Top 20 Entries from 1972 - Part 3***

Here are the next 5 highlights selected from 366 journal entries of 1972

LOCATION: Corona, California -- Jan 21, 2014

Saturday, July 1, page 183, was the half-way point in the Leap Year of 1972

11) Jul 02, 1972 - The Cave of TIME

LOCATION: Bethlehem & Wonderland Cave, South Dakota
I visit Wonderland Cave & Prince Valiant confronts a sorcerer in The Cave of TIME.

Writer/Illustrator HAL FOSTER (1892 - 1982) set an impossibly high standard for graphic storytelling. His Prince Valiant series followed the thrilling adventures of a bold prince throughout his life while he aged in real time. Splendid artwork & deceptively simple text wove complex tales of exploration, power struggles, ingenuity, magic, courage, peace & violence. The PV sagas clearly inspired our recent Game of Thrones productions. It's interesting to note that the extraordinary life's work that defined Foster's existence was tragically erased from his mind. During a routine medical procedure, an accident with anesthesia resulted in extreme memory loss. At the end of his days, he could never recall writing or drawing Prince Valiant. As far as he was concerned, his extraordinary world-changing epic never happened.

None may withstand "TIME"... I vanquish them all in the end.

-- Ancient Sorcerer in The Cave of TIME  

12) Jul 06, 1972 - Forgetfullness: Non-Total Recall

LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota
In an examination of memory, I consider two versions of "Total Recall" and wonder what you will remember about these movies after 40 years. Anything? Anything at all?

13) Jul 17, 1972 - Pranking McGovern's Secret Service

LOCATION: Bethlehem & Rapid City, South Dakota
On my 18th birthday I end up at the Rapid City airport for the arrival of the Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern. While we are waiting, my friends & I amuse ourselves by impersonating secret service agents. McGovern was a South Dakota senator and a friend of Father Gilbert & the Shrine of the Nativity. This day also features a mind-bending experience at Mount Rushmore and a visit to The Planet Of The Apes.

14) Aug 13, 1972 - A fun-filled family dinner party

LOCATION: Chicago

I had a great time in Chicago as a guest of the Latkas. This page includes photos of me having a goofy dinner with family & friends. 

15) Aug 25, 1972 - "Guess Who" concert in Rapid City

LOCATION: Bethlehem & Rapid City, South Dakota
Guess who appears in this entry?

The Guess Who - Undun (1983 performance)

Another band I saw in '72 was Styx when they first appeared under that name at a Marist High School dance in Chicago (July 21). I never would have dreamed that both of these groups would still be performing more than 40 years later. It's interesting to note that Styx & The Guess Who have both created compelling songs about the enigma of time. If we got Styx, The Guess Who & Chicago together, we could have a decent TIME concert. Something like this...

Styx - The Best of Times

Styx - Too Much Time on My Hands

The Guess Who - No Time

Styx - Crystal Ball

NEXT WEEK: Top 20 Entries from 1972 - Part 4 (16 to 20)

Aug 17 - Greyhounding to Rapid**

Thursday, August 17, 1972 - Page 230
LOCATION: Davenport, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Rapid City

9:00 AM
Most of the night was above 80° everywhere we went. The bus was airconditioned fortunately. We stopped in Davenport, Iowa at 11:00, and we got a new driver, but the same rider continued on (he was heading for Omaha) -- they were both veteran bus operators and they talked quite a bit. Got into Iowa City at 12:15 (we left Chi with 29 passengers -- the number fluctuated one or two with each stop) Stopped at the Landmark Restaurant at 1:00 for 20 minutes and I bought a Fresca.

Reached Des Moines at 2:50 A.M. and got a new younger driver -- the rider didn't talk to him, he just slept. I dozed a bit myself -- Got into Omaha at 5:00 A.M. and everyone got off the bus. My bus to Sioux Falls, S.D., had left a half hour earlier -- So here I sit, waiting for the 10:00 bus to S.F. I put my bag in a locker and wandered around Omaha. I picked up a newspaper from a door step (there were three -- I took one and put back two). I read the paper while the sun rose. I killed time in the terminal reading and writing after that.

11:45 PM
The bus came at 10:00 -- It got to Sioux City at 12:30. Then the bus I got on in Chicago (7084) appeared to take me on to Sioux Falls S.D. at 2:00. Got to S.F. at 6:00 I think. Left at 6:30 and continued on to Rapid City. Thinking back, I'm wrong about most of -- oh no, that's right. Anyway, got into Rapid at 11:30, as per schedule. The Jack Rabbit station is only a block or so from the Alex Johnson, so at least I'm oriented. The day was hot, in the mid nineties mostly, but approaching R.C. clouds gathered on the horizon, and lightning storms appeared. There was some rain. But here I am now, sitting under a clear sky in a mild night, about to go to sleep in a vacant lot behind the station. G'night.

