I call myself Tina. I call myself Tina more often that not. Reservations? Tina. Appointments such as in pedicures? Tina. Starbucks? Tina. One might think I do this because it's just easy for people to both understand "Tina" and write these four letters. But for me, Tina is my second self. After all, I am a Gemini - the sign of the twins.
Tina came about in the mid 90's - before there was such a thing as "Second Life". In fact there happened to already be seven other Tina's in my clan in Portland, Oregon - before Portland became a hot bed of creative design shops, well-lit hip restaurants, micro-breweries galore, and a downtown hub full of ultra modern lofts known as the "Pearl District". I was truly honored to be the 8th Tina. Did I mention the other seven were men? Well it was a back in the day, when we trooped around Portland as a Tina clan, drinking coffee, hosting small gatherings, and always, always, always, putting on false eye-lashes.
One of the Tina's became a very close friend - now considered a family member of sorts. An uncle to my son. (My four year old son has yet to figure out why I call Uncle Tony, Tina). A talented Tina he is - adept at eye-lash application, and even better with power tools and installing lights, screen doors, ikea units, palm trees and anything other than electronics.
This Tina and I have traveled near and far. And been through the boyfriends and boyfriends, and ex-husbands, and family weddings and funerals. We've shopped for shoes in three continents - well I shopped for shoes. Tina just carried the bags. Today we are, well, more settled, or mellow. Not settled down, just less stuff ruffles our Tina feathers.
It's good to be Tina. She has fun. And the Tour de Tina is her life's journey - in either form - Rebecca or simply, Tina.
