Many things I view as significant personal achievements, some of them are things that I may not have done myself but may have elicited from others. Sometimes you’re an astute listener and people share secrets; sometimes you’re a puppeteer of sorts. I remember a girl from years ago who would come into the first Starbucks I worked at. She said the craziest shit, so much so that after she would leave I used to scramble to a cash register, print out some receipt paper and write down everything I could remember her saying so I could tell my friends later. Most people have a few gems hidden in them but listening to this girl talk was aural ecstasy for someone who enjoys trying not to laugh while a drunk person talks about philosophy or religion. One day I told Jessica…