty. Woke up today -- first at 8:30, when Brad wandered around saying, "Wakey, wakey." Phil groggily said, "I hate you." Brad replied, "It's 13° outside. Get up." "Above zero?" "Yes." -- "Good God! We're having a heat wave!" I promptly went back to sleep and woke up at 12:55. Matt came in a moment later, and said everyone was eating lunch -- he also said he wanted to leave for Chicago today. I eventually talked him out of it, and soon I'll be leaving for Newport Beach.

11:30 PM
WELL, FOLKS, THINGS HAVE TURNED ALL AROUND. LISTEN TO THIS ONE -- YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! ---- THE WEATHER'S REALLY GETTING WARM -- IT MUST'VE GOT UP TO 40° ABOVE. EVERYTHING'S MELTING, SO MY SUPPLY OF ICICLES IS RUNNING OUT (I'VE BEEN MUNCHING ON THEM FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS). AFTER I FINISHED MY LAST ENTRY, MATT READ THIS BOOK, GRINNING AND CHUCKLING NOW AND THEN. I ALSO LET HIM KNOW I HAVE COPIES OF HIS POETRY, AND HE CALLED ME (ACCURATELY) "SNEAKY." I LET HIM KNOW MORE ABOUT ME TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE -- AND HE UNDERSTANDS QUITE A BIT.

I CHECKED THE CAR (IT STARTED FINE), DID A LITTLE PACKING, GOT CLEANED UP, AND WENT TO THE HOUSE WHERE MATT WAS READING A MAGAZINE. I TOLD GIL I WAS LEAVING AND WOULD BE BACK IN ABOUT A WEEK. HE WAS STRONGLY AGAINST IT. HE CALLED MOM FOR ME, AND SHE TOLD ME TO WAIT 'TILL DAD GOT HOME -- HE WOULD CALL ME AT AROUND SIX. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR IRENE [Matt's slightly crazy mother] PHONED. SAID SHE'D TALKED WITH MOM, AND MOM TOLD HER SHE WAS COMING HERE TO GET THE CAR AND DRIVE IT BACK TO CALIFORNIA. I ASSUMED SHE'D MISUNDERSTOOD. AFTER THE PHONE CALL, TOM CAME TO THE STEREO BUNK TO TALK WITH US. AS IT TURNS OUT, FATHER GIL HAS BEEN PRESSURING HIM TO KEEP US BUSY. WE ASSURED HIM WE'D BE LEAVING SOON.

WHEN DAD CALLED I FOUND OUT JUST HOW STICKY THE SITUATION REALLY WAS. IF I LEFT WITH THE CAR HE WOULD REPORT IT STOLEN -- PREVENTING US FROM GETTING INTO WORSE TROUBLE. HE SAID MOM WAS GOING TO FLY TO S.D., AND DRIVE HER CAR BACK TO CALIFORNIA, SO THAT SHE COULD SELL THE COUGAR, SAVE UP FOR ANOTHER CAR, AND LET ME HAVE THE IMPERIAL IN A FEW MONTHS. THINGS WERE GETTING PRETTY CONFUSING, AND I WAS BEGINNING TO REALIZE "THE JIG WAS UP." WE WERE EITHER GOING TO BE TRAPPED HERE FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS, OR WE'D BOTH HAVE TO DRIVE BACK TO N.B. [Newport Beach, CA]

THE SITUATION REMAINED UNRESOLVED WHEN WE HUNG UP, BUT IT WAS CLEAR M & I WERE GOING NO FURTHER. MATT WAS STILL DETERMINED THAT WE WERE GOING TO CHICAGO, AND I STILL WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE WE WEREN'T, UNTIL THE NEXT CALL. IRENE CALLED DURING SUPPER, ABOUT 15 MINS LATER, AND I TALKED WITH HER AFTER MATT STARTED GETTING MAD. TALKING WITH HER, WE ARRIVED AT THIS DECISION: MATT & I WOULD DRIVE BACK TO NEWPORT BEACH. SHE TALKED WITH MATT AGAIN (AFTER I TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WE COULD DO) AND HE RELUCTANTLY FELL TO THE INEVITABLE. SHE SPOKE WITH ME AGAIN -- SHE EXPECTED US TO LEAVE TONIGHT! I TOLD HER WE COULDN'T LEAVE ANY EARLIER THAN TOMORROW AFTERNOON, USING THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES AS AN EXCUSE. SO IT WAS DECIDED.

IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE I REALIZED WE COULDN'T LEAVE THAT SOON -- WE OWED GIL $40, AND WE NEEDED MONEY TO MAKE THE TRIP. MOM CALLED AGAIN, AND I EXPLAINED WE COULDN'T LEAVE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS. THEN SHE OFFERED ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE: JACK -- MATT'S REAL FATHER -- WOULD FLY UP HERE AND DRIVE MATT AND THE CAR BACK TO CALIFORNIA, LETTING ME STAY HERE, IF I WANTED.

SO THAT WAS IT -- AS THINGS STAND NOW, I'M STAYING HERE, AND MATT'S GOING BACK TO N.B. -- SOMEWHAT IRONIC, RIGHT? WHAT THE HECK, AS LONG AS I'M HERE, I MIGHT AS WELL STAY. WHEN I TOLD MATT, HE WAS SLIGHTLY BEWILDERED. MATT KNOWS ME BETTER THAN I THOUGHT -- I DAMNED NEAR GOT EMOTIONAL WHEN HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO STAY. HE SAID, "WHETHER YOU THINK SO OR NOT, I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE YOUR FRIEND AND I THINK YOU NEED ONE." -- I SAID, "I CAN'T AFFORD FRIENDS."  FORTUNATELY HE LAUGHED AT THAT. "BESIDES, I GOT YOU YOUR FREEDOM, I ACCOMPLISHED MY PURPOSE." HIS PARENTS WILL MOVE TO LONG BEACH, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL OR LIVE WITH HIS PARENTS, AND THEY'RE THINKING OF BUYING HIM A CAR -- HE WON, EVEN THOUGH THEY GOT HIM BACK.

I SAID THIS PLAN WOULD SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS, AND I RATIONALIZED THE THING LOGICALLY. HE DIDN'T ACCEPT THE EXPLANATION, BUT THE THING WAS SETTLED. HE LEFT TO GO TO SLEEP, BUT BEFORE HE LEFT HE GAVE ME A SHOT IN THE ARM AND SAID, "YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, GRADY."

3:30 AM
Got to bed at 3:30 -- I think I changed my mind. I'm going to Newport Beach. I think. Maybe. Hmmmmm    

Jan 14 - Frozen faucets, toilets, pipes, stereo

Friday, January 14, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

10:00 AM
We got up at 8:30 when Wheezie got the four of us up for breakfast -- we had breakfast at nine. Matt and I carried a couple of typewriters to the Shrine's office for Dorothy (Matt slipped in the snow once, and his gloveless hands almost froze). It's 20° below zero outside. Matt & me went to the retreat house to take showers but found there was no water. I checked with Gil and he said we'd have it pretty soon -- Brad went up to pump some water.

I then went to the stereo cabin -- Phil followed shortly thereafter. It's cold in here, probably about 40° or worse (I can see my breath). I soon found out that there was an icicle on the water faucet and the toilet was frozen. Phil quickly went out to notify the authorities, and Matt came in. He found out the stereo was frozen and decided to move it to some place warmer. In the entry on the last page made in red ink you may have noticed: the ink's frozen. Anyway, Phil put the heater in the bathroom, and Wheezie came in to take the cover off the pipes in the "den" and put a heater next to them. By the way -- the pump's broken. We aren't going to have any water (warm or otherwise) until it gets fixed.

12:00 AM
Worked on the retreat house for a few hours -- till 5:00. Then I took a shower. Some visitors are coming for a meeting or something. I didn't get involved. Matt and I decided to leave as soon as possible.

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.]