TOMORROW: Ruffing it: "Welcome To Rapid City"

Jul 01 - MID-POINT in this Journal's Journey***

Saturday, July 1, 1972 - Page 183
LOCATION: Bethlehem & Rapid City, South Dakota

Half-way thru this big year...

THE YEAR IS EXACTLY HALF OVER

(11:30 AM 7/4/1972)
So I woke up at 7:30. Bruce got up somewhere before 6:00. Anyway, I ate breakfast with the gangs and then wandered around outside. Tom H. and John were at the cave unloading boxes of candles from the Van, so I helped them. Father Gil was gone yesterday, but he had come in during the nite. I met him again at breakfast. He's a nice fellow.

Anyway, eventually another group went down into Rapid -- Tom, Me, Bruce, Mike F., John and a couple who were up at Beth for a short time, and were going to Rapid to hitchhike out -- they were Andi, a chubby gal, and Pat, an Amish sort of fellow -- they both seemed under 20. So we all drove down the road (we always have to use the grader or a cat to pull the van through the creek where the road was washed out), and we stopped at a farmhouse at the end of the road for Bruce's car (Illinois license -- he's from Suburban Chicago), a Valiant with a busted transmission. Mike F., John & Bruce (mostly Mike tho) removed the drive shaft. While we were there we talked with the friendly old man who lived there, and played with the friendly young kitten that lived there too.

John & Bruce rode in the car while we towed it into an Aamco station in Rapid City. There we found out it would cost $150 to fix. (Andi & Pat had left by then, being dropped off at the corner by Tom.) The cost was prohibitive, so Bruce and Tom drove to a junk dealer, but had no luck. They returned, and John, Me, and Tom & Bruce drove to another junk man and he said he'd have a look at it when he got off work at noon. So we left Bruce at the Aamco station with his car to wait for the junk man, while Tom, Mike, John and I went around Rapid -- Tom had to buy a part for Gil's car, and check in at Becker's Drugstore to find out what work there was to be done. There wasn't anything definite, so we drove back to Aamco to wait for the junk dealer. After an hour we left Bruce there again and went to Becker's to finish what little there was left. We did, and then we drove to a Salvation Army truck for lunch. Then we returned to Becker's to eat and to wait for Bruce who would be hitchhiking down.

To pass time I gave Mike and John that psychological test I'd heard in History Class long ago -- the path signifies life, the key symbolizes knowledge, the cup of love, etc. -- during that (I didn't give the test to Tom cause he'd already done it in Spain last year -- we had some time to waste then too), a couple of girls came by from another house to see what we were up to. We talked to her awhile and I learned some more about the flood.

EXPLORING YOUR HIDDEN PERSONALITY

One day during High School History class, our teacher shared an entertaining test he'd learned in his College Psychology course. It's not really a TEST (there are no right or wrong answers), it is a clever method of delving into the human imagination. Your responses uncover subconscious perspectives that reveal your unique view of life's journey.

Throughout my travels, I often used this "test" when meeting new people to break the ice or to fill those awkward moments when nobody has anything to say. After hearing responses from more than a hundred people over the years, I am constantly amazed by the revelations into human nature that are brought out during this exercise. Nobody ever gives the same answers to these questions.

See for yourself. Find the 6 questions here on my website: Your Journey. Write or record your answers, then I will auto-send you a one-time email that explains what it all means (no obligation, no cost, no spam, no kidding). I promise that you will be genuinely astounded. Share it with your family, friends or co-workers, and learn about the fantastic private worlds that live in everybody's heads.

Bruce came by in some body's car (the second ride he'd got) -- he'd sold his car for $45 -- he'd originally asked $125. John was disturbed about the car being sold because he and Bruce were going to drive to Iowa in it. So their plans have changed. We talked with the girls some more, toured the house, and eventually they left, and then we left driving back up to Beth.

