Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #49 & 50

#49: Letter dated Sept 19, 2009
Not going to transcribe this one as there isn't much noteworthy. He discusses MAD MEN in depth. Makes a few comments on a letter I sent him using some Gossip Girl references to discuss it. Is interested in learning of the current state of corrective surgery for the eyes. Discusses current movies and an old one I just saw, Loving. Briefly discusses his views on depression. Talks about the deaths of DJ AM and Patrick Swayze. Ends with stamp and pen shortage.

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#50:

Dear KK---

Scarcity of stamps be damned--two letters from you deserves a prompt reply (unlike my sorry performance last week...) Plus your writing tends to have a way of demanding that it be answered and commented upon. What is the band's name---Jane's Addiction? Call this"Kelly K Addiction" - the only "cure" (a temporary fix to be sure!) is TO WRITE!

And there is much to write about, Kelly. Let me begin with the eternal topic of the weather, since you mentioned the onset of autumn. You have such a lovely way of putting a poetic touch on the seasons:

I love this: Kelly's Definition of FALL:
"Everything dies and it always seems dark."

Please give me the KK definition of winter. I'm sure it's life-affirming!

Anyway, just north & west of here, winter follows summer, or so it seems. Up in the high country on Pike's Peak (elev 14,000) they had several inches of heavy wet snow on Sun & Mon- also in other elevations down to about 10,000. Near freezing this morning.

But I know you stay for the City, not the weather. Given a choice between New York @30 degrees & East Texas @ 80 degrees, I think you'd choose NY.

One final weather note: I lived just south of Atlanta for over a year. That flooding these past few days has been incredible. With its interstates flooded, that whole metro area will be at a standstill. Mass transit is a joke. Plus most areas had never flooded before, so most homeowners have no flood insurance.

I cannot claim to be a real art museum/exhibition aficionado, even in better days. However, I saw a brief article about a William Blake exhibition "A New Heaven is Begun" at your Morgan Library & Museum. Blake is just unhinged & phantasmagoric--such bizarre & often powerfully religious visions of the world. You might recall that it was his stunning work "Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun" that played central role in Thomas Harris's first "Hannibal Lecter novel": RED DRAGON.

Anyway, Kelly, if you have the time or inclination to see Blake at the Morgan, let me know what you think.

I was very glad to be wrong about that teen slasher/comedy "Jennifer's Body" Turned out to be a box office dvd. Not surprising was that the other "J" movie--Jennifer Aniston's latest, also fell flat. Someone needs to get J.A. some meaty roles outside of romantic comedies. Best I've seen her was in a film almost no one saw: "The Good Girl", where she played a plain Jane in a dead-end job with a pothead husband. Unless she demands it & takes some chances, she'll do romantic comedies her whole career. She needs some Charlize Theron roles. Speaking of which, what do you hear about "THE BURNING PLAIN" with Theron & Kim Basinger? I've seen the ads, but no review.

Quick item from the "MAD MEN" two weeks ago--when Betsy gives birth. Did you notice the glass IV bottles? Plastic IV bags didn't come until the 1970s. Attention to detail...

Thanks for the 3 JUN 63 date of death of John XXIII. Fits in perfectly with the timeline. [Ed.: I am omitting long discussion of Mad Men.]

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Now onto your letters [see what you do to me?] Yours dated 11 SEP: yes, I was in jail. Saw the whole nightmare as it unfolded, and didn't sleep for 48 hours...The Kennedy Assassination of our lifetimes..so far...

OH MY GOD, KK--Thank you for your amazing and emotional blog entries from 9/11/01 & 9/12/01. To me those first person raw reactions to what was happening at the moment in real time, are the true history of that day, or any day, for that matter.

I have some comments, but let me wait until a 2nd or 3rd reading. Thanks again.

[Say what you will, I have no doubt you & I would have been good friends & probably more in another universe. To quote our man Desmond on "LOST" - "in another life, brother...]

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Congrats on your 2nd place Story Slam showing with the OUTLAW theme. Given how well and colorfully you write, I am not at all surprised at how well you do at these things, but I am so happy for you!

I agree: P F __ G! [Ed. I do not know what this means or what he is referencing here.]

Should I have sent in a couple of stories? Just kidding...

You must tell me the story: your blog=police questioning? How did that happen?

Continuing with your letter: "TRANSFORMATION" is a heavy theme for the GrandSlam. My God, KK, you have transformed yourself and your life continuously since you left home. But "DARK SIDE" is definitely more your cup of tea! Good luck with both.

Sounds as though work is better. Has the real estate/publicity business left its worst days behind it? The economy seems to be recovering in fits & starts.

Yes, I have been to New Orleans. At Mardi Gras, no less. Amazing city. Of course it was tied to a truly lovely girl at the time. So much of what men do throughout our lives, Kelly, is tired to and controlled by the female sex. Really, you have no idea... Can talk about that interesting but potentially sexual OMG - Red Alter/Red Alert> topic much more if you want...Women have tremendous power, but many don't ever realize it...

You are so totally Super Type A, Kelly. Where do you find the time, with all you have going on, for Cooking School and Memoir Writing?!

And constructing pastries?
Do you read to the blind in your spare time?

To quote a "Seinfeld" episode...I have a friend who couldn't do in a month what you do in a week!

Need to wrap this up and get it in the mail to you, but a couple of film notes:

[Ed.: I am omitting film notes.]

Still have more to talk about-so once again this is Part I. Hope to get another letter off to you before the weekend.

So take care, keep slammin'! and know I"m thinking of you. Stay healthy, KK.

Yours,

Michael

P.S. Thank you for the column about the new massive tome of J. G. Ballard's short stories. Already on my future paperback reading list.