March 12 Dearest Wee This is the 3-month anniversary of my arrival at post. In some ways, it has been fantastic. In other ways bloody awful. Leaving out the bit about the Ambassador, the work has been the want of you. Your letter of March 2 just arrived. Somewhat reproachful because I haven't written enough. Given my telephone calls, I have spent more money than you have on communication. So please forgive I think about you all the time. A funny thing happened to me after my party last Wednesday. I suddenly got interested in my own apartment. Until how, it has been a dormitory, rather, , I might add, a lonely one. Saturday, my drain stopped up- too many tea leaves, I guess. Rather than just swearing and planning To call Gaby Attanz 2 on the following Monday, I went our, bought some drano, and fixed it. I had compliments from Lou Buckley (my landlady) on my curtains, which I had picked out. Anyway, in does seen to be more of a home. I Think Yes will enjoy it. I organized a picnic on Sunday, chiefly to cheer up Luke Kinsolving , whose mother in - law is going gaqa, which meant that Mary had 70 90 70 California, I rounded up 2 ladies ( one widowed, one divorced) one of whom brought her sister- in - law (divorced), Up at Bein ad- Din, we were joined by the newly appointed Canadian Ambassador, wife and son, eho here looking for a [[?]]. As host, I had provided tons of food, but so had each of the ladies, and so had Kinselving So The Canadians as consumers, were most welcome. (They are also very nice) We picnicked actors from to Cartle, with Delr el- Qarar in the distance. Absolutely glorious day, and a relief to get our of the city. Anyway, everyone 3 had a good time. 2 of the ladies watercolored the view, neither very successfully. Tomorrow, I lunch with the head of NEA/EX, the job that Adrian Middleton once had. He will already have been told about all that is going on. If the atmosphere is right, I plan to tell him more. Things are really strange when Paulette, my Arabic language teacher, begins the day with, "well, I hear that yesterday, the Ambassador was more nervous than usual!! She had heard in from the other locals. The Amb. leaves an Wednesday for 2 week, leave and consultation. Let's hope all goes well. I hope that the weather has improved for you Here, it is Spring, and the wildflowers are fantastic, I just where To David 4 Gantz, asking him to set the date of my hearing for the period May 15- June 1, My deputy, Pat Patterion, is predicting a play of which the last performance is May 12, as 13th it [[?]] warrant's it. Since there hay he political events through the end of April, that may not be the best time to cone home. Anyway I hope to get on te plane on Saturday the 12th of May, 2 more months. I am hoping that Duncan finds one of his 2 first choices. I will write to Bill Polk. Otherwise, I have how read some Arabic, I had a most successful interview with a leading Muslin politician, with compliments on Arabic etc. I just wish I had more time, or energy to devore to study. Or writing to you. M