Hi, I’m Tina, and I’m a grade type A over-analyzer.

Tarot has really helped with that. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

This is an About Me page, so I should give that introduction thing an honest go. They say age ain’t nothin’ but a number, so let’s say that I was rockin’ stirrup pants, scrunchies, and mall bangs in my formative years. I was born and raised in a quiet little farm town in Ohio that is best referenced as “somewhere between Cedar Point and Toledo.”

I found a remarkable guy who’s been dealing with me since high school, and he thought I was charming enough to settle down with. *SWOON* Together, we have one absolutely amazing daughter, a group of semi-amazing dogs, a few quasi-amazing cats, and a smattering of various other creatures who keep us on our toes. Our home is this introvert’s dream, nestled in the woods where we are embraced by the beauty of nature every day. Though, I do wish her embrace was a bit more fleeting during the muddy time of the seasons!

I’ve worked a public sector 9-to-5 job that doesn’t quite guarantee the 9-to-5 time frame for just shy of two decades now. Helping others has been simultaneously a proverbial chicken soup for my soul, and that hair of the dog drink for one of my biggest fears: feeling out of control. What lunatic would have that kind of personal stress trigger themself and decide to get into 911 dispatching to try to make the worst days of someone else's life less terrible? Hello there.

When I’m not working, I like finding ways to de-stress. One way I’ve always channeled my feelings has always been through writing. I still remember the first “book” I wrote in elementary school. It was about a puppy that bravely battled an evil sweeper to help save his family, if you must know. In my mind, I was writing the screenplay of the next Disney classic animation! (Disney, hit me up if you see this and I’ll dust it off, just for you!)

Speaking of being dog-centric, my animals are another tremendous source of comfort in my life. Through the years, I have always loved working with our animals, finding new ways to teach, communicate, and bond with them. A past beloved dog, Rooney, and I were a visiting therapy dog team, visiting children in our local school systems and beyond to help improve their love of literacy and learning. My boy Roo thought it was a dream gig; being loved on by so many, sprawling out on a rug and listening to them read him story after story to him, and the lady (me) helped them with the other things like flash cards and spelling words.

Missing my partnership with Roo, I was given a second chance with my current working dog partner.

Tackleberry has his own special story to share.

Eugene Tackleberry, named for the super intense but sweet character from a movie I grew up watching with my parents, nicknamed Tack to honor my maiden name, is one heck of a dog. Being a breed mix who needed a job to help keep his intelligent mind from getting his energy-packed soul into mischief, we discovered the world of search and rescue together. Through hard work, dedication, mentorship from some incredible people, and a community of great friends, I am proud of our work together. We have passed several certifications, and Tack has some pretty impressive credentials. If he sounds like he couldn’t be more wonderful than already described, you’d be mistaken. On top of all these accomplishments and being the best learning and working partner I could have asked for, Tack also acts as my service dog. This boy is my heart of four legs, and I’m so thankful I’ve been gifted this time on earth with him.

The rest of my time not spent writing or with SAR, I’m usually outside recharging by being in nature, spending time with my family or our unofficial petting zoo, reading any book I can get my hands on, or shuffling cards.

The shuffle leads to the good stuff: tarot reading.

This practice has brought me so much peace of mind. The way that cards lay out to me is like reading a truly magical book. I feel that tarot can help us tell our own story, bringing emotion and energy to life hidden in chapters we have yet to discover. Once you find yourself immersed in the tarot story, you find a sense of confidence and reassurance you never knew.

Now that you’ve read all this, I can surely scrap that autobiography rough draft.

I supposed I can leave you with a few more things before I go…

Likes:

Being a mental health advocate

The Moon tarot card - I’ve got a personal attachment to it
Connecting with people who truly feel like “your people”

Fun Facts:

I survived being run over when I was a young child
I got beat up by a camel as a teenager
I’m an identical twin who got married to a fraternal twin
No, really. It’s not fiction! But we can get into all that, and more, another time. Until then!

Dislikes:

Bullies of all ages
Moon pies (it’s a texture thing)
The overwhelm of large crowds

Talk soon!

Tina Tack Anderson