Dear Alice,

Thank you very much for your very nice letter, which seems to tell me that
you are well. Your letter would have made Margaret very happy, because she
cared so much for you. your letter pleases me especially insofar as it means that
you and I have finally established at least a rudimentary communication. In the
past several months, I have been reminded of you very often, because I have been 
reading and scanning into the computer copies of all the letters which Margaret 
wrote - she tried to make carbon copies of all he letters and she wrote many 
letters to you, so that I have many reminders.

Since Margaret died seven hundred-ninety-six days ago, or nineteen-thousand-ninety-two
hours ago, I have been living in the past, reading and rereading the letters we exchanged,
looking at photographs of her - the letters and photos, as well as in cardboard boxes,
are now all in computer files where I can look at then and read them on the computer
screen simply by pecking on the keyboard, thinking about her and thinking about the past, 
and writing down - mostly in German - what I think and feel.

I am a survivor. Four weeks ago the only cousin who had remained in touch with me died,
and so, within in the past six years, did the last two remaining friends of my childhood. 
(I never had very many.) My only sister died eight years ago, my mother died twenty-seven years
ago, my father died thirty years ago, - and come next March 21, it will be my time, because
then I will be as old as he was when he died.

I live in solitude, but I am not at all lonely. On both sides of my large, somewhat dilapidated
house I have very nice neighbors who, when they think I have seen them first, smile at me from 
afar and wave to me from across the low hedge. They will let me die in peace. In fact it will 
be several days before they notice the inactivity and call the police to re-establish social 
decorum. Meanwhile I spend most of my waking hours staying happy and content by writing to 
myself, which is even better than talking to myself, because my memory is poor, to read what 
I had forgotten I ever wrote is like being talked to by someone who likes me. Sort of like
looking in the mirror and realising I'm not alone.

Probably I should stop here, because if I started to recite what I write about, my letter
would never end. If and when you decide to reply, our correspondence will continue; because
I promise to answer every letter, as long as I am able. My telephone numbers are 617-489-1043
and 617-548-5768. My e-mail address is ernstmeyer@earthlink.net. Stay happy and well. My very
best wishes for Christmas, for the New Year, and forever, to yourself and to Fred.

Love, Jochen