Yours Faithfully, Amanda

March 19, 2016 Dear Jane, I do hate to complain, but I must confess to being quite ill as of late. I believe in my heart that I have a sinus infection (but I often believe myself to be suffering from sinus infections, you know). I dare say, I am rather like your character Mary Musgrove (née Elliot) of Persuasion  who famously said the above-listed quotation. As you well know, Mary always fancies herself indisposed but this particular time, however, I really am!  I had no intention of specifically using this quote, but I should not be surprised as I just finished re-reading Persuasion (a great favorite of mine!).  Since last I wrote to you, I celebrated my twenty-seventh birthday...goodness me, I am getting old! However, I have decided that I quite like this age as it is exactly the age of Anne Elliot in Persuasion and as she is one of my favorite literary heroines, why should not I be happy with twenty-seven? Much can happen to a woman at the age of twenty-seven a...

July 26, 2015 Dear Jane, As I sit at my desk in the comfort of my home in Connecticut, I feel that I am finally at my leisure to write you another satisfactory letter. However, I may be distracted for a few moments as I am currently eating a rather delicious sandwich filled with both peanut butter and raspberry jam. Today, we call this a "PB & J." Ingenious, I know.  Since my last correspondence, I made the joyous (and wise) decision to spend my summer in Connecticut instead of on the dreadfully hot and expensive island of Manhattan. I cannot describe to you how perfectly happy this decision has made me for not only am I saving money on rent (for I found a nice young lady to let my apartment at last), but I can spend some much longed for time with my dear family. I recognise that it is quite improper for a young lady to speak of pecuniary matters, but I was quite certain that you would pay it no mind, Jane! Now comes the difficult part of my letter, Jane... re...

June 16, 2015 Dear Jane, I regret to inform you that this letter is delivered to you from my renewed place in the "real world." I am both happy and disappointed to report that the 'Miss Nelson is Missing' tour formally came to an end on the twelfth of June in the Year of our Lord, two-thousand and fifteen, on a Friday.  Between the two of us, Jane, I do not believe we would have been able to continue much longer anyways, as our van was slowly (or rather, rapidly) breaking down. Along with not being able to shut the back door from the inside and lack of air circulation (to name just a couple of things), we also lost a tire. It was the beginning of June and we were just beginning our journey to Massachusetts. After sitting for quite a long time in traffic, we were were finally driving through Connecticut, when suddenly, one of our back tires blew out and gave us a terrible fright! (Naturally, it was also pouring rain.) Anyway, we had to quickly pull off the road, ...

May 31, 2015 Dear Jane, I cannot believe it, but summer is nearly upon us! I am quite out of sorts knowing that tomorrow is the first of June...where has the year gone? "The Miss Nelson is Missing" tour finishes up in roughly a fortnight (I do love the opportunity to use that term) and then after that I am a free bird, as they say. In truth, I will be saddened to leave my cast members for truly we do have a wonderful time together, but I am quite ready for the conclusion of this extensive (yet charming) journey that we have been on since January.  Since last I wrote to you, I spoke of a rather nasty illness that I was experiencing. Luckily for me, I finally journeyed to my physician on one of our free days and received the necessary medical attention. (This dramatic trip was recorded for posterity's sake in the video below.) It seems that I had a bronchial infection (a severe chest cold that encompassed difficulty breathing and nasty coughing, Jane) and was hastily ...

May 2, 2015 Dear Jane, I write to you today with quite a mixture of feelings. I fear you already know my first feeling...guilt. I allowed the entire month of April to go rushing by without penning a single letter to you! I am astonished that you would even consider reading another one of my letters, but nevertheless, I shall write it.  My next feeling is one of utter delight. Her Royal Highness, Catherine, Duchess of Cambride gave birth to a baby girl this morning! Admirers of the Royal Family have been awaiting this day for quite some time, but we now have a Princess of Cambridge to show for it (although we do not know her name yet).  Their Royal Highnesses and their new daughter! Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk Although this splendid news has greatly improved my spirits, I regret to say that I find myself quite unwell at this time, Jane. Unfortunately, I contracted a rather nasty chest cold while I was travelling this week with, "Miss Nelson is Missing." Th...

