Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #114

Dear Kelly,
Hi, Sunshine! I know it sounds so much better coming fromAmir. Just received your mot recent letter from late February, where in you began "Hm. Have not heard from you for a while." Wrote you a long letter almost the same day as yours so in addition to wahatever was in the pipeline at the time you should have received that letter as it crossed yours soemwhere over central IL...Besides that letter from you, also received several items and (as always) scintillating blog entries and interviews. Clearly so much to get to, so let me start most recently and go in reverse:

>Academy Awards: Talk about no surprises. All eight of the major awards went exactly as they were speculated to by almost everyone.

You'll appreciate this: I know you're not a fashionista or slave to fashion (Thank God!) but you know a lot about it and always seem to appreciate its absurdities. So before the Oscars, I caught a brief glimps of your girl Amy Adams on the Red Carpet: to my obviously untrained eye she looked amazing in some sort of shiny sexy blue dress... So a couple of days leater I see the fashion critics ((the woman and gay guy)) absolutely eviscerate her appearance and outfit, calling her the worst-dressed of the night.

[Ed.: Omitting movie talk.]

OMG! I have not seem Doom Generation but would oh-so-want to. I have this brief description:

Two young lovers turn their lives upsidedown when they pick up a dangerous drifter who involves them in a murder and a sexual triangle. BLEAK, bleark view of the younger generation of the mid-90s...

I have found I usually like or appreciate any film whre the reviewer uses the word "BLEAK". I know, KK, it's a sickness! You sound like you've seen it so take a few minutes to give me your KRETH review or KK's take.

>So your little vignette aobut obsessing on the man in the subway (John) reminded me of the opening of a brilliant Nicci French novel, whose excellent title maddingly escapes me at the moment. It was made into a much-inferior movie starring Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes. The film plays down the intense/S&M nature of the couple's relationship.

But it begins almost exactly like what you did. An instant., inexplicable, intense attraction on an almost molecular level.

[Note to KK: Yes, I've experienced exactly that--especially in hospitals. Andalways actedon the impulse feeling...However I'm sure it is much more difficult to do so in the confines and limitations of the NYC subway system!]

>Still another OMG! moment in your letter:

And NOW A WORD FROM JOHN "Wandering through bookstores episode one" I'm so totally in sync with every sentence, every feeling expressed in that essay. A stunningly bleakly cynical ex-Sociopath--was touched by the tears at the end and "You are my hero." Will definitely save and share. Yes, there is a treasure there.

[Ed.: He apparently loves John. Good to know they'd be besties.]

1) Yes, understand as I'm sure do most who read it (espeically women) you problems with the mock ring...But c'mon, lighten up,Kelly! A man you love and who loves you took a lot of time and effort to make you happy in his own unique way.

Trust me. Though it's hard to convince you because you enver want to hear necessary details---I do know certain things about men and women. When a man puts in that sort of effort---he must be praised. He simply must.

Will make a note to tell you my gorilla suit story from Virginia. Yes, the full ape suit--body and head.

To conclude Amir will never marry you? Balderdash! Revel in the attention and the love and the powerful intense sexuality that must have followed.

2) Final comment: I love that at least one person I know has no problems writing a one line statement with a three line bracketed parenthetical right in the middle. Beautiful! Thank you!

Time is tight/ Next letter sooner will start working backwards. Plus more articles.

Thinking of you (and Amir--I must admit--has it really only been a year? What a year!)

Stay warm, stay safe and write again. As will I.

Your friend, Michael

PS Can you send me the poem Ozymandius. Will explain.