So long, Nora

I am sure you already know that Nora Ephron died yesterday. Six years ago she was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a blood disorder.

Here's a quick reference to some of the better pieces written about her life and work this morning, plus some handy references.

By Emily Yoffe: "In her hilarious essay, 'On Maintenance,' she writes about how after a certain point it is a full-time job to make yourself look as if you haven’t reached a certain point. She observed that eight hours a week devoted to maintenance is what kept her from looking like a bag lady: 'Eight hours a week and counting. By the time I reach my seventies, I’m sure it will take at least twice as long. The only consolation I have in any of this is that when I’m very old and virtually unemployable, I will at least have something to do. Assuming, of course, that I haven’t spent all my money doing it.' Nora Ephron just died at 71. Oh, Nora, how I wish you would have been able to tell us what it's like to get very old."

By Adam Bernstein: "Nora Louise Ephron was born May 19, 1941, in Manhattan and raised in Beverly Hills, Calif., where she once joked of 'Loving the smell of mink, the smell of the pavement after it rained and the smell of dollar bills.'"

Nora's quotes are familiar. Here's a quick rundown of some of the best, such as this one from her book "I Feel Bad About My Neck" -- “We all look good for our age. Except for our necks.”

Luminaries far and wide Tweeted thoughts on the passing of Nora. Here's a list of some of them such as this Tweet from Bette Midler: "Nora Ephron. The Hostess with the Mostest on the Ball. A brilliant soul, and we will all miss her so...."

So long, Nora. Seventy-one is young these days. We'll miss your wisdom and humor.

P.S.: Did Nora leave clues about her death in her last book. This blog thinks so.

P.P.S.: And leave it to the No. 1 Man About Town in Las Vegas (the Review-Journal's Norm Clarke) to remind us of Nora's Las Vegas scoop.