I should have uploaded this blog a couple of months ago, but things have been crazy. I have a new position at work that involves more hours, and training from a SF consultant. I’m really hoping I don’t lose focus on film or music projects. I’m starting to have some doubts.

A couple of months ago, I did a short film with my friend Amanda Collins. It’s called “Illuminate.” It showed locally at Colossal Cinematic Showcase. It was the final film, and a person came up to me after the credits saying she was still crying.

I’ve known my friend Amanda for many years. I knew her sister well, and when her sister developed breast cancer, my partner and I went over without missing a night, to help keep her in good spirits and supplied with good food and music. I held my friend’s hand when she passed, and took note of the time it happened. Everything blew up after that, my partner took off in a relationship with the deceased’s partner, and a couple months later my beloved blue heeler dog died. I was a wreck, to say the least. I’m literally not sure how I survived, except for maybe my amazing counselor who also recently passed this year.

Amanda stayed a true and loyal friend through all we had both been through. She eventually moved to Boise from Seattle. She posted mostly in memes, and I was never really sure how she was doing. I learned this year that she had followed in the steps of her sister, even though being monitored closely, had developed breast cancer. Diagnosed at Stage 4, she is processing how to go through this very personal experience of this being terminal.

She is one of the most chill and positive people I have ever known. She will stop mid-sentence when you walk down the street with her to drop down on her knees to make out with every strange dog along the way. If you need something, she will give it to you.

So we come full circle, about 20 years later. We did an intimate interview at her house when she was feeling up to it. I purposefully left the lighting a little dark, because I feel Amanda should have more time to share her light in this world. The film is called “Illuminate,” for this and other reasons. It’s not publicly posted, but I’ll share a link here if you’d like to see how amazing she is.