July 28, 1973

My dear Shelly,

Why don’t you give up on New York City and come back to Chicago and Highland Park. Besides that, quit smoking. It is a bad habit and can lead only to health troubles. We are going to be in Washington D.C. on August 19th … We expect to be in there only one day. But that does not mean that I have given up on you. I expect to be in New York City after that. Or better still, maybe you can come here and we can go to California together providing there is no gas shortage.

Michael is going into the business of painting houses. He is going into it with 2 partners. They are doing mostly exteriors or whatever else comes along. They are calling the business “RENAISSANCE PAINTERS”.

Love, Mom,

Dad, Chuck & Mike

October 9, 1972

My dear Shelly,

My anxiety for your success increases in proportion as the time approaches of you taking your part upon the great stage of the world. The audience will form their opinion of you upon your first appearance (making the proper allowances for your inexperience), and so far it will be final. Alexander Pope has written in his essays –

“A little learning is a dangerous thing.

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.”

Alas and alack! I do not agree with Alexander. I think that the cultured man of the world should have a smattering of acquaintance with all trades, civilizations, and handicrafts. A little bit of Paris and London. A touch of Barcelona and Cadiz. A twinkling knowledge of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. And then again Alaska. Which we have a flying acquaintance with.

I presume you will be in New York when you get this letter. Where else - mi querida Chiquita?

We look forward to your visit to the country of your youth! Then again, we look forward to your traveling to Israel, where once you spoke the language of the Bible.

Dad