Gene & I showed up at Caltech together, became room-mates, and ... well you know how when you meet two people at the same time, sometimes you mix up their names? That was our fate. Gene learned to answer to "Rob" or "Drew", I learned to answer to "Smitty" or "Gene". Some sophomores gave up and called us "the twins", others more literately gifted came up with their own names for us: Butch & Sundance, Barney & Clyde, Crusader (Rabbit) & Rags (the Tiger), Batman and well that one was obvious. Over the summer of '66 Gene had a job at Kitt Peak, and I came across some letters we exchanged. Herewith some "Gene-esque" excerpts. June 29, 1966 Dear Crusader, Don't have much time but wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the help while I was clearing out of school. I sent for my finals & got back a lovely Christmas present from Dean Strong. I was excused from all finals except English! Edmond passed me (in Physics 1). I could almost kiss him - almost! I feel so relieved. There's been little word about my Dad. They believe the crew may have had time to bail out but since it was dark, the other planes couldn't see. The plane crashed in an area of high concentration of enemy troops, so now there is some speculation he may be a POW. My mom firmly believes he's still alive and its only a matter of time. I've started work and it's really fantastic. I'm really learning a lot (and the money is nice too!) I'm locating lines on spectral plates and computer programming. I'm in the middle of my third program. I think I've done everything possible wrong so far, but I'm learning quickly what one can't do. Love & Kisses, Rags PS. I think I've found a rug. Let me know if you come up with anything. -- July 14th Dear Crusader, I've developed a new game, I call it Chameleon. You see while you're laying in the sun - not doin' nothin' - you fall asleep. When you wake up you've changed colors to a bright red! (The game still has some inherent flaws, I'm afraid). I've enclosed a picture of my "neato-jet" telescope" (60" solar). Dr Pierce is trying to find a small project for me to work on and I'll get my own observing time. ... Still no word about my Dad - except that wherever he is he's a Lt Col now. Haven't gotten around to my English final yet. I did manage to read two of Brecht's plays last week. Me & the computer are beginning to get along, but yesterday I blew my fourth fuse. I am learning things ... don't try to store 40,000 numbers in a machine with 32,000 storage spaces. As always, Rags (alias Batman) -- August 11, 1966 Dear Flop-ears, I am up here at Kitt Peak playing Solar Astronomer with the biggest toy in the world. Also learning to be useful doing machine work and getting experience in the dark room. Man they never told me astronomers had to work! ... It's reasonably busy during the day but you should see the evenings. One night I counted 12 people at dinner. Still the cash comes roling (well, trickling) in towards my car. I'm hoping to get a Chevy II Nova if the price is right. They've got a cop up here who's a regular Fig (Caltech Officer "Fig" Newton). He's not a real cop, just a mountain employee who plays cop. He drives around in a yellow jeep with a big red light and siren trying to enforce the laws about no swimming in the trout lake - which we do every evening about 9:00. It's really great, about 1/4 mile across and just cool enough to be comfortable. Must close and get back to my spectral lines so's they'll let me stay on this godforsaken mountain and play with my toys. Tiger Paws (insert feetprints here) -- Sept 14, 1966 Dear Woommate, My summer is now complete. I have achieved the highest pinnicle in my quest for fulfillment. Striking a blow for humanity I just blew the whole Kitt Peak CDC3200 computer system. Those fuses were nothing compared to this! I've earned over $1000 this summer, though it's all being distributed to Uncle Sam, Caltech, and Murray Bryant Chevrolet. I've got to tell you about my car! It's a '66 Chevelle, blue & white with a blue interior, 6 cylinder 230 cu in and 140 H.P. Regular transmission, radio and heater of course, & not much else. It is a roomy car though and a little more solid than a '66 Mustang (a lot cheaper, too!) I have managed to come up with a rug & pad for our room, along with a few other odds & ends. The rug is not an awful lot, its like those two small ones only bigger... There are also a couple of weird wooden masks from Mexico & a picture of Mt Fuji. I have no idea how this stuff will fit, but I'm bringing it anyway. I'm planning on getting to Tech sometime Tuesday the 20th. I'll leave here about 2 or 3 AM and should be in Pasadena about 8-9 hours later. Also, believe it or not, I miss the place. Had hardly thought about school until the other evening when I was blasting out the neighbors with the BF4 ("I fought the Law") and I could hardly wait. Needless to say I've all ready read Feynman II & III, the Thermo Text & done all the problems for those & Math, too ... Must close for now. Will see you soon provided I'm still alive. I've come down with a sudden case of the creeping liberalisms. As Always, Batman (bat symbol)