Dear Cyndy,

Thank you for your letter. In the process of settling Margrit's
estate, I've been busy negotiating with the financial institutions
that held the few assets in her name. I have paid all her debts.
I'm now awaiting the death certificate of her friend Harold Atkinson
whom she named as beneficary of the two remaining accounts. When 
Harold died in 2004, Margrit made no provision for a successor,
and I suppose the institutions, TIAA-CREF and a Canadian organization
called Concentra Financial, will now pay the modest assets they are 
holding to Margrit's estate. I don't know; I'll find out.

Nothing yet from the Appeals Court about the Nantucket case. The
argument, as you may remember, was on February 10, and one of the 
assistant clerks told me the judges have 130 days to hand down an
opinion, perhaps as late as the end of June. My guess is that they've
put the case out of mind into some desk drawer or filing cabinet, and
when it's rediscovered, they will get rid of it by affirming the 
judgment of the lower court and dismissing the appeal. Their decision
won't make much difference. I suspect that with the advancing years
I've lost the energy to do much of the work that remains. But I'll
do the best I can. At this juncture, the future of the project
depends much more on the health of Margaret and myself than on
the decision of the court.

A memorial service for Margrit, attended by about 25 mourners from
Detroit and neighboring Windsor, was held early in March.  It had
been organized by the Detroit Quaker Meeting of which Margrit was
a member for many years.  A winter storm prevented Margaret and
myself from attending. As of today, I have been unable to come to
terms with Margrit's death, and a memorial service in Konnarock
would only have added to my perplexity. I'm relieved that we've
called it off.

I hope the gardening that you have in mind gives you much pleasure.
I can't think of a better way to spend the summer. Please give my
regards to Ned.

Jochen