Dear Marion,

Thank you for your letter. I find it awkward to comment
on your visit, because I dislike superlatives. Margaret
and I hope that you will come again, soon, and develop
attachments to Belmont - Konnarock, perhaps even Nantucket
as preferred destinations, - Reiseziele, - I won't write
"vacation resorts", because I don't like vacations, and
I don't like resorts. As for your being a self-confessed
"pleasure-seeker", that, as Konnarock locals would say, 
is o.k. by me. When it comes to pleasure, I switch from
Plato, - who would have thought pleasure was naughty, - 
to Aristotle, who would have thought that pleasure was
natural. However that may be, being told that your visit
with us was pleasurable without qualifications is flattering,
and one enjoys being flattered. So, thank you for the visit,
and for your tolerance of the many characteristics of us
and of our house that might call for criticism.

In about half an hour, Margaret and I will drive to the
"Beech Street Center" to listen to the second rehearsal 
of Nathaniel's orchestra. Yesterday, instead of rehearsing,
Nathaniel drove the three of his players who are rooming in
our house, to Halibut Point on Cape Ann. Just why the hiatus
in musical activity, I don't know. With five licensed drivers
and one learner's permit, and only three automobiles, - not
counting the one on Nantucket, which has now been repaired, -
there is a shortage of cars. I had planned to go car-shopping
yesterday, but couldn't - because I didn't have a car. I'll
try again today.

Meanwhile my novel, as might be expected, has been languishing,
but it's high on my agenda, and I keep telling myself, I should
be able to resume work on it in a day or two. In case I don't
get to a letter tomorrow, here are my "happy birthday" wishes
in anticipation.

Jochen