Back in my younger days – I started out working second shift –
only a little bit different –
I was scheduled to work 10 hour shifts – for 6 1/2 years!
My hours were 3:00 PM. to 1:00 AM. !
We ate on the fly so I was told – a paid lunch of 20 minutes!
So – my days were like mixed up from my inner clock.
I would get home – in bed by 2:00 AM. and up by 6:00 AM.
I had a son who was always up – so we would eat breakfast
and then I would take him for a walk up the street
to my parents house and read the morning paper!
Troy was my little buddy –
he would hold my hand as we walked up the street
You see – I had a apartment on Main Street
and my childhood home was a short walk up the North Main Street
in a little town in NWPA called Eldred.
Population 800 to 1000 people and everyone knew everyone.
If you saw the movie “Stand By Me” –
well it was a lot like that!
Mom & Dad lived there for years – we were raised there
Here is the front porch and my sister and her husband
lived right next door.
In 1971 I bought a church and the house that went with it!
I turned the Sunday school rooms into two apartments
and then tore the church down.
I had managed to move six months or so before the ’72 flood
Which flooded main street almost up to the second story apartment.
Our little town was cut off by the flood waters from the outside
for over two weeks!
I was off work for almost three weeks
but the house and church sat on some of the highest ground
on North Main Street!
My mother actually had water come over the tracks behind her house!
It had never been that high!
My younger years are gone – staying up late
riding motorcycles
bars – music – dancing staying out late.
Playing softball – basketball – volleyball
Now it is walking – reading – traveling –
visiting friends and places on my bucket list.
My life is blessed for all that I have been able to do.
And even though I no longer wish to go out –
I do wish to go out and see our friends
to see new places and feel life.
Life has come a circle only with different meanings
and yes – I go to bed early and rise up early
for I love what each new day brings
another adventure and cross one more off my bucket list!
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!
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