Line Sister Focus: Kami

#29 - Savior, Harriet Tubman, Moses

Kami M. Smith

Line Name(s) and how you got them:  

There were some Big Sisters who wanted me and other Big Sisters, well, not so much.  And this was the case for some of us, Pyramids.  "If we accept Kami, you gotta let her, her and her on the line." Thus "Kami saved the line", "Savior", "Harriet Tubman" and "Moses" all those names are in the same vein. 

What's your favorite memory online?

My favorite memory is dressing in all white, exiting the towers in to a sea of curious spectators -eager to see who made the Delta line. As they watched, we sang (I believe we sang), "I See the Light" (replacing the word Sorors, with Pyramids). I can still easily recall feelings of high hopes, grand anticipation and pageantry.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I'm something like a celebrity, but I'm more like a superhero; they call me "Mama"!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
Accept the internship with Coca Cola, in their Marketing Department. "What's one more semester of college? You"re already on the five year plan."

Write! Write! Write!

Make forgiveness (of others and self) your daily practice and make love your true religion.

What the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have a piece of lingerie she feels amazing in, the confidence to wear it and the actions to back it up.

Every Delta should have is Fortitude.Her fortitudinous shines in the boardroom, the showroom and the living room -she is the change agent. (Owing that Ruby Woo red lipstick by Mac ain't a bad idea either.)

Name one thing on your bucket list that you would like to complete during our 20th Anniversary year. Related to Delta or not.
I would like to be able to do a split again --that's my year end goal for 2015.   A lot of yoga and stretching --"oh, it hurts so good".

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process? 

Do over --spending more time with Tara and Margo. 

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
I reckon so.  But, not in the manner that it was initially intended.

Line Sister Focus: Irlene

#28 - Lion Queen

Irlene Sweets

Line Name (s) and how you got them:  
Irlene Sweets, Lion Queen #28. How I got my line name HMMMMMMM it’s a long story, lol. Let’s just say at that time it fit and stayed, LOL.

What's your favorite memory online? 
My favorite memory on line was getting to know my 29 beautiful sisters especially my BFF Barbara. We transferred the same year to MBC, we were the oldest chic’s, I believe on line and we both are Gemini’s. LOVE my sister.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I currently work for the Commonwealth of PA as a licensing specialist inspecting drug and alcohol treatment facilities. I still don’t have any kids, but have 7 God kids and 2 nieces and they take up a lot of my time, LOL. I still love to read and my favorite author is James Patterson. Currently working on my thesis for my Masters and thinking about going back to school for another in Social Work. I am currently the recording secretary for the Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter and an adviser for the NuNu chapter at Shippensburg University. Living life to its fullest and trying to learn new things every day.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
Knowing what I know now, what advice would I give my 1995 self?????? I will have to say go straight to grad school before starting your career. I took off for 10 years and at first it was hard trying to work full-time and go to school, but it got better.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
I think that every woman should have a solid foundation in their life and know who they are and their worth in the world. I believe that every Delta Woman should have an understanding of where we came from and how we evolved from 22 women on Howard’s campus to thousands around the world and appreciate all that we do in the world.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
At this present time the things on my bucket-list will not be completed within our 20th anniversary year.

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process? 
I wish I would have gotten to know Donetha Ball better she was a very interesting person but I felt she never really opened up to us on line or off.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
Does my line name still fit, lol. Yes, Yes and Yes something that I am trying to work on.

Line Sister Focus: Darcova

#27 - I.S.I.S, Goldie and Forrest Gump

DARCOVA MATRICE KING TRIPLETT

Line Name (s) and how you got them:  
I am Mrs. Dr. Darcova Matrice King Triplett. My line number is 27 and while they called me Goldie and Forrest Gump, my favorite line name is I.S.I.S. They called me Goldie because I totally rocked my open-face gold tooth. They called me Forrest Gump because they loved my southern drawl. And from my understanding, somebody somewhere somehow thought that I kinda carried an ambiance of arrogance and deemed me I.S.I.S.- the acronym for I Said I’m the Shit.
  
What's your favorite memory online? 
My favorite memory of being on line was the actual delivery of the announcement that I was on line. Peculiar as it may seem and completely baffling to me (at the time), I first got word that I made the line from……. Todd!   

