"Tonya Harding is innocent" by Andrew Parodi

Tonya Harding, holding the "World's Greatest" balloon I gave her, 
mobbed by the media shortly after stepping off the plane.

I was the first person to speak to Tonya Harding when she stepped off the plane from the Winter Olympics. I handed her a poem I had written for her, a bundle of flowers, a balloon that said "World's Greatest" on it, and I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and said to her, "I love you." We stood there for a few seconds as the crowd watched and the cameras rolled, as Tonya looked over the flowers.... And then all hell broke loose! The media and the crowd mobbed her. She ended up having to get back on the plane as security got the situation under control.

You have to understand. I was only 18-years-old, and she was the most famous woman in the world. When you are only 18-years-old and the most famous woman in the world describes your penmanship as "beautiful" and expresses interest in meeting you based solely on a letter you have written to her,  it has a HUGE impact on your self-esteem. You see, my first grade teacher had (inaccurately) accused me of being "learning disabled," which had resulted in great anxiety when putting pen to paper and writing. At one point, I was even put on the "special bus" and driven  to another school to something called "remedial reading" -- which was beyond humiliating. All the self-esteem my first grade teacher took away from me when she labeled me learning disabled with regard to reading and writing, Tonya Harding gave me back with her compliment. The way to my heart is to compliment my writing; the way to my soul is to compliment my penmanship.

I'm told the image of me standing there with Tonya was televised across the nation, and most likely the entire world.

Moments after I handed Tonya the flowers, balloons, and poem, and then the media chased her back onto the plane. I'm the guy standing under the words "Bag Claim." My head is directly below the word "Bag."

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(Note: This is a work-in-progress. In the meantime, here is a phone message Tonya Harding left me a while back: https://vine.co/v/OQMwMeZYXTq )

Signed picture, with message of support, Tonya Harding sent me shortly after she returned from the Olympics.

Me (Andrew) speaking to a reporter as I watch Tonya Harding compete at the Olympics. I'm pictured in profile, seated next to the man near the National Geographic logo. This was aired on National Geographic's special "The 90s: That Last Great Decade" during the summer of 2014.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9clPzA6BXX4

My mother with Tonya Harding at a reception in Tonya's honor at the Multnomah Athletic Club, shortly after the 1994 Olympics. At this event, Tonya went on stage and read to the crowd the letter I had written to her. And then my mother went on stage and Tonya gave my mother a big hug in front of everyone....

My mother on National Geographic Channel's "The 90s." This is when we watched Tonya Harding skating at the Olympics.