Dear Anne,

Thanks for your e-mail. It's good to be back in touch.
The adverse appeals court ruling did not and does not 
trouble me. When I go to court, I'm prepared to lose;
I consider it undignified to argue with the umpire and
cry "Not fair!". From the very beginning, when I bought
the land in 1970, I've pursued my Nantucket project with
a view to what would be best for the family, and what
happens next depends on how they want to proceed. There
are, as usual, a number of options.

As for myself, considering my 87 years, my health is better
than I deserve. Arthritis - what medical school taught me
to call "degenerative joint disease" limits the motion of my
hips, makes walking slow, but doesn't hurt. So far as I
can tell, my mind is still functioning, but if it weren't
I'd be the last to know.

I spend almost all of my waking time writing - all of it in
German. A few months ago, I wrote two sonnet cycles aggregating
195 poems, which I very much enjoy reading. I've recorded them
on CD's and often listen to myself when I'm driving - something
Narcissus never thought of. My present project is volume eight
in my series of novels, which gives me an opportunity to expand
on what I've learned about the bureaucracy and the courts. -
All in German, and veiled in fantasy, so no one will take 
offense even if they could read German.

That's all I have on my mind right now, so I'll get back to 
fantasy writing and bid you good night.

Jochen