Letters from the Outside, In, KK to Follieri, #1

Hello Raffaello,

I just got your letter; thank you for responding. I am not sure of the rules of writing to one in prison. Are you allowed typewritten letters or only handwritten ones? It is so much easier for me to type than write longhand. Also, am I allowed to send a printout of an article from the internet? Can I send an actual cut-out of one from the newspaper? As I mentioned I used to write a column about my life in the New York Press. A sort of a relationship column kind of like a much darker Sex and the City-type thing. I would send you one or two of the pieces, but again, I’m not sure of the rules, and they have curses in them and are a bit risqué so I am not sure if you are allowed to receive them. Please advise.


I guess most of my questions for you are about the jail experience. Excuse me if they are annoying or upsetting; I certainly don’t mean them to be. What are your days there like? I assume you are not allowed internet access, but do you have access to television and movies? You mentioned you like to read—what are some of the things you’ve been reading? I tend to like memoirs about dysfunctional lives—like Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs or the book by Jeanette Walls called The Glass Castle. Have you thought about writing about your experience in prison or a memoir? The way I see it is that we are all in prison in a way. Some literally, some figuratively. Your tale would be an interesting one.

The economy is really bad right now and I do real estate public relations. The market is tanking, so my business may be in danger. So far, so good, but one never knows and it is a cause for anxiety.

Aside from reading and writing I like to travel. I’m sure you’ve been to many more interesting places than I have. The most exotic place I’ve ever been was to India for three weeks last year over the Xmas/NYear holidays. I went to Goa on the coast. It was so gorgeous. Miles and miles of beaches, great food—so cheap—warm breezes. My friend and I got a motorbike and road up and down the coast. This winter I went to Costa Rica, but did not enjoy it at all. I went to Venezuela this summer, to a very small island off the coast of Caracas called Los Roques. That was a very nice and relaxing trip. Everyday a boat would come to take us to a different small uninhabited island where the boat driver would set up chairs for us and give us a cooler of food and drink and then come get us to bring us back at the end of the day. I am hoping to go on a cruise to Alaska this summer if I have the money and logistics all fall into place.

It is really cold here right now. It is 5 degrees out. I just went out to get groceries and walk the dog and will not be leaving the house again. It is that time of the winter where everything is grey and dismal. It is dark much of the day still, although thankfully, we are past the solstice so there are minutes of light added each day.

I’m enclosing a benign story I recently had published a local paper. I will look through other published clips and stories and try to find some appropriate ones to send.

I hope to hear back from you.

Take care.

--K