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
The most interesting thing about me is not that I’ve been married to my College Sweetheart for 14 years and we have 3 Adorable KandyGirls. It is not that I’ve been in the field of education for 18 years as a teacher, principal and college professor. While it’s good to know that I’ve published 4 books and a magazine, I edit manuscripts and I’ve lived in 3 states as well as Europe, neither of those equate to the most interesting thing about me. I’m a certified Zumba Instructor, I write Poetry, make jewelry, host Painting Parties and my Passion is Painting but nope, that ain’t it. My work with the STRUT Movement and with the Brains and Beauty Mentoring Program is empowering, but the most interesting?... NAH! Although some would say the most interesting thing about me is that I sleep in blinks, I disagree. In my opinion, the most interesting thing about Darcova is that I embrace the notion of Evolution and I look forward to my Constant Change- to opportunities that allow me to get to know me More. 

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
I would say: Self! Get the Range Rover Now!

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have the conviction to Detach and Flyyy. Every Delta Woman should have enough sense to know that wearing the Letters don’t make her better than the next… it simply distinguishes her from the rest.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not.  
During our 20th Anniversary year, I will love myself to health by completing (at least) one 5k per month.

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I believe that our process was strategic, divine, served its purpose and perfect- as is. With that, I appreciate the interactions with all y’all that continue to show up. 

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
To be quite honest, naming me I.S.I.S. in 1995 was rather premature, however, Prophetic at its best for the longer I live the more apparent it becomes to me that it ain’t arrogance when it’s the truth. #WinkingWavingPointingSmilingAndBlowingKisses   

Line Sister Focus: Chantelle

#26 - Mother, Hocus-Pocus

CHANTELLE DIONE JONES

Line Name (s) and how you got them: 
After my interview, the big sisters thought I reminded them of someone's aunt, grandmother or even MOTHER! (☺️Go Figure!!) The other name, HOCUS POCUS, came about because at 5:25pm on the day our $530 was due,I didn't have the funds in hand. So Omar said, well maybe next time! But at 5:29pm, I was in the hallway begging and pleading with funds in hand...Andrea and Alijah named me Hocus-Pocus!!

What's your favorite memory online? 
I have lots of fond memories but a few stand out...

1. reading Tamara's lips to remember the words to, I Will Be True! 
2. the night we "nailed" the greeting on the tennis court!! Still get chills thinking about it! "WE DID THAT!!" 
3. how we "locked up" going across the bridge to the yard with "Teta" eating FIRE!! Man!! I could cry right now thinking about it!!

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
My chosen career path would either intrigue some and scare others; you can call me, "Lady Undertaker" or "Mortician DIVA." Caring for the dead and having passion towards the bereaved has been my passion for the past 17years.  I am 12 months away from becoming a fully licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. I am also to become licensed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where I will relocate in November, as the manager with Hall Davis and Son Funeral Home. I was called to SERVE!
 

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
There is so much to say, but for sake of time...

1. dont be blinded by the "illusion" of loving someone who doesn't love you and losing sight of WHO YOU ARE! 
2. while caring for others, don't forget to take better care of "self" 
3. lastly, don't believe the student loans refund HYPE!! Give back EVERY DIME that you DO NOT NEED!!! or ELSE it will HUNT YOU!!

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have a SOLID relationship with her SELF!  Know WHO YOU ARE, center your mind, body and spirit so that it will be hard for others to DEFINE YOU!
Every DELTA should have a CHAPTER HOME and Sisters she can be transparent and REAL with.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not.  
My bucket runneth over!!! There is so much my heart desires that I choose to take every moment as it comes with gratitude!! I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now!! It is what it is!


What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I am enjoying this opportunity to see the uniqueness and beauty in each of you. But I would have liked to spend more time with...

• Front: Tiffany Dillard, she could have helped me become more financially stable! When you know better, you do better.
• Middle: Keisha Delaney and Candi 
• Back: Donetha Ball of course!!

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
Man! Does it??!! Although I am NOT a MOTHER....it's just my nature! As far as HOCUS-POCUS? Let's just say, my life's journey has NEVER been a DULL MOMENT...things just keep appearing and reappearing!

