Dear Alex,

Ever since about 11 p.m. last Tuesday, I've been thinking about you,
wondering how you are surviving. I try hard not to think about the election,
but when that effort fails, I feel nauseated. Nathaniel telephoned me 
yesterday; he was raging with despair. Klemens says he has stopped looking
at the newspapers and at the news on the Internet. And so have I.
I've decided on political hibernation until December 10, 2020 - if I 
live that long, which I very much hope won't be the case. I find it really
is possible to ignore "current events"; that's a discipline that makes me
much more productive in writing, - which is all I really care about.

Until the Appeals Court hearing on my Nantucket case this coming Thursday,
November 17, I won't go anywhere. How adventurous I'll feel afterwards, I
can't anticipate. I speculate that the elections results may have improved
the atmosphere for my appeal. I suspect the Court has been sensitized to
governmental mendacity, and may express its disgust by being hard on Nantucket,
Trumptown such as it is.

I find myself spending this winter in day- and night- dreams talking with
Margaret. I'm not sure the shrink would approve, but there's no law against
it. Stay as well and happy as possible under the circumstances.

Love, Jochen