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“Life is not a quest, it's an adventure. Let go of your heightened expectations and simply enjoy the process.” I read this quote once and I choose to live my life this way. I enjoy life.
After we graduated from high school, I went to work at Estes Drugstore. I loved my job. In 1971, I married Mike Padilla (Clifton’s class of 1969). During this time, he was in the Army, stationed at Fort Riley, KS.
After the Army in 1972, we moved back to the Clifton/Morenci area. Mike was employed by Phelps Dodge Corp. We settle down to a quiet life in Morenci and we had four beautiful children. I was a stay-at-home mom. In 1982, I assisted by creating and organizing a food bank in Morenci. I was the buyer/stocker of the Morenci Food Bank. This volunteer job benefited me later on. As we all know life changed in that little town in 1983. At that point in time, we chose to move on and start a new life somewhere else.
Our new life began in Mesa, AZ. We worked many different jobs during the next few years.
In 1986, I applied and obtained a job at Arizona State University in the Chemistry/Biochemistry Department where I am currently working as a Laboratory Materials/Supplies Supervisor. I oversee nine student laboratories for seven different chemistry courses composed of 2600 students each semester.
In 1990, Mike died of a brain tumor. He was diagnosed in 1988 and passed away on March 14, 1990. It was a very hard and sad time in my family’s life. Still to this day, we miss him very much.
My children were and continue to be my strength and motivation to go on with my life. I am so proud of the beautiful and successful people they have become. I have 5 grandchildren . What a hoot grandkids can be! I just love spending time with them. During the summer on different occasion, I am able to bring a few of them into work with me and let them do simple experiments. They love to make slime.
So this is a little peek into my life over the past 45 years. I know it is a surprise to see what became of that quiet and scared little mouse.
