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

Hello,

Got your letter. Thank you for responding. I will try to address most of your questions in this letter, so it may be a bit jagged. I also 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?

I guess most of my questions 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 you mention watching TV. Is there a common area where you can sometimes watch? How about movies—are they available to you? I can also surmise there must be a prison library or some way for you to get books, magazines and newspapers, but can you explain that? Clearly you are an educated man, so I gather you like to keep up on what is going on in the world. You mentioned an interest in movies and politics.

You asked if I have brown eyes. No, they are blue. I would send another picture if you are genuinely curious about what I look like, but I don’t want to misrepresent why I am writing. I am just interested in learning about your life and sharing stories with you if you would like—nothing flirtatious or romantic. I just wanted to be clear and wasn’t suggesting you though it was anything other than that. The way I see it is that we are all in prison in a way. Some literally, some figuratively.

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.

You mention you have tried some writing projects—like what? I know there was a book written about you, but clearly you’d have a compelling story to write yourself if you were into that sort of thing. But perhaps you were referring to wanting to write fiction?

I mentioned that I have been published. I used to have a newspaper column about my life. A sort of a relationship column thing 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.

In addition to the column, I have been published on a few literary sites on the internet, had a few articles published in NY papers (again, only about my life) and have a very popular blog called The Unbearable Heaviness of Being. I have been writing it for about 9 years. It’s about living in NYC and trying to get a keep a job, apartment and relationship. I also sometimes write on another site about life in NYC. I am wondering if you’d mind me sharing on my blog that I am corresponding with you. I promise to offer no editorializing on it.

You commented that I sound busy. I certainly am so I am not sure how often I can write, so please do not be disappointed if it isn’t often. I don’t want to commit to something that I can’t follow through on, but I will try, even if it becomes only sporadic.

You talk about movies. I have seen many of the ones that are up for awards this season. I recently saw The Wrestler, which you referenced. It was sadder than sad—heartbreaking--but also some of the best acting performances I have ever seen. I just can’t shake that movie. Mickey Rourke is so powerful and disconcerting. I watched the Golden Globes last weekend and he won for best actor; it was a well-deserved honor. I saw him recently in person—I was at a book signing by the author James Frey—and Rourke was there. He was acting very oddly and had long stringy whitish hair. I wondered why and now I realize it was probably because he was filming this movie. (Speaking of which, have you read Frey’s three books?) He was nice enough to give me a recommendation recently for my application to grad school. I once wrote a story about him that he liked so he agreed.

I have not seen Revolutionary Road or The Reader, although I have heard good things about both. I see tons of movies and watch many instantly on Netflix. In fact, I just finished a classic, ‘Guess Whose Coming to Dinner.’ I am working my way through all the older movies I can get my hands on.

Other than reading, writing and watching movies, I enjoy cooking and traveling. Sounds pretty boring, and I suppose in a lot of ways I am, although I have had a sort of strange life.

I know you have lived in Africa, and that sounds so interesting. 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. But Africa is on my list of places to go, and I realize you were not there on vacation, but would love to hear about it. I, of course, do not want to work there, but long to go on a safari.

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 hope to hear back from you. I will try to answer any questions you may have.

Take care.

--K