Dear Alex,

Thank you very much for your letter, and thank you especially for your
gracious tolerance of my outbursts last week. My grieving for Margaret
even three months after her death is demoralizing in its pervasiveness
and tenacity, with no relief in sight. My memories of her are the life-
preserver that keeps me afloat, at least for the time being. I don't need 
to explain that if I try to share my memories, i.e., my life-preserver
with others who have no real need for it, I might drown.

I'm sad, but not angry or resentful, and I hope that Janet, Anne and Peter
will also forgive me. The sun is still high in the sky, but for me
darkness has set in and it is night.  I hope we shall all sleep well.

Jochen