But having said that, do you really think it will be a good idea for you to move to Waitsfield or Warren in September? You won’t know anyone, and what will you do until ski season begins? You’ve always said the skiing is much better out west. If you want to spend a year as a ski bum, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to go to someplace like Aspen or Vail? Maybe being a ski bum next year would be a good thing and give you time to figure out what you want to do with your life.

Also, is there anything new regarding the draft? Are you still pursuing the moral code conscientious objector route? How’s it going? Whatever you do, please, please don’t let yourself be drafted.

Finally, are you sure you want to come all the way up here just for a day? It seems so far to come, and even though it’s my day off, I recently found out that I have to be back by dinnertime because we’re putting on a production of The Wizard of Oz that night and I’m in charge of costumes. So I’ll only be able to see you from around eight in the morning until five. I’m not really sure what the point of it will be.

For the second time this summer, tears followed the reading (mine not hers). I’ve never missed anyone as much as I miss her, and yet she didn’t write a word about missing me. Even worse, it’s pretty obvious she doesn’t think it’s a good idea for me to move near Middlebury in the fall. Not only that, it sounds like she doesn’t even want me to come up to visit her at camp. In her last letter, she talked about how uncomfortable she was with the way things are, and I wrote back that I could change. And I have. On any given day, I probably smoke less than half a pack, and I’ve cut way back on the grass, too. Haven’t dropped acid since the Zeppelin concert. Big steps toward clean living. (Maybe I’ll start drinking carrot juice next. Musclini would be thrilled.)