Spring, 1974: Survival Mode

Anais Nin is still coloring her hair and painting her nails while having digestive problems and a recurrence of cancer. She writes, "So much to live for - the shining love of friends, Piccolino's clowning, the life-giving pool, the birds." Also, "fascinating letters" and "beautiful photographs" come every day in the mail. She can't swim as many laps as she used to and has to give up her daily martini as it hurts her stomach. She is focused on Volume Six and staying alive long enough to get the diaries published.