http://home.earthlink.net/~ernstmeyer
madhuri.pandey@gmail.com

Dear Madhuri,

Pleasant as it was to lapse into conversation with a complete stranger
on Sun Country flight 254 from Boston to Minneapolis, it is even more
pleasant to receive an e-mail from you, now no longer a stranger, 
on my return home.

My three days in Minneapolis were very strenuous; my cousin is very ill
and her apartment is in desperate need of rehabilitation. I worked as
hard as my 87 years would let me. One does what one can, even when what
one can is not enough.

It is quite possible that I will be flying back to Minnesota as early
as this coming weekend, and yet the statistical probability that we should
again encounter each other on the plane is virtually infinitesimal. The
probability, on the other hand, that we should begin to try to communicate
with each other, depends largely on your priorities. 

Potentially subject to communication are our respective experiences. The
German language recognizes two facets of experience: "Erfahrung" is the word
used to describe the changes which the days and weeks of our lives produce
in our understanding of the world.  "Erleben" is the word used to describe 
the changes which the days and weeks of our lives produce in our understanding 
of ourselves. 

Sincerely,
Jochen Meyer