It had sprinkled slightly, but hardly at all. Saturday I learned that practically everyone at Beth plays chess. I brought out my chess set (tho I didn't have a board), but John had a set and board so we used his. I played three games with Bruce in the retreat house -- the last game was interrupted by Dinner, but I won all three anyway. Then John and I decided to play cards. I dug up Tom and Lyle (a visitor from the Wonderland Cave Info center) who were at the Abbott's cabin, and we started playing poker. Lyle won, beating me, and left to drive back to Wonderland. We continued playing, and a few new people came in. Brad, who was here in January, Mike Youngster, Tim, and Mike National Guard -- all from Nebraska. Tom left, Bruce played, getting in debt with me & John, and Mike Y. also played. ---

I won eventually -- Bruce lost, Mike Y. lost, and I beat John playing Guts. Then I went on to lose 3 games of chess to Mike N.G. I played two with Lyle and won one. Finally got to sleep after Midnight. (Oh yeah, Lyle was here because his car broke down -- he slept in our room that nite). It rained that night, most of it on Saturday.

TOMORROW: The Cave of TIME

Jun 20 - Looking forward...

Tuesday, June 20, 1972 - Page 172
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

1:30 PM
[continued from previous page/day]... and woke up at 8:30. I've been sleeping so much I haven't seen Mom since Sunday nite. Today I worked on this damned journal, and I finally caught up to the present! Now I'm gonna get to work getting my stuff together, and my room cleaned. I called Western Airlines for their Rapid City Schedule for the 28th. It'll cost $55. It seems Grandma Dot got the idea that I wasn't going to have her pay for it since I had a job (such a noble notion), so instead Mom's gonna pay for it. I'll have about $150 when everything is set for my departure from S.D. to Chic., if indeed I'm going to Chic[ago]. --- 1:28:45 P.M.

1:41:35 P.M. --- IT HAS JUST STARTED RAINING ---

(8:00 PM 6/21/1972)
It rained sporadically all day and some of the night. There's more to say about Tuesday, but I won't bother -- nothin' too important.

Jun 19 - Another flood in Rapid City

Monday, June 19, 1972 - Page 171
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:30 PM 6/20/1972)
It has been decided that I'm not gonna work any more at landscaping, and I'm leaving for S.D. [South Dakota] on the 28th (Jim & Cynthia are coming down for the 4th of July on the 29). Tom came back to Bethlehem --- Gil's in Pennsylvania burying somebody, and Rapid had another flood recently with 4 more feet of water. I've gotta get stuff prepared for the trip.

Still have not heard anything from the Latkas. Mayhaps I went too far with my irreverence in my last letter and they decided not to associate with me. Anyway, this book will return to South Dakota for another month or so.

Monday I woke up at 8:00, having got to sleep at 2:00. I got most of my photos selected to go with me to S.D. (to practice drawing) and I got to sleep at around 4 P.M., waking at 6:30 P.M. Mom had gone to bridge. I watched T.V. and washed the dishes. Went to bed about 1:30, ... [continued on next page]

Jun 10 - Black Hills flood kills 238**

Saturday, June 10, 1972 - Page 162
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

12:00 PM
I got up today at 10:44 after getting to sleep at around 11:00 P.M. My feet still hurt, especially the right one which I must've sprained. I'm using Vitamin-E [lotion] on my sores to get them fixed before next Monday. I read the Other again today -- am now on 271.

(10:30 AM 6/11/1972)
Mom & I went to the Lincoln drive-in today to see "Play It Again Sam," and "The Honkers." We left at five thirty so I read the rest of "The Other," so now all I have left to read is "The Probability Man," and "Man's Rise To Civilization, etc." --

Today or late yesterday Rapid City and surrounding areas got clobbered with heavy rains, a busted dam, and flashfloods. Last I heard, 155 people had died and $100,000 damage had been estimated, but both figures should rise considerably. It's a Federal Disaster Area. I knew a few people in Rapid City, and Spearfish. Fr. Gil must be pretty busy, with all those dead folks around. [See Father Gilbert's report on the flood in the entry for June 27, 1972]

From Wikipedia: During the night of June 9, the Canyon Lake Dam became clogged with debris and failed, resulting in 238 deaths and 3,057 injuries. Several bodies were never found. There were over 1,335 homes and 5,000 automobiles destroyed. The value of the damaged property was over US$160 million in 1972 dollars.

Today, by the way, a sculpture came of a ballerina [purchased by Mom]. It's fairly good. That was the mail for today. And I first noticed that Liz the lizard is gone. The elements have been pushing her farther and further away, until she is now out of site. She should turn up some day, if I look for her.

Jun 06 - Job Day 1 - CA Presidential Primary

Tuesday, June 6, 1972 - Page 158
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Anaheim, California

8:30 PM
Got up at 6 A.M., though I didn't get more than an hour's worth of vague sleep. Chunk and Winnie came to pick me up at 6:20 A.M., and we got to the landscape place [Amerco Industries in Anaheim] at 7:00 (Winnie drove away on failing brakes), where I met the fore man -- John Somebody; and another worker, a Chicano, 18 years old, named Rick Somebodyelse.

