Tamara Klein Klein

I've been Tamara since I left for college, but it would be weird if any of you called me anything other than Tammy - which is reserved for people whom I love the most.

I went to UW-Madison, graduated with a Theater degree with a minor in Writing, but my real major was partying. Was Social Chair of my sorority for two years! Went to Univ. of Michigan for Law School. I practiced complex commercial and IP Litigation for 6 years both in Chicago and Washington, DC. I became a legal recruiter in 2000 and haven't looked back. I married the guy who would become my ex-husband in 2005. Divorced 10 years later. Best 180 pounds I ever lost. I have two phenomenal, strong, empathetic, beautiful, obnoxious teenagers. I surround myself with rescue animals, art, music, and gratitude (sobriety date 2/17/2017). I'm a black belt in taekwondo, can flip 24 (when not training) to 40 (during the middle of the season) quarters on my elbow and catch them in my hand. I believe sparkles are a neutral. I spent too many years/months/moments stressing about things I'd done and things that might happen - I try every day to be present, tolerant, and kind. You can only keep it if you give it away. And this day? This day? It is life.

Can I list a million?

-JT, Basta and me painting a sheet to hang over the balcony at the Police/Synchronicity concert.

-Taking Kevin Cummings to see Madonna during the "Like a Virgin' tour and not understanding the two guys with a record player who opened for her in 1985; ummm...the Beastie Boys.

-Hanging with Ann and Leslie and trying SO HARD to make my lashes look like Ann's or be as effortlessly cool as LL.

-Skipping school every afternoon the Cubs were in town, walking down Addison, buying a $1 bleacher seat and sitting out there keeping score in the traditional way my dad taught me. You know, 6-4-3.

-Overnight at the Ticketmaster with (I think) JT, Basta, Conneely and my mom to get tickets to the "Purple Rain" tour.

-Jimmy Palumbo's speech for Student Council president.

-Todd and Erik and Lou climbing up the apple tree in my backyard and us sitting on the roof till all hours talking.

-Junior Prom. 120.

-Spending the summer between junior and senior year at Carnegie Mellon. I left a few days early so Janet picked up my 1985 yearbook to have people sign it. She told me I'd be surprised. I opened the yearbook, and there I was, mouth open as usual.

-Me, John, George and Ringo passing notes with Beatles lyrics trying to stump each other.

-Changing crushes with the change of the wind direction.