Line Sister Focus: Tiffany

#25 - Beetle Juice

Tiffany Suzette Nelson Reid

Line Name (s) and how you got them:
I can’t remember who gave me my line name but, I remember being told that my head was sooooooo small, I think we will call you “Beetle Juice

What's your favorite memory online?
My favorite memory online would be when we had to be at Adenika’s home by a certain time and a few of my LS’s were in the car with me and I was driving so fast trying to avoid being late that I lost my hub cap on my car and recalled being more afraid of being late than having to explain to my father that I lost the hub cap on the car. #greattimes

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I am the wife of a wonderful man of 5 years and counting Larenzo DeWayne Reid. Mother of 3 wonderful children Sydney Reid (18), Symone Reid (15), and Lincoln Reid (14). I am the COO of Tiffany’s Popcorn Café (Lithonia, GA) which my husband and I created together. I think out of all the things I have done in my life the creation of Tiffany’s Popcorn Café’ is definitely the most out of the box thing I have had the honor of creating and watching grow. Opening out first franchise in Portland, Maine is definitely an experience I am forever grateful that I was a part of and had the honor to see it grow from an idea to a reality. I’m an educator of 16 plus years. I fit in just about any atmosphere because I will be me and people are attracted to my contagious laughter.  

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
I would tell my 1995 self to pray often and live life daily.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have a person whose happiness she can put above her own.  Every Delta women should have a heart to serve.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not.  
One thing on my bucket list that I will complete is taking a glass blowing art class.

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I wish I had gotten to know Barbara Meyers better during our process.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Well, my head is still small, so I guess my given line name still fits.

Line Sister Focus: Morgan

#24 - Doogie Howser, DO

Morgan Erin Parks Dixon

Line Name (s) and how you got them:
I was the 2nd youngest on line (IHOP is 1 month younger than me) and also was pledging D.O. at the same time. Have no idea how that really worked, but it did. Guess you do a lot of insane things at age 19! LOL. I also was a Smart A** which wasn't always the best. LOL

What's your favorite memory online? 
SOOO MANY! Step practice at the tennis courts always stands out for me. Not really sure why since that was never my strength, but it was FUN! LOL.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
Who am I? Self-taught graphic designer ... Self-proclaimed avid "trekker" and motivator of people to live their best life ... who loves to travel and experience new things and new places ... and document them all with a photo reference of course (smiles). Continuous seeker of knowledge and information and the perfect bite (yes, I'm a major foodie!) ... motivated by the smiles of loved ones and pure, unrestricted joy!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
Start exercising now!  Make peace with the fact that you have to sweat daily!

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Strong support system and a great pair of shoes ...well several pairs of great shoes!

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
2015 is also my 40th Birthday year and the TURN UP will be real ... all year long! Still working out all the details but it will be EPIC!

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
Candi and I guess I'll go with Donetha (like everybody else)

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Yes ... still a Smart A**, now just an extremely educated one! (smiles)

Line Sister Focus: Monique

#21 - "CREEP" and "W.A.M"

Monique Jackson Lawton 

Line Name (s) and how you got them:
I got my first line name, CREEP, from being added to the line. They said I “creeped” on line. The second, W.A.M, was because when everyone was being selected at the games and on campus to roll out with the Deltas, I use to always ask "what about me" or what did they say about me to some Kappas and Omegas.

What's your favorite memory online? 
Waking up with all the Early Education majors at Adenika's apartment and rolling out with them unnoticed -- so I could go home to Walt and sleep.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I’m approaching a new era in my life. I’m free; my sons are on their own -almost, my writing career is blooming into the film world, and I have time to figure out who I am as an adult. I’m an avid sushi fiend and beer drinker and I explore that as much as I can. I’m so excited about life and enjoying it now. I travel often with my job and I call all the shots, it’s a really good time in my life and I look damn good if I do say so myself! Love you all. 

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
Don’t get married. Wait a bit. 

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have confidence. Every Delta should have compassion for her sisters.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
My bucket list is full of big-ticket items. I won’t accomplish them just yet.

What line sister (s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
Kami. I got to know her more after we were further in life. We are so kindred and I never knew.
Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Yes. I’m still asking what about me to this day!

Line Sister Focus: Lysandra

#20 - "Quiet Storm" 

Lysandra Mitchell Hardaway 

Line Name (s) and how you got them: 
I was given the name "Quiet Storm" because I was quiet on line. Big Sister Gloria gave me the name "Player Player" because I drove a Dynasty while online and she said it looked like Jerome from Martin.

