Do something with yourself

I was tooling about the web tonight, doing a bit of research for a project I’m working on, and stumbled on this site, Girl Drive. The site promotes a book that two young women, one of whom, Emma Bee Bernstein, is pictured above. The book is a survey of what women their age want out of the world these days and the story of how they investigated it.

I don’t know about you, but when I come on a site like this, the first thing I click is the “about,” page. I want to see who is behind it. I skimmed the two women’s biographies only to be completely jarred by this:

Emma Bee Bernstein died in Venice, Italy, in December 2008 at the age of 23. A.I.R. Gallery has named one of its yearly Emerging Artist’s Fellowship Program Awards in honor of Emma. … I know this piece of info might be a bit shocking to those visiting Girldrive for the first time. I would encourage you to read the words of people who loved her if you are curious or confused. —Nona

A casual perusal of the on-line memorials left behind shows that this young woman did not waste the few years she was allotted, but… Dear God. 23.

Friends, you’ve no idea what this world has in store for you: don’t wait and don’t waste it.

Bernstein remembered on Brooklyn Rail and on the University of Pennsylvania website.