Based on the hint given by the first memo, the solver is supposed to form word squares based on 5-letter synonyms to the words in bold-face in each paragraph. Here are the answers:
LEANS (rests)
ELBOW (arm joint)
ABOVE (up)
NOVAE (exploding stars)
SWEET (darling)
GAZES (looks)
ALERT (keenly aware)
ZEBRA (striped mammal)
ERROR (mistake)
STARE (gawk)
LEAPT Uumped)
ELDER (more life-experience)
ADORE (worship)
PERSE ("per se" = in itself)
TREED (chased up a woody plant)
EMIRS (chieftains)
MESON (elementary particle)
ISSUE (dispute)
ROUTE (way)
SNEER (turn up their noses)
AMAHS (Chinese nurses)
MANIA (enthusiasm)
ANENT (concerning)
HINGE (turning point)
SATED (gorged)
Anagram the diagonals of each of these squares to get the following words: ALLOT, GLOBE, DOLLS, ESTER, ADAGE (there are others, but only this set forms another square). These words form the following square:
ADAGE
DOLLS
ALLOT
GLOBE
ESTER
This square's diagonal may be anagrammed to form LABOR (bolar, boral, and lobar are also words, but much less common. There's also a slight hint in the introductory text where the word "work" appears.)
Author's note:
Another square I was thinking of for ALLOT was:
LUSTS
ULTRA
STOOL
TROTS
SALSA
with the following paragraph: "Jorge CRAVES after SUPER-hot RELISH. However, when he eats too much of it, his FECAL DISCHARGE becomes liquid: he gets DIARRHEA." I thought better of it.