Dear Marion,

Thank you for your letter. A postscript about the contrast
between artificial, invented language and spontaneous language:
I infer from your report that by no means all, but much modern
Hebrew has been consciously, deliberately elaborated and engrafted
on an ancient tradition in order to create a language that will
serve the needs of modern men and women in contemporary society.
If my understanding is correct, then perhaps one should listen to
modern Hebrew as one might listen to Esperanto or to one of the
other invented languages about whose existence I have nothing but
the vaguest of memories. Come to think of it, modern science and
technology are similarly prolific in spawning new words, new concepts,
new functions. Consider the exotic, contrived vocabularies for 
example of molecular biology, pharmaceutics, bacteriology, - to 
name only a few. In my experience, it doesn't take long for invented
words to sound as compelling as those which have evolved naturally.

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion that Margaret and I should
spend the nights on Nantucket in warm, comfortable accommodations.
We may indeed end up doing just that. Margaret has decided that we
should go. We've not yet set the date. Initially we would plan to
stay for only two or at most three nights, long enough for me to
survey what little wiring remains to be done and to get an idea of
the materials I need to purchase. To the best of my knowledge all 
that is necessary is to replace the no. 14-2 wiring to kitchen and 
dining room receptacles with the heavier 12-2 wires, to install an
exhaust fan in each of the four bathrooms, to install three outside
weatherproof receptacles, and to install a light just outside each
of three outside doors. If I don't run into technical problems, the
work shouldn't take more than two or three days, even considering
the snail's pace at which in old age my work proceeds.

The Pirates of Penzance impressed me, when I listened to it about
five years ago, as a very charming operetta. I hope you and Judy
enjoy the performance.

Jochen