Dear Marion,

Thank you for your thoughtful, sympathetic and sensitive comments
about Margrit's desire to leave. My view of the situation is very
different from yours. When I persuaded her to come to Belmont, I
promised that Margaret and I would drive her back to Konnarock,
whenever she wanted to go. There she would retrieve her car,
to drive off into the wild blue yonder. I also promised Margrit
that if she wished to fly from Boston, I would drive her to the
airport. As of now, 6:21 p.m. EST, she has not asked me to drive
her either to Konnarock or to the airport; she has told me nothing
about any plans to leave; other than, about two weeks ago, her
mentioning the Caribbean cruise that she had booked for a date in
December which only you revealed to me. I have made and I intend
to make no inquiries about her plans. I have told Margrit on
several occasions that she is free to leave whenever she wishes
and that Margaret and I will be happy to have her return at any
time.

As of this morning, inspection of her bowel movements indicates
to me that her clostridium difficile diarrhea continues.  As of
today, the diarrhea is not life threatening. When she completes
the present course of metronidazole, in about 4 to 6 days, the
diarrhea may improve, may remain unchanged, or may get more severe
and require additional metronidazole or very expensive Vancomycin
treatment.  I have explained to Margrit that her gastrointestinal
problem will take weeks or months to resolve, cannot be managed by
remote control, and that she will need to rely on local physicians.
That is what Klemens has also explained to her but much more
forcefully. Aside from the actual and potential problems caused
by the diarrhea, given her physical weakness, her difficulties
walking, and her loss of memory, no responsible physician can
condone her attempting to resume her former lifestyle.

My poor sister lives in a world of fantasy. She dithers about
hurting my feelings; reluctance to hurt my feelings has never
stood in the way of her proceeding with her plans. And concern
about hurting my feelings is not what is in her way now. What
you are witnessing is the anxiety of a human being consciously
and deliberately toying with suicide, playing Russian roulette,
and wondering whether she will get away with it one more time.

Jochen