Yours Faithfully, Amanda

16 December 2019 Connecticut Dear Jane, Happy, happy, happy birthday! I daresay that it's shocking to reveal a woman's age w hen she has not given her direct consent to do so, but it's not every day that a beloved authoress turns 244-years-old! Pray, forgive my impertinence, but it speaks to your legacy that we are still celebrating you all these years later. You are more globally revered than ever, and I, for one, am so very grateful for your novels, stories, letters and everlasting wit.  To think that you came into the world on December 16, 1775 in such a different era is remarkable. And yet, when it comes to human nature, not much has changed in the past two-hundred and forty-four years. Your characters and stories are forever relatable and familiar, even in 21st century America...and that, my dear friend, is why you are a genius. Your brilliant writing skills, sharp wit and astute observations of the people around you culminated to produce some of the finest no...

Wednesday June 22, 2016 Dear Jane, Since last I wrote, I must confess that not much has occurred. (I fear this is a very familiar opening sentence.) This is not to say that I have been idling about, just merely that no event of the life-changing variety has happened of late. I have, however, had some lovely outings that I have been most eager to tell you about. Generally speaking, my intention for June has been to work as often as I can and to earn a steady living. That being said, even though I often complain about working, I am most grateful to be able to pay my rent each month. "Being a temp" may not be the most charming occupation in the world, Jane, but it does, as one might say, "pay the creditors."  Now for my delightful outings: Saturday 11 June, 2016 : What an especially lovely day this was! I attended my first ever "Box Hill Picnic" with JASNA-NY at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in the far away village of   Da Bronx . This outing is ...

May 23, 2014 Dear Jane, How truly right you are in the above sentiment, for a large income seems to be one of the ONLY recipes for happiness at this time! Must making a living be so incredibly difficult, Jane? Why won't a kind, elderly gentleman or lady bestow an endowment upon me with the hopes that,  because of their admirable generosity,  I will become the most remarkable artist I can be? I confess that I struggled between using the above quotation and one other for my headline, so I shall share it, as it is equally relevant to this conversation.  " I am sorry to tell you that I am getting very extravagant, and spending all my money, and, what is worse for  you , I have been spending yours too."  ~ Letter to Cassandra (1811-04-18) [ Letters of Jane Austen -- Brabourne Edition ] It is a true comfort to know that I am not the only one who enjoys being "extravagant" now and again. (And by extravagant I mean grocery shopping.... But also buying rings fro...