Bear Pause: Amanda McGovern ʼ83

Amanda McGovern class of 1983 Bear Pause

Amanda McGovern ʼ83 is an international lawyer living in Miami, Florida. She’s thrilled one of her three children is headed to UW-Madison so she can head north again.

Q: What is the most surprising thing about you?
A: Most people would say they are totally surprised when they hear an Irish-American from Minnesota speak Spanish like a Colombian!

Q: What is your idea of a fruitful day?
A: My day feels complete if I have had one really good conversation with someone.

Q:  It’s been said that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame. What happened during your 15 minutes?
A: When my late husband renovated our house, I was totally freaked out at the cost of it since we had three young children to educate. When HGTV wanted to do a segment on “Was It Worth the Cost to Renovate?” I agreed to [do it and] go live just to see if we really made a mistake or should have invested in bonds. (It was worth every penny!)  

Q: If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be?
A: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Angelina Jolie

Q: What book has influenced you greatly? How?
A: “Ulysses” by James Joyce. The human condition described in a single day always reminds me that whatever happens in a day is life itself. Bad or good—it is the definition of being alive.

Q: What are your three favorite smells?
A: Lavender, freshly cut grass and Coco Chanel

Q: If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you spend it?
A: I would go on a walk with one of my children (not all three)!

Q: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
A: I open the curtains and look out the window and breathe in the morning air.

Q: If someone rented a billboard for you, what would you put on it?
A: Life is beautiful.

Q: If you could have the answer to any question, what would it be?
A: Will I see the ones I have lost again?