.MTM5MA.MTE5NDU1

pencilled in top margin Carmon, Walt 1/14/57 Dear Jack, It was your religious tracts - and that classic poem "Suggestions for Parents of Children, etc" which were uppermost in my mind when the doctors dug deep into me and cut out a quarter-sized ulcer and surrounding tissue ( the gaza strip). And it was this bit of monkey business on the part of the medicos (bless 'em and g.d. their bills) that kept me from sending you greetings and advice for that hangover during the holidays. I was in the Lying-In Hospital 5 weeks to have this excuse for not writing you.

 Meanwhile my long-suffering wife went out and got herself a batch of virus bugs that flattened her over the holidays.  So don't argue - I know there is a Santa Claus.  
 Some good friends came to visit (Bob Brown, Geo Redfield, Langston Hughes sent his latest book and cigarettes most of which the doctors swiped, Bob Lorenz and Amon Hennacy of