Anne,

I too hope our correspondence will continue, and see no reason why it shouldn't.
My mind flourishes in the exchange of ideas; I recognize, however, there can be
too much of a good thing, and I haven't yet found an epistolary partner who
hasn't become exasperated or exhausted by my verbiage and given up.

I'm acutely aware of the turmoil and anguish in your life precipitated by
Dan's illnesses. I understand that my concerns are trivial in comparison.
Each morning when I awaken a new appeals court argument ricochets in my
brain and disappears before I even have time to write it down. All the 
better, because you wouldn't approve.

My immediate concern is preparing my house for a four day visit at 
Christmas time by three Viennese musicians named Marco, Ariadne
and Cristina Basili, whom Nathaniel has invited; Cristina being
a cellist of Nathaniel's age with whose cello playing (if nothing else?)
Nathaniel is enchanted and whom he has invited to perform solo at
Christmas concerts in Belmont and Cambridge, which Nathaniel is
organizing and conducting. Marco and Ariadne are Cristinas parents.

In cleaning out the closet of one of the nine bedrooms in this house 
(speaking of equity, by what logic do I need bedrooms nos. 10,11,12,13 
on Nantucket?? (actually bedrooms nos 16,17,18,19, the Virginia house
included)) and this for one decrepit crippled widower - where there are
so many homeless human beings in the world. There is no justice, and
heaven help me if there were. - In cleaning out the closet, I found
the letter attached, which my wife Margaret, who as you know died
October 14, 2015, wrote 26 years ago to one Gertraud Strangfeld in
Kierspe, Germany, the daughter of my first grade teacher. Gertraud had
rediscovered me and had invited Margaret and me to visit. I consider
it highly appropriate that I should send you this letter, which 
Margaret composed for a stranger, to introduce her to you even now.
(You will notice that Margaret refers to me as Jochen - the name used
for me by my family. "Ernst J.", was discovered by the Harvard registrar
in 1946 and has become my official name. You're welcome to address me by 
either one.)

That's all at this time. There's more cleaning up to do. On its website
http://www.ma-appellatecourts.org/search_number.php?dno=2016-P-0221&get=Search
the appeals court has published the briefs in the case. The Hearing
is on Nov 17, at 9:30 a.m. Courtroom 4, John Adams Courthouse,
Pemberton Square in Government Center.

Ernst (or Jochen) or both.