Stanford 

Feb 13, 1962.  Letter to parents

Sehr geehrte Eltern!

Thanks for writing and giving me the spring situation full blast. And now I blast you back: I am spending my entire spring vacation with you (unless things get touchy).  This means I drive to Paris after finals, arriving around 17–18–19 of March (I’ll be more specific later in the quarter), and stay in your hotel, either by myself or with jeep. Youth hostels are out: can only stay in them for less than four consecutive nights, have to be in by nine, etc. Please plan everything for me. And, remember, I’m welcome, because I’m your middle son and you love me. I’ll hit Greece with Haas this summer, when the weather is warmer. By the way, since I’ll have wheels, you need not worry about keeping me interested – I’m sure our way will part now and then, in fact.  But Spain sounds like fun, and you speak French, so it should be a wild three weeks.

I had a blast in Rome, but I can tell you about it this Spring. Since you’re there now, let seasoned traveler Edwards, who knows Rome backwards and forwards, recommend a few points of interest to the average tourist: Enrico Verducci's A week in Rome: a New Guide to Rome for 3000 lira. Sorry, no more tips.

Everything up here is doing fine. Our literature course is very good: the professor, Boeninger, merely tells a little of the history of the books and their authors, and their places in the contemporary European literature, and leaves the reading to us, dank gott.  We finished a little Rilke, Döblin, Remarque, and Hauptmann, and are now diving into Hesse.  Mazour’s Modern European History is, unfortunately, a flop. The text is great, but his lectures are absolutely worthless: no organization, thought, or content. But lots of laughs, so no one complains.

The deutsche sprache is coming along favorably. I now get any thought I want across to a German; five more months and I may even develop some fluency.

Last weekend we were given a gorgeous tour at The Daimler Benz factory in Untertuerkheim, plus, a free meal, and souvenirs. Those cars are built well, I would say. The rest of weekend (Saturday and Sunday) was spent in Austria on a little ski weekend with some German students. This about does it, between me and the snow that is, until perhaps next winter.  there’s plenty else to do around here.

Tomorrow, another concert (Mozart, Purcell, Hindemith, and a Hayden Flute soloist), Thursday evening with my “family“: the father plays cello, the daughter piano, and I’m bringing my flute and hopes.  And then another three day - this time at the Fasching.  Can’t figure out why you didn’t get along with the Germans, Eltern, but I’m beginning to think that time and the German language may have something to do with it. Must work now..

Sam