Dear Cyndy,

Time rushes so violently and events occur so precipitously that I find 
myself unable to maintain the historical record which life deserves.
Since June 15, the last date on which according to my computer files
I wrote to you,our lives have changed drastically, in that Margaret is
no longer able to stand or to walk. 

It happened on June 25, two days before I turned 85. The late supper 
which I had prepared at about 9 p.m. consisted, if I remember correctly
of potatoes, cauliflower, and ground beef. After I had put away the
dishes, Margaret said she was not ready to go to bed. At 10 p.m. we 
went together to my third floor study where I might work at the 
computer. Margaret sat next to me. Intermittently we held hands. 
At midnight, when she said she wanted to go to bed, it became apparent 
that she was unable to get up out of the wheeled office chair in which 
she had been sitting. I rolled the chair next to an unused bed in the 
adjacent room, but even with my help, Margaret was unable to move.
I telephoned Klemens, but Laura, my daughter in law declined to wake 
him. Instead she came herself, helped me hoist Margaret into bed, and 
provided me with an air mattress on which I might spend the night in 
the same room. Laura urged me to get help to take care of Margaret.

The next morning on Friday June 26, I succeeded in getting Margaret
into a chair. Nathaniel helped me move a second twin bed into the
room where Margaret was now sleeping. I ordered an hydraulic patient 
lift, delivery of which was promised in 3 to 5 business days. I was 
able to manage the transfers between the bed and the chair until the
evening of June 28th, when Margaret slipped out of my arms and 
descended to the floor. It was a controlled, gentle landing, she was
not hurt. I rolled her onto the deflated air mattress, on which, once
it was pumped up, she was able to rest comfortably. She did not complain
about her inability to sit or to walk. She refused both food and drink.
Aside from calling on the fire department to carry Margaret down the 
two flights of stairs to have her taken to the hospital, there was 
nothing we could do but but await delivery of the hydraulic lift.
Meanwhile in the night of June 29, there was a further complication.
In attempting to reposition the adjacent bed, I accidentally punctured
the air mattress. Margaret was now lying on the hard wooden floor.
but with some effort I succeeded in maneuvering her onto a mattress 
placed next to her, on which she spent the next three days.

Finally on July 2, at 4 p.m., the hydraulic lift was delivered.
As soon as I assembled it, I discovered the sling and the chain
to be missing. The local medical supply store was closed until
the next morning, when I was able to buy a substitute sling.
At Home Depot I bought two 3 foot sections of heavy chain, and
managed finally with Klemens' help, by means of the hydraulic lift 
to get Margaret off the floor and onto her bed.

Now I am able to hoist Margaret from the bed to a chair where she
spends much of the day. She has eaten virtually nothing for the
past 11 days. Her fluid intake has been less than half of the
theoretically required minimum. Surprisingly she is in no distress,
tells me that she is "feeling alright", and hallucinates that we will
have trouble getting the key to the gate. I assure her that because
of my acquaintance with the gate keeper, we need no key. With some
anticipation I ask, the gate to what? - Her reply, the gate to the
animal zoo. She has the right idea.

As for yourself, have a safe and satisfactory trip to Canaan, -
and give my regards to Ned.

Jochen