In case you don't know or remember what it was like back then...

This is a letter sent by my wife as a child to her cousins. It is mostly a frantic plea to help in the gaming exploits of she and her brother John.

This is when gaming (software) and computer technology (hardware) was taking off, but the communications revolution wasn't as mainstream (no internet, pay by the minute long-distance phone calls). 

Man those freaking disks were SO annoying! The prevalence of "copying as benevolence" in those days is so telling of where we would end up.

Thanks to the lovely Amy for finding this. I'll be forever thankful... And thank you to my lovely nerdy wife, who makes me happy in so many ways.

Scans and transcription below:







[Page 1]
Dear Alan and Amy,

Alan will be happy to hear that the stopsign [sic] at the intersection of Highland and Maine is no longer blocked! They cut off that limb about two days after you left!

Kenny is here for a week. He is asleep now probably still recouperating [sic] from yesterday. We went to a lake with a rope swing and pulled muscles in our arms and got sunburned.

We may not have fireworks next year because at the big Columbus display a woman was killed. This may not be true, we may still have fireworks, but mom thought we ought to tell you.

As you can see we're sending you the Treasure Island disk B. We just figured out how to get

--->

 [Page 2]
past the drunken sailor and saw land, we inserted disk B and it just kept saying "Put disk B in drive A and press any key to start." We did and it just said it again. Could you try to recopy disk B and send it to us. We really want to get on the island!

We've also been enjoying space quest, but we are stuck. We got away from the spider, across the grate, opened the door, found and exit in the acid pool room, but how do you get past those beams?!!!

Also did you know that in the cartridge room if you "look at panel" it shows a cartridge slot. But everytime [sic] we try to insert the cartridge an alien comes in and shoots us. Is there any way to lock the door? What can we do to keep the alien away?

[Page 3]
Is there any way you can send me a copy of your friends map of Zork I?

How are you guys doing on Mercinary? Have you gotten to the Colony craft yet? We still haven't, if you have how?

What have you guys been doing lately? Are you ready for school to start? I know I'm not!

I still don't know if I can send you a copy of the Alternative Reality game. They sent it back to us and it still doesn't work. When we get a good one I'll try to copy it for you!

Love always,
Mary Powell

P.S. Please Write Back Soon! We are eager to get farther in those games!

Flickr Set.

Another evening

Sam and Richardson Bay, originally uploaded by Cameron Maddux.

Sam with a stick by Richardson Bay.

Perfect Life

I don't know what is next, but I think it'll look like this:

NW Apt.

Band Of Horses | MySpace Music Videos

I'm getting excited about seeing Band of Horses next week!