Dear Marion,

Klemens, Laura and Leah left for Belmont at 5 a.m. this
morning, planning to travel via Monticello and the
Smithsonian Institution. I awoke early to see them off
and have been up since, with nothing more than a 45
minute nap bent over the keyboard in midmorning. It was,
for my dialectical spirit, a very satisfactory visit.
Klemens was more tranquil and relaxed than usual. Laura
was unusually friendly and accomodating. Margaret and I
both get the impression that after 26 years of marriage
to Klemens, Laura has finally discovered at least a minimum
of virtues in her parents-in-law. 

For me the high point of the visit was a teaching moment,
a discussion with Leah who had her mind set on preparing
pancakes for breakfast and who was offended by my purchases
of corn syrup rather than maple syrup. While flipping pancakes
Leah launched a verbal attack on me: Yoyo, why do you buy
this terrible corn syrup instead of maple syrup? opening an
opportunity for me to explain that maple syrup was five times
as expensive as corn syrup, and that the difference in taste 
at least to my palate did not warrant the expense. I told Leah
she did not understand the value of money because she had never
been poor, and that wealth was created not only by making lots
of money but also by using wisely and thoughtfully what one has.

What troubled Leah most was that I so obviously enjoyed our debate
and this because of my memories of my youth when my parents and I
often had intense, and sometimes painful discussions - Auseinander-
setzungen ist der rechte Ausdruck, - in th same kitchen, around the
same kitchen table. I'm much aware that it was my parents' penchant
for rigorous exchanges of ideas which was the soil that nourished
my intelligence. My gratitude has never ceased. Leah was upset. Her
making a moral issue of the supposed environmental destruction
wrought by the manufacture of corn syrup put her in a ridiculous
position which she was intelligent enough to perceive.
Understandably she blamed me for making fun of her, stormed out of
the kitchen (like Charlotte) and walked down the road. She didn't
come to supper. But this morning as she was getting into the car
she gave me an especially fervent hug, which I reciprocated.
I thanked her for coming. I said: "Leah, the best part was the
argument. Let's do it again."

At this juncture the future is too hazy that I could
be certain whether, when you pass through Boston on your return
from France on August 7, we will be in Belmont or in Konnarock.
My intuition in this regard fluctuates from day to day.
The tentative date for the plumbing board hearing is May 29.
The date for the Superior Court hearing has been set for August 29.
This evening I suspect that we will remain here in Virginia
until about May 25. Then a few days after the May 29th hearing, 
we will return to Konnarock. I expect the decision of the plumbing
board to be issued sometime in June and to be adverse. As a
consequence I will need time to prepare a rebuttal for the
August 29th Superior Court hearing. I'll most likely be jittery
and want to be in Belmont with my fast Internet connection to
find the legal citations.

If you'd like to read what I composed this morning, the beginning
of Chapter 53 in English, you may find it at
http://home.earthlink.net/~ej1meyer/freunde/e053.html
The German, which I like much better, is at
http://home.earthlink.net/~ej1meyer/freunde/f053.html

I hope the lack of a letter from you doesn't mean that you
are ill. Please stay well.

Jochen