Stories--page 2
From Dan Prokup, cousin
I can't think of any Amanda stories that would be appropriate :) but I thought I would tell how I viewed her. She was a person who everyone was intrigued by. Even if you thought you didn't like her, you had to keep thinking about her. She always made herself be seen or heard, as we all know. But she wasn't trying to be obnoxious or lewd, she was just trying to make people laugh or enjoy themselves. To not be so serious all the time. Even though it seems that she lived full go, she would be the one to help you stop and smell the flowers. I didn't know her as well as I would have liked and even though I didn't say it enough as I should have, I truly did lover her, and in a way envied her, as I think we all in our own sort of way did. There is a piece of everyone, no matter how much we shield it, that would like to live for the moment as I think Amanda did.
From Linda Bosworth, aunt
Amanda liked old things. I think she had an old soul. She liked to try on Grandma's old hats and clothes from the 60's and 70's (yes, Grandma still has them) and she was also known to wear Grandpa O's boxer shorts out in public. When I visit Grandma, I sleep upstairs in a room that is usually closed off and has a lot of old pieces of furniture in it. Last weekend when I got there for Grandma's birthday party (Nov. 2000) and went upstairs to drop my suitcase, I noticed 2 little yellow pieces of paper lying on the floor one under an old 50's table and one under an even older rocking chair. Written on them both were "Amanda 9/14/99." She had put her "dibs on those items--probably items no one else would really want. She forgot to tape them, so the glue on the sticky notes came undone and they fell to the floor. I am glad I found them now rather than later. What I miss most about Amanda...I miss terribly the opportunity to see Amanda grow into a special adult--which I knew she would do--the potential was always there. She was so bright and beautiful.
From Mom
I remember one cold and wintry day, I think Amanda was about 17 we decided to go to the movies on a Sunday afternoon. We had about 20 bucks between us. On the way, we were talking about what movie to see, who was going to share popcorn, etc. When we got to the mall, there on a corner was a homeless man with a sign "Will work for food. Please help me." We passed him by, didn't say a word, just looked at each other, turned around and gave him our 20 bucks and went back home. We both felt so good to have helped someone in need. She had such a kind heart sometimes hidden beneath her tough exterior.
From Mom #2 MaryBeth
August 1996 and Amanda joined Dad and me on a trip out west for the Wise family reunion. We fly from St. Louis to San Francisco and stay with my best friend Mary Kay and her teenage son Adam. One night we all go to an Italian restaurant to celebrate MaryKay's birthday. The "adults" have a wee bit too much to drink, so Amanda takes control and banishes Butch, me, and MaryKay to the back seat while she slides behind the wheel and places Adam in the front passenger seat as the navigator. We were all singing Beatles songs from the back and giggling because Amanda (17) and Adam (15) were acting like old fuddy duddies and acting like some old married couple, tsk-tsking about parents not acting their age and "what do you do with them?" Such a change from the Amanda we all knew! Of course, pretty soon Amanda starts singing along with us and commenting, "Oh they're so cute," and she and Adam joined in and we all had a wonderful time cruising back home.
Photos 1 Photos 2 Photos 3 Photos 4 Photos5
Amanda's Musings Amanda's Memorial Garden
Remembering Amanda Other great sites