What's your favorite memory online? 
The memory that stands out was Hell Week and we all stayed in that one bedroom apartment. I can remember wearing my pager in my bra waiting for my then boyfriend and now husband to send me my wake up page. I would get up, go home, fix my hair and go do my student teaching. At the end of the school day I would go back home, take a nap, make sure my hair was not neat, get Sabrina and head to the Yard. That was my routine for Hell Week.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
Since graduating from Morris Brown I have earned two other degrees in education. During my 15 plus years of teaching I was selected teacher of the year. I've had so many ideas about doing my own thing in education as a trainer. Those ideas are still in my head. At my new school a parent came and asked me if I would tutor her child. So now I'm getting ready to start tutoring and build on that.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
I would tell my 1995 don't try to pledge and student teach at the same time.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman and every Delta woman should have a friend that she can talk to and not be judged.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
Two places on my bucket list I would like to visit is New York and Hawaii.

What line sister (s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I would have liked to get to know Donetha Ball better.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Yes, my line name still fits today. I am quiet and laid back.

Line Sister Focus: Tamara

#19 - "Criss Cross" - Tamara L. Bennett 

Line Name (s) and how you got them: 
"Criss Cross" - I missed the bus to come back from spring break and was given this name because of the song by Kris Kross "I Missed The Bus".

"Speak No Evil" - I was given this name  because I was so quiet when we were all together and big sisters would forget I was even there. Believe me that was done on purpose.

What's your favorite memory online?
One of my favorite memories from being online is our "hell week". We complained the whole time about having to stay in that cramped apartment, but that is when I believe we became the closest. By the time we crossed, I had a group of sisters, that I will always wish the best.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
There are a bunch of milestones in my life that I am happy to have achieved and some that I am still working out (this doctoral dissertation has been a thorn in my side for years) but I am overall proud of the person that I have become. I remember getting to Morris Brown and being so timid and afraid to speak up, but I think I have found my voice. I am also thankful for the people I have in my life who continuously help me become a better me. I am at a point in my life where I don't feel like I have to be ashamed of the choices I have made and ready to enjoy this phase of my life.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
I would tell my 1995 self not to be so concerned with what others think of me and focus on what makes me happy in the moment.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
Every woman should have a friend that she can confide in without being judged. Every Delta should have a Soror that holds her accountable for her oath she took to be a Delta and to stay active at any level in our sorority.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
I want to start my own business. Hopefully I will stop procrastinating and get it done.

What line sister (s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I wish I had gotten closer to Raymonia and Donetha.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
I think that since both of my line names came from specific events, they really don't apply today, but I do know when to "Speak No Evil" when I need to. :)

Line Sister Focus: Barbara

#16 - "Break It Down Barbara" - 

Barbara Meyers 

Line Name (s) and how you got them: 
My line name is Break It Down Barbara. I was told that my name comes from my presentation and package when interviewing for Delta -my package "broke down" why I should be a Delta, what I can do for Delta, etc. 

What's your favorite memory online?
Crossing over is my favorite memory.  I was so excited to be done with the extra studying and late night parenting.  I slept for a week after we crossed. 

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I have lots of great things to share about my 40+ years of living.  But my proudest moments are seeing my twins, Toi and Toiya, graduate from college and the birth of my youngest daughter, Keiden.  Being a mom the second time around is wonderful! I absolutely love being their mother and I enjoy the ups and downs of raising girls. 

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
Be more in the moment.  Don't try to predict the next steps ... God's got it.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have? 
This answer is the same for both questions: every woman and every Delta should have a great girlfriend -a girlfriend holds her down during the good, bad and ugly times. A girlfriend that tells her the truth, and no matter what a girlfriend that always has her back.  I am happy to say I found that in my sister, soror, friend ...Irlene Sweets. (Thank you!)

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
Hmm ... Bucket list ...Travel to Europe. 

What line sister (s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
Matu Taylor

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Definitely, I'm true to self ...so I'm "Break It Down Barbara" till I die!!!

