To Peter McPhedran:

Thank you for keeping us informed.  Margaret is well: she is supervising the long longed-for invasion from next door.  I am helping Klemens carry over and set up the children's beds.  Last night only Leah and Rebekah slept here.  tonight Benjamin and Nathaniel will as well.  Their parents probably on Sunday.  I'm likely repeating myself when I relate that two or three weeks ago, I confided to Rebekah that I had added to the polyurethane in the floors some magical substance, emenations from which would make it impossible for anyone who had moved in ever to move out. My more sober calculation is that if after 6 weeks anyone wishes to stay, I shall be very happy, and that after six weeks, I will also be happy to see anyone leave, who does not wish to stay.

Never having held a professorship, I don't know how it feels to give it up; but I would suspect that giving it away was a much lesser loss for you than acquiring it, years ago, seemed like a gain.

My own professional career has seemed to me like that of a fraudulent magician, and I have consistently invoked Shakespeare to comfort me:


    EPILOGUE SPOKEN BY PROSPERO
    Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
    And what strength I have's mine own,
    Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
    I must be here confined by you,
    Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
    Since I have my dukedom got
    And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
    In this bare island by your spell;
    But release me from my bands
    With the help of your good hands:
    Gentle breath of yours my sails
    Must fill, or else my project fails,
    Which was to please. Now I want
    Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
    And my ending is despair,
    Unless I be relieved by prayer,
    Which pierces so that it assaults
    Mercy itself and frees all faults.
    As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
    Let your indulgence set me free.
                            (Tempest, Act V)

Since your income is now reduced by 80%, you need an inexpensive place to vacation: and that's where our house in Virginia comes in. It is available to you virtually year around. Most of the time it stands empty. When my sister is there, she desperately needs company, from anyone but her brother. When Margaret and I are there, we'd love to have you. If you were there by yourselves, you'd probably like it best of all.  There are 1435 gal. of fuel oil in the 2000 gal underground tank which need to be used up before the tank starts leaking and contaminating the neighbor's well. No turtles, but a family of gentle and friendly garter snakes in the basement is awaiting your arrival.