July 4th in Review
Hi there [Ann].
Yesterday was nice. No rain. And the fireworks at the park were held at 10:00 PM. Mom and I went there to see them. Lots of people. Mobs and mobs. 
In college, I drank a fair amount (a couple times a week). But I never got into anything heavier. No pot. No drugs. Alcohol was bad enough. I gave it up after making a fool of myself a few times.
I get to Pittsburgh a few times a year. Richard Parker has a Christmas party each December that I attend, and I get there for the alumni activities. Also, I visit [Tad] (remember him?) He and I graduated in 1979. We had lost touch then, but shortly after he returned to Pittsburgh in 1995, we renewed our friendship. He’s married to a nice lady named [Morra], who works at Pittsburgh Vision Services (used to be The Greater Pittsburgh Guild For The Blind). They have a nice home in McKees Rocks.
On the skates: Back in 1997 when I moved to Philadelphia, I purchased a pair of rollerblades and was really into doing that for a year or two. Haven’t been on them in about 5 years. But I could probably still do them.
The week after I bought them, I remember trying to stand up in them. A little harder than skates because of the way all four wheels are in a single line, as opposed to in two groups of two. The apartment complex where I lived at the time had a large cement court yard. Great place to practice. So I’d go down there and trip and stumble around every night after work, until I could finally stand without holding on to a lamp post. These ladies used to sunbathe there too and I think they got a big kick out of seeing me so wobbly but determined to learn to blade well. No, I don’t think I’ll bring them to alumni weekend, although those big long halls would make for a nice place to glide around in. They’re kind of heavy to carry around. Nope. I’ll leave them here at home.
It’s a very sunny, low-humidity day here today. I’m going to pay some bills and do some laundry. So take care and I’ll call you again soon. Your voice hasn’t changed much at all. Write when you can.
