December 8, 1995

Dear Klemens and Laura,
.PP
In the context of Margaret's and and my decision
to transfer before the end of the year
ten thousand dollars to each of you
and to each of the three children,
and in the context of the recent purchase
of the Steinway grand piano,
I thought a brief summary of the family finances
in which we are cooperating would be helpful. 
The contemplated transfers are gifts, pure and simple,
without strings attached. 
Margaret and I take it for granted
that if either of us were ever financially embarrassed,
you would help us out, 
in whatever way, and to whatever extent
you then deemed appropriate,
but there is no legal obligation.
.PP
You will forgive me if,
to avoid misunderstanding, I point out,
that the transfer of 178 School Street
occurred on different terms.
That house, as you know,
I had originally bought for my parents.
At the time of your marriage, 
I transferred it to Klemens
with the understanding and on the condition
that both of you would reside there,
and that so long as we were living next door,
you would provide us with the assistance
which older individuals invariably require
if they are to continue
to live in their own home until their deaths
and to avoid the anguish of moving,
or being moved, into a nursing home.
We also agreed that if for any reasons
you should ever find it necessary to move from 178 School Street,
Margaret and I would accompany you
and we would try to reproduce the functional utility
of the present living arrangements
which are so beneficial to us,
nd which are worth much more to us
than the market value of the property which we transferred.
.PP
The first seven and a half years of our community
have been very satisfactory for Margaret and me,
and I believe for you and the children also.
I am confident that the coming months, years, decades, -
who know how long we will live, -
will be equally rewarding,
and I am confident also that none of us
will ever regret our contract.
.PP
I have already written in a similar vein in German 
to Klemens, but the issues that I touch upon are 
important to Laura as well, and that is why I thought
a letter in English would not be inappropriate.