Amanda Markey

I met Michelle when I was in high school. She came to teach at North Penn from

time to time my senior year in 1996-1997, and I could tell right away she was one

of a kind! I was fortunate enough to be taught by her again at Field of View & she

was my caption head the summer I was at Crossmen.Two stories that stand out in my

mind from that summer...our first rehearsal day on tour, was in Rome, N.Y. The color

guard had the stadium for sectional that day, and as we were getting started Michelle

was in the bleachers & put the headset on that was hooked up to the sound system

so we could all hear her. She said "I feel like Brittney Spears!" and proceeded to

break out in a little dance. She wanted us to work hard, but always had time for

some fun. Fast forward to DCI East in Allentown. Being from the area and having

been many times before, we looked forward to the pierogies! This was when there

was still back stands in Allentown...after we performed and loaded the truck, Amanda

Miller & I decided to run back into the stadium to get some - even though you really

weren't supposed to eat in uniform. So, we got our pierogies, and hid under the back

stands to eat them. Of course, Michelle walks by and sees us!! Boy did we get a

look....she never said anything, but her face totally conveyed that she couldn't believe

we were hiding, but understood why! Our paths continued to cross over the next 20

years and she always greeted me with that same smile, regardless of how much time passed it was if no time had passed at all. Once I learned of her diagnosis, we would text quite frequently over the next year. No matter how bad things got, how much pain or discomfort she was in during treatments she would always ask how was I dong...what's new with me...it was NEVER woe is me. She'd be real and upfront about what was going on, but never dwelled on it. I admire her for fighting as hard as she did...we can all learn to live our lives as she did, and are better people for having known her. Love you, Michelle...thank you for all of the gifts you have given me. I can only hope to have a fraction of the impact on my students, as you've had on yours over the years.