More thoughts on Amanda (please scroll down for the news on her death)....

Last semester when I took Amanda’s workshop I used to joke to my friends that “I really really hate my teacher– she’s younger than me, has a book of short stories out, is about to publish her first novel, has garnered much acclaim. Oh yeah, and she’s cute as hell and drives the VW bug I want.”

The truth is that I liked and admired Amanda quite a bit and, as one of her students, felt that I had the right to be proud of her accomplishments. I even tore out a page from the recent issue of Elle magazine to show Cory that her new book “Wonder When You’ll Miss Me” had been selected as one of the magazine’s featured 2003 Lettres authors

I was contemplating taking her class again in the fall even though I know I should branch out with other instructors. Her class was both fun and helpful, inspiring and sometimes just like an intimate party.
Although I had e-mailed with Amanda a couple of times this semester, I greatly regret that I didn’t get a chance to stop by her office and visit.

It’s a cliché but it’s true my friends, life is short. Don’t put off anything. You may never get the chance you think you’re waiting for.