Dear Cyndy,

It's about time I finally collected myself to write you a respectable letter.
The fact is that I've been seduced, I've been seduced by one Niels Holger Nielsen,
the father of my relatively new next door neighbor Alexander Nielsen,
associate chief counsel for W.R. Grace, etc. who thinks, - the father not the
son that I'm a great writer, and can't read enough of my prose. Starved as I've
been for decades for recognition, vain as a peacock, and addicted to the mirror
like Narcissus, I couldn't resist answering all his questions at (great) length.
The inital phase of our acquaintance seems complete; who knows what's next?

I've also been doing a bit of honest work, like repairing our old green 1997
Dodge minivan, which had been afflicted with a mysterious ailment causing its
electrical system at one moment to start the engine willingly, and the next
moment to pretend absolute death, no signal, no bulb, no light emitting diode
exuding even a minimal glow. The diagnosis, which took me much too long to
establish, was a badly corroded connection of the clamp on the positive battery
cable. What provoked the corrosion, I have no idea, but once the grit and grime
had been scraped off, the engine started immediately and with enthusiasm as if
to beg forgiveness for having led me around by the nose.

On a trip to Home Depot to purchase a seal for the leaking Nantucket door, I
make two impulse purchases which have proved very satisfactory: A $45 shop
vacuum cleaner light enough to be easily carried about the house, with which
I've already rid the first floor, then the second floor, and finally the third
floor of so much dust and so many cobwebs that there's nothing left except
myself for a Charles Addams cartoon. I also bought a $30 120V powered  
Husky air compressor which notwithstanding its throwaway price actually
works as advertised, and has obviated the necessity to drive to the gas
station to inflate the automobile tires, and has also made it possible for
me in short order to reinflate the pneumatic tires on the wheelbarrow and
the hand truck. Next I must insert two video capture cards into a surveillance
computer which I intend to take to Konnarock when Klemens drives down with us
on May 3. How long we'll stay, whether Klemens will return at a later date
to drive back with us, or whether I drive manage the return trip by myself, 
remains to be negotiated.

I never did go to Nantucket. The eight sharp video images each day are very 
reassuring; and Klemens and I decided that the small amounts of water getting 
onto the unfinished floor only in heavy rains wasn't doing enough damage to 
make a special trip worthwhile. Klemens and his family will go over early in June, 
with or without Margaret and myself, and he will address the problem at that time. 
Once I have a decision from the Appeals Court, I'll have to see about completing 
the house. Given the fact that I can't pick up a pencil off the floor, not to 
speak of getting up off the floor myself, can barely get my socks on, can no longer 
tie my shoes, and quite generally limp about like an advertisement for bilateral 
hip replacement, I have no idea how I can do what needs to be done, but confronting
the challenge will be interesting.

Obviously, Chapter 57 is still in limbo, but as soon as Herr Nielsen gets
bored with my letters, I'll try to resume production. I'll also try to do better 
about writing to you. Meanwhile enjoy the daffodils and the tulips, and give my 
best to Ned.

Jochen