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?