Dear Cyndy,

Your comment that the postulate of two species of truth,
of subjective truth and objective truth, as reminiscent
of Orwell's 1984, seems to me very much to the point, perhaps
to my thinking, even more apposite than you intended. I don't
remember that I ever read more than snatches or summaries
of Orwell's book, and it's not readily available to me here
in Konnarock, but irrespective of Orwell's formulation, I've
long since concluded that our society and all society, oscillates
between anarchy and fascism. The limits are set not by legal
restraints but by technology. As of old, even today we find
privacy only in fields and forests, - perhaps in the solitude
of our homes, if they're not bugged. But isn't it naive to
ignore the possibility, if not indeed the likelihood, that our
telephone conversations are being overheard and that our e-mail
exchanges are being intercepted, that the catalogue of books
which we borrow from the library is being scanned by government
agencies to ascertain what we have on our minds? For my part,
at least, I consider it prudent not to investigate and not to
discuss certain matters, and not to permit certain interests
which I have to be identified by checking out relevant books
from the library. That's not paranoia, that's realism.
I don't think one can identify a date on which society became
totalitarian.  Consider what the New England Puritans did to
each other.  In my experience, that's how it has always been.

Please keep me informed about what you learn from Deck House.
I'm especially interested to learn how far off I was with my
price estimates. As you know, I agree with Ned that a house
in Canaan may not be practical for you; but I'm all in favor
of dreaming. That's what poetry - and literature in general -
are all about. Tell it in stories or poems or novels. If your
checkbook is securely hidden, there's no cost or penalty
associated with dreaming.

I'm sympathetic also with your concerns about various family
members, a theme that is very familiar. I do for mine what
they permit, ready to do more when they let me, but no longer
disappointed or chagrined when my help is not wanted. As for
Nathaniel, I haven't heard more from him. I doubt he's homesick.
He has been away from home a lot. I suspect he experiences his
absences from home as freedom. I hope so.

Please give my best to Ned.

Jochen