Lynne Abraham Has the Constitution of an Ox

My name is … Lynne—that’s L-Y-N-N-E—Abraham. Almost everybody forgets to put the “e” on there.

When people referred to me as the “Deadliest D.A.” … it was a gross oversimplification of my responsibilities. And it was also wrong.

My biggest regret … is not finding my husband [radio host Frank Ford] sooner. I was 36 when we married, and he was 60. He died in March 2009.

The place in Philadelphia I most like to visit … is the Art Museum. And the Barnes, which is just sensational.

If you really want to piss me off … tell me that Philadelphia is a backwater between New York and Washington.

The best thing on TV …is PBS, Discovery and HBO specials. I don’t watch any commercial TV.

When I was 16 … I dreamed of being a great surgeon, but I was too poor, and there was gender discrimination. But I was able to cure other ills through the law.

My doctor tells me … that I have the constitution of an ox.

If you’re pouring me a drink, make sure you … don’t put any alcohol in it. I’m really boring. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do drugs. But I do like candy. Preferably, Lore’s chocolates. Dark. They’re on 7th between Chestnut and Market. I just stocked up.

On Sunday mornings … I read the New York Times and get a Starbucks cappuccino. I don’t do the crossword. I don’t like to spend my time on things that I don’t do effectively.

Philly’s biggest problem today …is that it needs new leadership.

The chances of my running for mayor in 2015 … are looking good. I’m talking to people about it. As far as my desire, I have it.

My secret talent is … cooking. I like to cook anything. I cook French, Italian, little bit of Chinese. I love it all.

The most famous people I have ever met … are Margaret Thatcher, President Obama and President Clinton.

Our educational system … is in very big, deep trouble.

One film I can watch again and again is … The Seventh Seal, the Ingmar Bergman film. Last Year in Marienbad. Anything done by Jean Gabin. I love films. And the new film Blue Jasmine. I recommend that very, very, very, very highly. Not just good. It’s wonderful. Sensational.

My biggest “aha” moment … was when I was standing in Shanghai, right after Nixon visited China. I didn’t have a map. I didn’t speak Chinese. And I realized that I was not the center of the universe. Also, I went to South Africa during apartheid. I saw segregation at its rawest.

To stay in shape … I have anorexia, but it’s in remission. I don’t exercise. I’m opposed to exercise.

People would be surprised to know … that I love to walk around Philadelphia and take photographs, and I make cards with the photographs. I still write thank-you cards and notes. I don’t send emails. I like to photograph anything that strikes my fancy: architecture, fruits or veggies piled up on a cart, statuary, a church, a shop window. Recently I was in New York, and there were two guys, one dressed in all gold, the other dressed in all silver, and they were sound asleep on the subway platform. I couldn’t resist that shot.

Frank Rizzo was … right for his time, not right for this city.