Line Sister Focus: Raymonia

#15 - "Baby Girl" - Raymonia T. Mathis

Line Name (s) and how you got them:
I was #15 "Baby Girl" - was told I was "preserved and protected" by my oldest sister who pledged at Morris Brown in '89.  I was also frequently called I.T.I.A.A.D.(pronunciation sounds like idiot but it stood for "I think I'm already a Delta.") - The big sisters gave me this name because of the content in my letter of interest.

What's your favorite memory online?
One memorable moment was when they took us on the yard one night and had us in a circle holding hands around a small pile of bricks.  I remember DP Adenika looking very serious telling us that this was our plot and I could see out of the corner of my eye that she was doing everything she could to hold in her laugh.  I thought she was the meanest until that night.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
Since Spring '95, I have received two degrees and will be finished with my third in December.  I am ten years into my second career as a Mathematics teacher.  Although I am leaning towards leaving the classroom, I was chosen as this year's Teacher of the Year at my school.  Also, after being addicted to the creamy crack for over 20 years, I finally decided to go natural and am loving it!!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
I would tell my 1995 self to not take everything so serious and to let go of fear and just go for it.

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have.
Every woman should have that one friend that they can go to for any and everything. 

Every Delta woman should have a few or a chapter of sorors around them that are still committed to providing sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
I've always wanted to go to Vegas.

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I carpooled with Adrienne and Chantelle while on line, but I never really got to know any of my other line sisters from the back of the line.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
No, my line name does not fit anymore.  I would give myself a name that reflects that fact that I am always working to improve myself so that I can continue to be of service to others.

Line Sister Focus: Tijuana

#13 - "2-The Point" - Tijuana Lynn Sowell

Line Name (s) and how you got them:

Tijuana Lynn Sowell #13 "2-The Point"; Mama DP Adenika gave me my name before we got on line.  She was prepping us about our do's and don'ts relating to our appearance and folks kept asking questions (not getting the hints).  So, I bluntly told someone to get their hair relaxed before we start line.  Mama DP said, "You are so blunt! You are 'To the Point!', that is your line name!"

What's your favorite memory online?

I have many; I remember the night after our interviews during a MBC basketball game and Mama DP cam around and told the majority of the line, who was in attendance, to go sit in a certain section of the gym during the game --Delta line picking (although some who were picked didn't make the line).

After leaving from a set at Omar's we had to pull behind the Towers because two LS's wanted to bang it OUT!

Riding back to school (on Spring Break) from Ohio with Tiffany and Alex and hearing that Easy E had AIDS and once we arrived at school we had to meet in Jordan Hall dressed in white waiting on Tammy to get there ...but she "Missed the Bus!" *Who remembers that Easy E died on the night we crossed, March 26th at 6:35 pm.

Here's where you BRAG about yourself. 
I have truly embraced the good and bad decisions I made in my life, but most of all I have NO regrets!  I appreciate my growing pains, the wisdom and strength gained to overcome!  I love ME and being a witness to God's divine plan!  I love being a parent to two amazing kids Ellis Jr. (16) and Mahogani (12), who have given me the greatest job on earth ...being a MOM!

Chairing Columbus Alumnae Delta GEMS committee, I along with Gamma Zeta Soror Toni Hick (Spr '01) won NPHC award for Outstanding Service in Education for our work with the Delta Gems this past Sorority year!  My motto "not what we have, but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance!"  I enjoy giving of myself to others and I enjoy having a very RICH group of sister/girl friends/ls's/sorors that i cherish who help me live out that abundance!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self?
Save money and pay for your Diamond Life installment before it goes away! Membership into Delta Sigma Theta is a Lifetime and Financial commitment --being an active DELTA costs money.  Think of Delta beyond Gamma Zeta, beyond Morris Brown College. We joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. not Gamma Zeta (Sorority).  Get linked up with an Alumnae chapter, learn about real Delta business. 

What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta woman should have?
In a relationship every woman wants 3 things, "Eyes that won't cry, Lips that don't lie and Love that won't die".

Every Delta woman should be active and financial (with a membership card and a current year sticker), a strand of cream pearls and a Soror sister friend that she can confide in, lean on and pray with!

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not.
God said that he will give you the desires of your heart and my desire is to move to North Carolina within the next 6-8 months. A new location and new beginnings, and I am excited to see what God has in store for me!

