Dear Marion,

Earlier in the week, when I tried to answer your letter,
this computer which is far from well behaved, lost the script.
I hope this attempt at writing is more successful.

I'm making a diligent attempt at emptying this apartment by
January 31, so as to avoid having to pay another month's
rent. Whether I will succeed, remains to be seen. The as yet
unanswered  question is how to dispose of the large pieces of
furniture, two couches, a double bed, various tables and chairs,
two dressers, -  much too heavy for me to lift, and much too
bulky to fit into the minivan.

Then there's Margrit's collection of numerous small sculptures
and fifty-five framed prints with which Margrit has decorated
the walls. Unless I'm badly mistaken, Margrit was anything but
a sophisticated collector, but who knows, - perhaps what she
assembled does have some financial value. I will take all the
art work to Belmont with me on the return trip. A patient of
mine who deals in such items, has promised to help me manage 
rationally what I have inherited. Books, cooking utensils,
crockery and carpets for which there will be no room on the
initial return, I will put into a storage area that I can rent
in this large apartment building.

As you may surmise, the pressures of the work do be done  have
disrupted trains of feeling and of thought, making it difficult
to write anything but perfunctory letters. If I had leisure and
energy, there would be much to tell, but for now, this will have
to do.

Jochen