16 Minutes with… Shira G. Tarantino By Jon Chattman

Shira G. Tarantino admits she’s currently at a crossroads in her life. The “thirty-something” Yonkers resident recently left the non-profit world after over a decade and is currently self employed, which she readily admits is “a fancy term for unemployed.”

“Somewhere along that way I forgot – me,” she told us in a recent interview. Tarantino started working for non-profits about 13 years ago as a fundraiser for the National Organization for Women in New York City. While it was “an amazing experience,” and she “learned so much about women’s equality issues and how it affects our every day lives, both men and women,” she moved on to work for Eviction Intervention Services (EIS), a homelessness prevention organization on the East Side of Manhattan which she eventually became the director of development.

“I was able to get some hands-on experience where I would go out with the social worker on home visits in the South Bronx. My suburban eyes were opened up to a world which I had never before seen,” she explained.

She continued, “I was able to write about my experiences in full detail, which I would use as advocacy for getting these families a better life.”

A few years ago, Tarantino moved on to Dress for Success Worldwide, an international organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by “helping them to prepare for employment and develop satisfying careers.”

She became director of development there, and was able to “directly and indirectly” help thousands of women around the world seek better lives for themselves and their families. When her own mother was diagnosed with liver cancer, however, things changed.

“It turned our lives upside down. My father was a wreck, my brother became angry at the world and I slipped into a deep depression. I became a shell of my former self, and while I went to work every day, I wasn’t really present,” she said candidly.

Her mother passed away six months after her diagnosis, and since that time, work “just became a distraction in my life.” She recently left Dress for Success to take care of her own well being.

The Cherry Hill, NJ native, whose married, has two cats, and wears glasses, recently chatted with us, and in typical pop manner, helped offset the heavy stuff by answering some wonderfully inane questions.

Why did you decide to get into your line of work?

This question is hard for me to answer. The easy answer would be for me to say that I love helping others, which is true, but I am at a point now where I’ve discovered that I also need to help myself.

Why did you decide to have cats as pets?

In the spring of 2000, my friend and I were walking down 2nd Avenue when I saw the tiniest little grey kitten pacing back and forth on top of a mailbox. I took one look at the kitty and knew I was going to be her mommy. She was so small she could fit into the palm of one hand. I named her Wish, because two days prior to finding her, I asked myself, what do I wish for the most right now? And the first thing that popped into my head was a grey cat. And there she was! I have two cats now and their purring makes me feel all warm and mushy like grits.

Wow, that was deep. Now, give us a two-word review of the Broadway sensation Cats.

Me. Ow.

I would have selected “Classic Musical,” but that’s just me. If you could be anything in life, what would it be?

1. A tree 2. A bird 3. A wedding officiant. Actually, I am ordained and registered with the City of New York and can perform legal marriages. Seriously. In addition, I have a website called Handfastings.org which links people with ordained officiants who can perform handfastings and other rites of passage and celebrations. It started out as a hobby, but I am trying to figure out how to make this a bigger part of my life.

That’s good to know, but I’m already married. Art Garfunkel is also married. Who do you think would win in a battle of sidekicks – the Artster or Andrew Ridgely?

I don’t know, but Paul Simon would definitely kick George Michael’s ass. I think Paul Simon kicked Art Garfunkel’s ass, too, which is why Art sings in a whisper. Who do you think would win a fight between Art Garfunkel and Bob Ross? The fight could be called, “War of the Wigs.” I can’t believe Microsoft Office doesn’t recognize “Garfunkel.”

Well, Bob Ross is dead so I give the edge to Art. Having said that, Mr. Garfunkel was recently arrested for pot possession so it’s a toss up…If you could offer any advice to children what would it be?

Please don’t stick whole baby carrots up your nostrils like I did when I was a kid. My parents rushed me to the hospital, but by the time we got there, the carrots had fallen out.

My wife’s student likes carrot. That’s right – only one. Why do you hate people who wear contact lenses?

I am always hoping that I’ll wake up one day and be able to see without having to put on my glasses. I hate touching my eyeballs.

You really like “John Lithgow in those butter commercials” whatever that means, but let’s get back to the children of America. An error in Arkansas law allows people of any age to marry – even children. Do you support that?

While I don’t support child marriage, I do support child labor. On another note, the United States is the only country to have a drinking age of 21. Most countries set the drinking age at 18 or even 16. In Armenia, there is no law at all that prohibits alcohol consumption at any age. All I’m trying to say is that if our kids can die for their country at age 18, or at the very least marry at 18, they should be allowed to drink at age 18, too. Who wouldn’t need a beer after killing insurgents?

Great call. Andruw Jones played centerfield at 18 years old I think. Ask your husband. Lastly, if you could create your own line of comic books, what would it be called and what would a major story arc be?

Well, if I were on “Who Wants to be a Superhero,” I would be Hot Flash Frieda, who helps ease women into the Golden Years. She throws estrogen fireballs at her enemies like Mistress Chin Hair and Heatdevil; her trusty sidekick is Menstura Girl (known as Margaret Chopra during the school year) who supports Hot Flash Frieda about every 28 days and lends a little comic relief.

Hot Flash Frieda became extra powerful after a freak radioactive hysterectomy accident. As Frieda Maria Gabriel-Estrada in her everyday identity, she answers 911 calls at the police emergency call center in Canton, Ohio. Her superpowers become stronger during football season.

I’m sure comic book readers everywhere will be able to relate to her.

NOTES: For the record, I don't hate people who wear contacts. I just don't understand them.

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