That Jen Kim

Write a poem using only these words. One on each line.

mango -

ridge -

harp -

necessary -

fruit-roll-up -

army -

residual -

gypsy -

relations -

kindness -

***

It always smells like childhood—a fruit roll-up

A fresh-cut mango in summer

The residual juice dripping down my fingers

It’s hard to remember the necessary in those moments

Before the army arrived

Before our relations disowned us

And we stopped hearing the soft harp of the angels

I don’t know if I’ll ever escape this perilous ridge

There is no more light or kindness

Just the curse of yet another gypsy

(courtesy of Don Miguel Ruiz)

1. Be impeccable with your words— don’t bullshit, be honest, say what you  mean.

2. Don’t take things personal— don’t let anything anyone (including the voices in your head) get you down.

3. Don’t make assumptions— they’re almost always wrong. They are walls you build yourself to prevent you from going places.

4. Always do your best— even when there aren’t rewards, especially when there aren’t rewards. Simply do your best, because it’s your life.

Dear Eric’s ex-girlfriend,

Happy anniversary!

It’s been 10 years since we officially never met, and I just wanted to
tell you how thrilled I am that our relationship is still going so
strong.

I want to assure you that my commitment to virtually stalking you and
obsessing about what bathroom products you use has not waned one iota
in the last 3,650 days since I first learned of your existence.

Sure, Eric and I are no longer together—that joke of a relationship
lasted only three years— but you and me? We’ve lasted the longest out
of all my relationships. And that means something.

I still remember the first time I heard about you. One of Eric’s
friends mentioned you briefly— but I was curious about you, so
naturally, I googled you and found a link to your LiveJournal. Thanks
to your regular chronicling of intimate details from your personal
life, I was able to figure out your class schedule (MWF mornings),
learn your shoe size (7.5) and dissect the sexual nature of your and
Eric’s relationship (“It hurt cuz he’s so big!!! LOL!”)

But you had trust issues, Eric’s ex girlfriend. And after a year, you
made your journal “Friends Only,” despite my silent protests.
Suddenly, I was shut out of your private life, just like that!

Even though you hurt me, I forgave you for that breach of trust, when
you opted for a public profile on MySpace. We rekindled our affair
shortly thereafter. Frantically refreshing your profile, scanning your
pictures and getting your insights on “Greg’s Halloween party” and the
process in which you named your new Maltese puppy (“Albert Einstein”)
was dessert for my starving stalker soul.

Soon after, you switched gears to Facebook, and naturally, I followed.
I cried with you when you divulged that your mom was sick. And felt
the same excitement you had when you got your Mini Cooper! And I
totally agree— the racing stripe is “soooooo cute!”

It’s been a while, since I’ve checked up on you (two weeks), but I’ve
been busy with insignificant things (i.e., new boyfriend and work),
but I just found out through LinkedIn that you’re moving to NY! So
congrats!

I think your new career in sales is a perfect fit— and I know how long
you’ve wanted to quit your old job.  I can’t wait to see photos of you
and Albert Einstein in your new two-bedroom apartment on the Upper
West Side.

And, if you are concerned about us, don’t worry. Just because you’re
leaving the city, doesn’t mean you’re leaving my heart. In fact,
nothing will change. You still won’t notice a thing.

Always,

Your stalker

They say you should do what you love to do. That’s what your career should be.

What if you don’t love to do anything except sleep and eat spaghetti?