What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process?
I have been blessed by many wonderful developing relationships over the years with many of our line sisters; whether it's opening their homes during MBC's homecomings, inviting you on prayer lines, sending uplifting text messages, having dinner when I come in town (ATL) for the weekends, painting at ceramic stores and making a point to hang out with me during my spring/summer visits.  Hosting vision board parties, fellow*shipping with me in Columbus, Ohio (Matu, Morgan, Katrina and Tiffany).  Connecting when I show up in Chi-town for Easter and looking for our Founders' grave in a cemetery and having my "front" text me out of the blue (RED) to say, "I don't know what you going through but know that I love you and I'm praying for you!" We can't go back, but I would definitely extend an olive branch to #7, #14, #15, #17, #20, #21, #23, #25, #28 and #30.

Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today?
Yes, my line name still fits me to this day.  I am often told that I am very straight forward.  I don't  pull punches and I let people know exactly how I feel regarding any issue, opinion or situation.  I try to say what I mean and mean what I say! Down fall ...some people can't handle the straight in your face opinions and truths.  My most important lesson is that I try to say it in/with LOVE in my tone and you can feel it from my heart and actions!

Line Sister Focus: Markisha

#12 - "Pasta" - Markisha Jones-Fleming

Line Name(s) and how you got them: 
Pasta Petite & Charlotte, #12... Never liked it until one day my #9 started calling me "Pasta" and the name stuck.  You can easily identify Sorors that are really close to me if they call me "Pasta".  If they call me any other name (amongst Sorors) then they don't really know me.

What's your favorite memory online? 
Spring break 95, the campus was deserted and everyone was off doing the typical spring break shenanigans except those of us that found a little hide-away under the bridge to practice our probate.  Boy oh boy, those were long nights filled with blood, sweat and tears but we gave the BEST probate anyone on that yard has ever seen.  EPIC is the word that comes to mind...our probate was EPIC!  I, also have VERY fond memories of Romey Rome…"Diamonds in the front, sunroof top, digging the scene with a gangsta lean..." *still cracks me up*

Here's where you BRAG about yourself.
I'm so BLESSED!  It's an amazing feat to not live a perfect life that somehow feels PERFECT!  Personally, one of the best decisions I made was when I married my husband.  He has been my safe place, biggest cheerleader and barometer for all my life altering wild ideas.  He also went half on 3 babies with me. *wink wink*  My 17, 12 & 8 year old “babies” keep me going when I want to give up.  This year I completed my first 10 mile race and plan to complete a half marathon next year.  Professionally, in three short months I graduate with my MBA (Dec 2014) and I will start my first year of law school Fall 2015.  Flaws and all….MY LIFE IS AMAZING!!!  GOD IS GOOD!

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 1995 self? 
My advice to my 19yr old self would be, “Follow your Instinct and never be afraid of obstacles that others view as failure.  Don't let fear be your stop sign; see it as a yield then regroup and keep going. You are smart enough to map out your own path.  Your desire to be great will lead you to God's purpose for you.  Trust that path and don't veer from‪ it. 

One of my favorite quotes is "Intellect will get you to the door but your Instinct will give you the strength to walk through it".  All the nights you worried were for not.  Just release it because "You made it!"     
 
What's the one thing every woman should have ...and what's the one thing every Delta Woman should have? 
Every woman should experience toe curling LOVE and every Delta should have at least one Soror that she trusts with her inner most secrets.  Otherwise, a string of real pearls to "clutch" and a membership card with a current year financial sticker *wink*

Name one thing on your bucket-list that you will complete during our 20th Anniversary year? Related to Delta or not. 
Start Law School Fall 2015 and let the fear of failure go.  I'm also looking forward to being carefree and having some fun.  2015 is my year to be uninhibited...I just want to LIVE LIFE and ENJOY myself.  I plan to smile more.  I started this year but next year I plan to be genuinely happier. 


What line sister(s) do you wish you would have gotten to know better during our process? 
All of you.  I gravitated to a select few and now see that I have alot in common with many of you.  I'm hoping this trip will start bridging that gap.  I really don't know #14 thru #30.  Let's fix that.


Does your line name still fit?  If not, what name would you give yourself today? 
No, it doesn't fit today but I can still accept it and smile when I hear it.  Lately, I have been feeling pretty BAD ASS accomplishing goals left and right so a name that reflects strength would be my choice today.