We all drove up to the place where we were supposed to do landscaping. We dug holes, filled them with water, cut cans trees were in, planted the trees, layed sod for the front lawn of a house, planted plants, flowers, and shrubs, and went home at 4:00, or rather went back to the landscaping place to wait for 5:30 when mom finally arrived (she had to drop the Imperial off to get it fixed). I have five and a half blisters on my left hand, and 8 1/2 on my right.

Mom, me & Chunk stopped at Carl's Jr. to take advantage of a coupla free hamburger coupons, and we ate alot. I took a bath. The Presidential Primary for California is today -- Chunk's voting for McGovern, John (a 29 year old Rep.) is voting for Ashburn (or whatevertheguy'snameiswho'srunningagainstNixon), and Mom, of course, voted for Nix.

I've gotta be at the Landscaping place tomorrow at five, and me & Chunk are going to work in Oxnard for 3 days, sleeping in a Vagabond Motel with a pool. It rained some today. Confirmation has come from Gil, and I'll be flying over [to Rapid City] whenever I want. Dad called, got me an interview for Aero[nutronic], but I declined, since I've got an income now.

O.S.B. means Order of Saint Benedict

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.]

Jan 10 - Shopping in Rapid City**

Monday, January 10, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem & Rapid City, South Dakota

11:30 PM
Snowed last night. I woke up at 10:30 and went to the stereo cabin where I found Matt. We shoveled snow till mass at about 12:30. Had lunch at 1:00. Wheezie and Brad were going into Rapid City, so Matt & I went with them, since we were going to go anyway, and we shouldn't drive the Imperial.

Last night Matt's parents called, then he called his real dad. His parents (rigid & conservative) don't mind him running off, but his dad (liberal) is slightly mad. Anyway, everything's basically fine except for the car which has an APB out on it still. Going to have to get that taken care of.

Anyway, we drove to Rapid, and M & I went to an optometrist -- he wanted new frames, and I wanted new clear lenses. We've got to go back Wednesday to get them. Then we proceeded to buy other stuff -- Matt got pants, shirts, records, film, and gloves -- I got a jacket, a book, wrist band, gloves, pants, belt, boots, and socks. After that we went to a restaurant to eat, then we went to the library, but on the way we were accosted by four or five beggars -- to a few in a car, Matt gave some cigarettes, and I gave a $5 (damn! I couldn't find anything smaller -- they only asked for 50 cents). We've got to be careful from now on. I've got just $2 left!

[A page is inserted here with these photos attached]

Here are pictures from those days in South Dakota. I got them in a letter sent by Tom Hildebrand today -- April 19, 1972. The top one was taken from the trailer next to the print shop. I'm wearing one of Matt's hats (Wheezie adopted that hat before we left), and in back is Storms [named for Loui Storm who bought the property in 1919, but we knew it as the stereo cabin], and behind that is the Chapel, comprising the main house where Fr. Gil lived. The lower photo is of Wheezie with me ambitiously shoveling in the background. The building is the Abbot's Cabin [the bunk house] where we all slept.

Grady Lyda, Bethlehem, South Dakota, January 1972 

Wheezie (Steve Minor), Bethlehem, SD, January 1972

Jan 07 - Cop stop in Custer, South Dakota

Friday, January 7, 1972
LOCATION: Cheyenne, Wyoming; Custer & Rapid City, South Dakota

Matt and I slept last night in the car. I slept while Matt drove, and we stopped in Little America, Cheyenne, at 10:30 A.M. to eat. Presently, we're stopping at an exit to hook up Matt's stereo speakers to the radio.

So, with A.M. music blaring at us from behind, Matt drove on. He kept going until somewhere around seven, then I drove all the way to Rapid City. There were several interruptions however.

As I was driving thru Custer, South Dakota, I supposedly drove thru a red light (though I still don't remember it), and at 8:15 P.M. I was stopped by a policeman. It was a two dollar fine which I promptly paid, and he radioed in my name and license number -- I was summarily cleared and allowed to go. Matt was ecstatic that we weren't in trouble.

Travelling on highway 16 was rather interesting, since we were extremely low on gas, and the road was dark, deserted, narrow, windy and long. To save gas we coasted in neutral when we were going downhill, and we went through a few narrow tunnels. Finally we made it to Rapid City, filled up the tank, drove the wrong way on a one way street, bought food at a Colonel Sanders Kentucky Fried Chicken place, got a motel, watched T.V., and ate. We also found out we had a flat tire.

[A $2.00 traffic fine! Are you kidding me? Here's the proof.]