Dina

I'm not what I want to be, but thank God, I'm not what I used to be.

So here's the deal: I'm an African American. I am a Christian, yet I embrace the Jewish roots of my Christian faith. I know how to light Sabbath candles and say the blessing in Hebrew. When I pray, I pray in the name of Jesus. We observe Hanukkah, Christmas, the High Holy Days, Easter, Valentine's Day, April Fools Day, Good Friday... I make really good Matzo Ball Soup, but I can also whip up a delicious batch of shrimp tacos.

I try not to cuss anymore, but when I do I try to limit the words to only the ones in the Bible (ass, hell, damn(nation). I do em-bide in the fruit of the wine, I mean vine, even though my church adheres to the grape juice only philosophy. If not for my Sarcoidosis, I'd probably still be smoking. I'd like to try those clove cigarettes. I should lose, maybe, 20 --- (um... more like 35) pounds, but right now, I'm working on my second oatmeal-cranberry cookie.

I can not stand gratuitous vulgarity and language, but I'm ashamed to say I like Weeds and The Tudors. Vampires, "real" and imagined, scare me (clowns too). My taste in music is so varied it's hard to narrow down; but, I will say that despite the fact that I was a part of the original Rap generation (Sugarhill Gang, Curtis Blow, Run DMC, etc.) I can hardly take it anymore. In my opinion, they've lost the poetry.

I have held my friend's trembling hand on the way to an abortion clinic, though I am Pro-life. I'm a Democrat, yet I have voted Republican and Independent. My husband is white. I have four children. I've been wearing dreadlocks for almost 17 years. I have home-schooled. I have not home-schooled. I believe in quality education, though I don't think my children must go to college.

I grew up wanting to be a writer, but "life" got in the way. So now, these many years later, here I am.