631 words
[Prien]
25 August 1982
Dearest Beryl,
I thank you immensely for the photocopy of my cat book. That was the best thing you could ever give me. The cats’ photos came out beautifully. Only a stripe of text on the left (even numbered) pages did not come out at all: I had to make it up again partly from the context and partly through common sense. But some words are still missing: the first line on page 70 I could not correct properly. On another even numbered page [illegible] line the word son makes no sense. Must be part of another word, half absent. But I don’t remember the page to ask you.
I am afraid many words have been put back clumsily — my paralyzed hand can’t do that work properly. Anyhow, I am so glad to have the book. I read it again. (Had to, for the blanks to be put right.) You can hardly realize how that picture, that so accurate picture of 15 years of my life (1942-57) has moved me! I can only be happy with cats around me, to feed and love.
As Herr Küster has only coloured photos of me and the Greek consulate want black and white ones — they say so in the letter in Greek which you sent me — I regot photographed. I expect to have the photos on Friday. Shall send them to you with a letter for the consulate
Am sorry that Herr Rau could not put me up for a single day and night. I expected he could as he wrote he would put up my friend Miss Hirn if she came over. So why not me? I am not such a cripple as that: can walk about pushing my chair, wash myself, can cook my own food if allowed to and if given very simple ingredients.
Here I have only raw stuff. Frau Asmus is a “health fanatic” and a health missionary. As a result, as soon as I get my passport and go, the first thing I’ll do will be — at the first opportunity, to sit at a restaurant and order a portion of fried potatoes (pommes de terre frites, i.e., chips) or if it be one of the Greek restaurants in München, a tomato stuffed with rice and raisins and cooked in olive oil. Frau Asmus did cook mashed tomatoes once or twice for me but so reluctantly that I never suggested it again. She believes any cooked food has no nutritive value — as though I cared, I who have one foot in the grave and eat only for the taste of it!
Still I like her on account of our common faith.
Has M. K. wrote to you again? I must write to him about my USA tour. When I have a visa for USA and a ticket perhaps a short stay in England via Paris (and Nantes where Y. [Yves] Jeanne lives) will be easier.
I can well understand your statement about Joe Jones. I always admired Mrs. Jones: the faithful, long-suffering, saintly heroine of duty. She has all the qualities of so many Hindu women. I met some (one especially, Mrs. Seel) exactly like her. I only wish her from the bottom of my heart to get full satisfaction from her children. I’d be glad to meet her (and even him — with all his shortcomings, he is still “one of us”). But I would of course stay with Muriel Gantry.
Can you come on the week end? And bring me back the article and booklet (by Degrelle) that I lent him? Perhaps he could bring you in his car — and I would give you the photos and a letter. If you are coming let Frau Asmus know.
With the best of all Greetings and renewed, most hearty thanks,
Your,
Savitri