March 12, 2015 Dear Jane, It is with great displeasure that I now write to you as an old maid...pray, let me explain my meaning. The last time I wrote to you I was a young and vivacious twenty-five year old whereas now I am an old, spinster-like twenty-six year old. Where has the time gone? What prospects have I to look forward to?! If I am being truly honest with myself, my prospects are no different from what they were when I was twenty-five (last week), so I shall find it within myself to "keep it together." My only solace is that I am not a financial burdern on my parents (as poor Charlotte Lucas from Pride & Prejudice  feared she was at this age) and I am not at the point where my only chance for happiness is marrying a man like the daft and dreadful, Mr. Collins. Now there is some silver lining, Jane. North Carolina Blizzard- View from the Van Anyway, life here has continued on as normal whilst I have been performing in "Miss Nelson is Missing....

February 9, 2015 Dear Jane, You will soon find that truer (and more accurate) words were never spoken, but I will expatiate on my meaning shortly, dear friend. I write to you today from the comfort of my warm apartment, which is quite lucky for I was supposed to be performing "Miss Nelson is Missing" in the state of New Jersey this very morning. (It was called off due to severe weather, although the weather was truly not so severe that it had to be called off, in my humble opinion.) Nevertheless, I unexpectedly found myself having to venture out into the cold, icy weather after I awoke. Before I continue, I confess that the story I am about to tell is not one of propriety, but I feel confident that you will bear no ill will against me for sharing my humorous tale with you.  I arose this morning like any other (although a little later than usual, thankfully) and was alerted by my roommate, Krystal, that our restroom was out of order due to a broken chain. This is w...

January 9, 2015 Dear Jane, I fear that you won't be surprised to know how horrid I feel that I have not yet wished yourself or my gentle readers the happiest of Christmases or the grandest of New Years. Pray, take comfort in the fact that the new year has renewed my intentions to write as often as possible (without becoming a burden, of course). Our lovely Christmas tree. In truth, I can hardly believe that the New Year has once again come and our lives have already taken up the same busy pace of last year without a single backward glance. Why must one feel so forlorn after the holiday season ends, Jane? How dreadfully I miss the glad tidings of Christmas, with it's abundance of delicious foods, dear friends and family and general gaiety all around; it was such a tremendous time. However, I suppose there's truth in the sentiment that all good things must eventually end, for if we only knew good things, then we would never appreciate these truly special moments ...

December 9, 2014 Dear Jane, I have decided to write you directly as I have the most riveting and extraordinary news to share with you! Now, I am going to ask that you sit down when you read this for you may not believe what I must tell you and may very well suffer a fainting spell....Are you quite ready, Jane?  Last night, my sisters and I attended an athletic event known as a "basketball game" and had the opportunity to see their Royal Highnesses, William & Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in person! Forgive me, Jane, for I am still overwhlemed by the fact that we were truly in the same room as them! I should also note that the King and Queen of American Pop Music, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, were in attendance and met the Royal couple as well. I must say that I never thought that I would ever see them in person and it was a dream come true, Jane. Catherine and William have long been favorites of mine and my sister's and we just simply had the time of our...

October 31, 2014 Dear Jane, Jane Austen: All Hallows Eve Edition The above quotation from your fine novel, Northanger Abbey  is exactly the kind of quotation that I was searching for to set the chilling tone of my "Halloween" letter to you,  for what is more frighftul than a past, present and future plunged equally in doom? As I write to you on All Hallow's Eve, I realize that I have absolutely no intriguing gossip or exciting to news to relate to you, and for this I must apologize. Pray, what good is a correspondent who has no scandals to spread? Nevertheless, fear not, Miss Austen, for I have decided to invent a haunting tale to entertain you on this gloomy, autumnal day. Whether or not it will be satisfactory, however, I cannot say.  Before I begin my thrilling tale, I must own that I did make two notes on my cellular device that I wished to recount to you. As per usual, they are quite silly and are of very little importance: "Lady at dunkin donuts ...