A contacted me indirectly a couple of days ago. At this point, my attitude is so far gone that even that's too much. Apparently, her almost-ten-year-old daughter announced she had emailed me and that alarmed A, so she had the friend who introduced us call to "alert" me and tell me I shouldn't respond. Maybe I'm still overly sensitive from the insults, et cetera, but I should be trusted to handle a child's email—especially since she used to trust me alone with the kids.

Her daughter is a good kid (smart like her mother, too) and that's how I'd treat her. The putative email didn't arrive, so I'm mystified about what goes on. Perhaps her daughter was simply testing her mother's reaction? Perhaps there's a way to recall emails with this particular email service? I view my relationship with any child as sacrosanct, that my role is to do my best to treat them with dignity, to honor their parents, and only interact with them in ways that will make their lives better. Yes, I sometimes fail to meet such lofty ideals, but if a child wants to reach out to me, I would respond with all the grace, honor, and respect I have. Like I always do! Because I'm not a parent, I consider a child reaching out to an unrelated adult to be a huge matter and I would never take that lightly.

On another note: I listened to Ron Miles' album, My Cruel Heart, today. Why haven't I purchased more of his disks? I always enjoy that CD tremendously.

CDs listened to today:

• Hebert Vazquez: String Quartet No. 1
• Morton Feldman: Durations
• Janet Jackson: Rhythm Nation 1814
• Dafnis Prieto: Absolute Quintet
• Peter Jona Korn: Concerto for Violin
• Ron Miles: My Cruel Heart
• Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 2, "Cello"