My Dear Scheherazade,
I am sure the reference is obvious, but I will explain why in a bit. You know i love to keep your beautiful mind working at all times...
Please excuse in advance what I am sure will be a somewhat disjointed letter(s). It has again been too long since I've written...so with no "stamp issues" currently, let me get to as much as I can. And there is a lot to discuss, both serious and not so much...
[Ed.: Omitting movie talk.]
The other day on the news I heard about a woman with the enchanting first name of Scheherazade...so beautiful. Anyway, with all the tales and storeis and reporting and interviews you have done I could easily see you staving off your doom each dawn from some brutal Arab prince by telling him a marvelous story each night...except the ending which you tell the next night and begin a new stoyr. Because, Kelly, you do have well over 1001!
I'm not a poetry guy in general, but did you know that the film No Country for Old Men's title comes from a haunting poem, "Sailing to Byzantium"? I think by Yeats, but not positive. Look it up and tell me what you think.
One more item: I know you are not a Stephen King fan, but I think I've mentioned several times that some of his best work tends to be his novellas and short stories. I defy you to read his SS "The Jaunt" and not remember it for a long time. The ending will chill you to the bone. Anyway, his most recent collection is titled Full Dark, No Stars.
Given your interest in all things sociopathic, I thought you might want to read the story "The Good Marriage". If you do, tell me about it. I will read all four of them when they come out in paperback.
***
Now to your letters. Yes, I will get to your most provocative comments on the graphic discussions you feel I am writing and your wanting to know the ins and outs of what I did and why... PLEASE know that you do not sound like "stick in the mud" or "scolding". Way too much makes you uncomfortable, and you really do have issues with open discussion of certain subjects---but that's who you are and I accept you 100%. But that doesn't mean that our conversations should not try to push beyond our self-imposed borders. I will continue to do so--and make no apologies---and I hope you continue to push me and prod me as well. Because if you are not changing and evolving AND opening yourself to new ideas, why bother?
So--all that to come, but I must take the bits of your letters in order to avoid missing any of your marvelous missives:
IN FACT, may I make this observatoin. You must try to see me as more than a sociopath or partial sociopath or former sociopath--and trying to understand that without reference to the 95% of life what went on outside of that.
Don't get me wrong, Kelly, I understand your fascination. And given what has happened to you in the fairly recent past it would seem imperative that you seek out some of these answers. But, dear Kelly, I see you as a far, far more complex person and woman than what defines you as "narrowly" as a blogger or publicist or a woman who narrowly excaped adeath in a scooter accident.
You are all those things and more--so much more. And I want to know everything about all the above and what you see so afraid to discuss.
Just know that yours truly also has many, many levels and sides and depths. You cannot know the whole without knowing all the parts, in depth and in detail.
What a fascinating journey---on both sides. We've actually only just begun...so much to discuss...so little time. Please excuse me if some of the following seems dated:
> All the build-up for Lone Star, a couple of scintillating episodes with great promise...and then like Kayser Sose in The Usual Suspects...POOF- he's gone!
I commented on that fantastic photo of you at Amir's event. IN the audience twirling your hair...How did he not run down to you from the stage and propose on the spot?
He's a quite the handsome man, is he not? Does he tend to change his facial hair, which he clearly has no problem growing?
And I told you how I thought "John" might perceive the whole confrontation with you regarding the court case and beyond...
Your comments please.
Your friend, XOXO
Michael
***
Dear Kelly---
Oh My God, she said to herself, he actually wrote a second letter shortly after the first! It's a Festivus Miracle!
OKKK, picking up where I left off:
There was a great picture of you in the audience at Amir's event. You stand out so clearly from the sea of men in coats and ties. You look HOT, Kelly and OMG the legs! My point in recounting this ancient history is that it only proves how utterly and totally human and feminine you are, and the essence of love, is powerful uncontrollable emotions and contradiction on a grand scale. There is also an immense sexual component that cannot be separated from the rest, but we'll discuss that when you're more "comfortable" ... You konw if you opened yourself up to actual discussion, you might actually hear something new, Kelly. Imagine that!!! That's gentle chiding, not anger!
One more comment on the photos of a smiling Amir at his event, clearly in good spirits. Tell him he wears a bow tie very well. But you already knew that and I have a feeling he does as wel...
Stunning painting by your friend "Wish You Were..." It is just beautiful and amazing. However, I do not have that "feeling of loss and longing" that you have most of your days. In my situation, aboard the Starship Enterprise sans crew to Alpha Centauri, 4.3 light years away, that cannot be allowed.
> I just answered my own question about Amir's facial hair by seeing that fascinating photo of you and him at the museum this past summer. He is sans facial hair completely with a sinister and debonair look on his face. You look like a woman in love. Period. And so different from the photo of you with long hair and a drink in your hand.
UNEXPECTED STUNNING REVELATION:
I was once a loyal and faithful user of FLEX shampoo. It came in a big bottle, was amazingly inexpensive, and was fantastic.
And you tell me they don't sell it anymore at stores? Say it ain't so...
Can you tell me exactly when this happened? Late 90s? Early 00s? Recently? You must have gone ballistic.
So ends another of your amazing letters.
***
Repeating what I said at the time: You do not overhwelm me--keep sending me EVERYTHING you do. Naturally it is your letters and revelations and allowing me to know you more intimately that are most welcomed. And I want to do the same, or as much as you will allow...
Congrats on your Mr. Beller's Neighborhood stories turned into podcasts. How did the recording session in Brooklyn go? AND more importantly, how did they sound online?
WOW! What a truly odd [and by odd I mean bizarre!] episode with the woman selling comforters on ebay. My God, the only thing missing at the end of her sad story was the single gunshot...
Fascinating essay on the amazingly negative reaction to Gap's new attempt to change their logo. I had seen a story about it on one of the entertainment shows, but hte article gave the precious and welcome details.
KK--You would think they would have done a focus group on a new logo before unleashing it on the world. It is works for a vodka...
Yes, the new logo did SUCK! Sort of like New Coke redux@
In answer to your questions on focus groups, my days of them took place during my years at medical school in Springfield, IL. Like several other midwest towns (then and now) Springfield was considered the "heartland" and an ideal test market for various consumer products.
I was always short on funds, and they would pay you for your time. So...the answer is yes. Several times. One was actually for a shampoo (not Flex, however)!
By the way, as previously mentioned (not commented by you at the time) this was the same time during which I was a regular sperm donor (X3 years).
***
The next part of your missive requires a lot of discussion...
You saying I am inh the minority in liking your writing
You take care. Know the Universe will take care of you and good thoughts your way from the west every day. Hang in there you amazing woman. Thinking of you.
Your friend,
Michael
PS Great line from Glee:
"Rachel, you are as brilliant and talented as you are irritating..."
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