October 2, 2005

Liebe Margrit,

Sometimes, I think, a letter is better than a conversation.

I want to apologize for starting to pack up when you didn't neaten up the study. That was childish, but in some respects I will never grow up, and I suspect this is one of them. 

I am sorry you were not comfortable during the week we spent together in Konnarock. I guess none of us was; but for me our being together was still a meaningful reminder and recapitulation of our family life when Mutti and Papa were alive; and I think we should on occasion be in Konnarock together, but, as I am sure you will agree, not all the time.

With respect to the immediate future, before Margaret and I leave on October 3, we will close up the house for the winter, but in such a way that you can stay there over night or as long as you want to, when you come back to fetch your things to take to Detroit. I spoke to Jeane about draining the water after you have left, and replacing the anti-freeze in the toilet bowl in the pink bathroom (which is the only one that should be used) and in the sinks in that bathroom, in the kitchen and in the basement. Jeane asked me to write out the instructions for closing the house. That was easy for me to do, since the repair parts for my printer were finally delivered on Saturday, and I managed to get it repaired.

Beyond your return visits this fall, you should consider the Konnarock house available to you year round, and specifically all of next summer. Klemens doesn't yet know what they will do in April. Rebekah and Nathaniel will be travelling to Vienna and Budapest with the school orchestra. Margaret and I might come during any two week period in the summer when you tell us that we will not be in your way.

With respect to your buying the small car, I want to repeat what I have already said, namely that I am not at all critical, that I think Papa, had it not been for the Nazi problem, would probably have wanted to do the same, that Mutti derived the equivalent satisfaction from the silver, the carpets, and particularly from the Fuerstenberger china, and that I see no difference between your buying the Miata, and myself acquiring as much acreage on Pond Mountain as I could afford, if Lowell Hensley had been willing to sell it to me.  I would like to pay off the debt on the car as well as any other debts that you have, if you will tell me how much and where to send the check.

My only request in this regard, is that you not incur any debts, but let me pay for any expenditures which you think you should incur; and that if you feel you should incur any financial obligations, you give me a chance to review them with you before you make them.  The agencies that lend you money are not concerned with your wellbeing; and as one gets older one may overlook the difference between borrowing $20,000 which might be manageable, and $200,000 which would be catastrophic.