Andrea Tadpole:  

I didn't really have any friends growing up. The few I did have never kept in touch. So, I really don't care how they remembered me. I am more concerned with how my children and grandchildren remember me some day when I'm gone. Family is more important. I always wanted to be a artist when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a stupid and crazy idea. As it turns out, they were the ones that were stupid and crazy. My favorite way to relax is to sit with my grandaughters and color picture with them or create some kind of artwork with them. When I am creating with them the craziness of the world falls away and nothing matters but that moment and my grandchildren. The wildest thing I did when I was in school was to walk across the top of the pedestrian bridge at River Parks. If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have prayer, coffee, and more coffee to be able to deal with the day-to-day. I do not believe in "heros" as our culture thinks of them. I think that most of the people that our society puts on a pedastal do not deserve to be there and are frauds. I do however have a few people in my life that have inspired me greatly. The one I love and miss the most it my grandmother, Mary Morrison. She always encouraged me to strive to be the best at everything I did. She was a strong, safe, and secure place in the crazy storms of life. She taught me through example how to love and nurture my children and granchildren. I give anything to sit and drink coffee with her today. I have lived in Tulsa my whole life. It is home for me. The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is my grandmother, because I miss her deeply. If I could improve my home, I'd remodel the whole house and add on a second story with a huge master bedroom and art studio. My dream home would be one that is paid off completely and laid out exactly the way I want with an art studio. It would be set up with all the bells and whistles for hearing impaired. I have learned from my children and grandchildren that life is way too short to take myself so seriously. I have also learned that in the end, all that remains is love. I never know when my last moment will be so I always tell those a care for that I love them. I try to show it too. I used to wish I could see Mrs. Weaver, my art teacher at Madison Jr. High. She inspired me so much. Yet, when I did find her she didn't even remember me. It really hurt because I spent hours and hours before and after school working on special projects with her. I guess I was just an insignificamt nothing to her. Today, I wish I could see Ms. Tombs, my gym teacher at Madison Jr. High School. She believed in me when all t...Expand for more