Being married for 41 plus years and together for 43 years – you have to have a sense of humor –
which both of us have! LOL!!!!!
We dated for over a year before the engagement led to the wedding on 6-25-1982!
We had no money – both divorced – her two daughters – me two sons – who stayed with their mother.
A lot of road traveling in the early years to share custody both ways.
Our wedding day was on June 25, 1982.
We lived way out in the country – farmland all around us – very private – about two acres of grass to mow and the driveway was 1/10 of a mile long – that had to be mowed 8 feet on either side by hand that first Summer!
Debby – Sherry’s eldest – and Sherry’s father – Bill – first granddaughter of his to be married!
Today Debby has three daughters – Maddy – 23 – Ella – 20 and Sarah 17 –
Mike and Debby have been married for 28 years –
Her father Bill was like a second father to me as I lost my own father when I was 19.
Here we are with five granddaughters – taken before the only grandson – Bode.
Sarah – Maddy – Ella – Cassidy and Taylor – before they could walk.
Today Bode and his mother Tammy – Bode is nine years old.
Sherry with Tammy and Debby and Maddy’s boyfriend – Kendrick and all the grandkids.
Sherry with my sons and their partners and daughter – family!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
BODE – CASSIDY – TAYLOR – SARAH – ELLA and Maddy – LIFE WITH SHERRY!
PAPA and SHERRY – LIFE WITH SHERRY – living our dreams since 6-25-1982 – PAPA’S WORLD!
Sherry – Pam – Papa – Bobby – Bob and I went all the way from grade school to High School!
We played sports together – stayed at each other’s house – drank beer –
Hung around and grew up in a little town in the Alleghany foothills called Eldred in Pa.
While they reside in New Hampshire – they have been RVing for the past four-plus years –
leasing out their condo – they are on their way to Florida after spending last winter out West!
Their little dog Bo has been with them for over a year now – here we are walking around one of our ponds!
Walking the neighborhood – and looking at new builds – they will reevaluate after this winter – bringing to a close five years of life on the road to see if they want to put down roots or continue the Nomad life.
PAPA’S WORLD – WHEN OLD FRIENDS VISIT – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
While this does not cause me stress – it does make me wonder about my ability to putt! LOL
This past fall I had a crown come out – post and all – twice – the dentist said the tooth that the post fit into was cracked – and there was nothing more he could do as it would not hold the post –
So – I had to find an Oral Surgeon – and have an extraction – and then an Implant!
“STRESS”!
I found one and and made all the necessary plans and was three weeks waiting because he was gone on vacation.
Now – I do not like needles – and this stressed me out knowing what was coming!
Then it happened one week before the oral surgery – another front crown snapped off when I bit into a small pepper!
STRESS now doubled – $$$$$$ and the thought could he now do two at the same time?
I made the call – he would not be back until the day before my scheduled surgery!
STRESS!
That day came and I called and they got back to me – all was good – he would do it!
I had a retainer made before at the last visit and they had scanned my mouth –
since they already had the scan – they could make another tooth – now all I had to do was show up and begin the surgery!
STRESS –
They shot me up with novacaine –
I hate needles but this went smoothly.
Before I knew it – both extractions were done and then the implants!
Less than a hour I was finished –
STRESS all gone.
I now have all three front teeth as implants – mentally it took a toll leading up to it for the two new ones!
But – this oral surgeon was fantastic –
thanks Dr. Conrad ( Shawn) for being funny –
making me feel at ease – and painless –
he covered my eyes so I could not see the needle or any of the instruments he used.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD –
my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – ORAL SURGERY – INPLANTS – STRESSING – UNTIL IT WASN’T!!!!!!!!!
This is the view from the front lawn and sidewalk of where I grew up in Eldred, PA. – North Main Street!
Both of my sons still live near here – my great-niece lives in the home I was raised in and my sister’s house next door is where my sister lived – now my niece lives there.
I have one niece who lives in Portville, N.Y. and most of the remaining family I grew up with are now gone.
My oldest son Troy is on the left – and my youngest son Shawn is on the right.
They both came down last summer but was a 16 to 18-hour drive!
With work and other commitments – it is hard for them to get away.
Troy builds houses from the ground up and Shawn has his own Energy Auditing and insulation business with the state government for housing for the elderly.
Shawn is a ranked nine-ball player and finished 33rd in the World competition.
The team he plays on finished first in the World competition in Las Vegas.
Troy has competed in the Easy Rider motorcycle competition.
This is my vision of Troy when he gets old! LOL
My sons family’s when they visited last summer.
Very proud of these two – if it was not so far away they would be here more often –
both still reside in NWPA in the Alleghany Mtns.
We combined two sets of children back in 1982 – her two daughters and my two sons.
FAMILY – MY SONS – TROY AND SHAWN – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Main street – Eldred, Pa. 12 feet of flood water !
This is the school I attended until fourth grade in a little town just South of the New York State border
in Eldred, PA. In the midst of the Alleghany Mountains and the Alleghany River.
It was a small town – perhaps 1000 people – most I knew and most knew me.
This at that time was grade 1 thru 12 – made of wood constructed sometime in the 1800’s I believe.
The windows in the front first floor where I attended first grade – and those trees were huge when I was there.
It was then that three towns and the township combined to form the Otto-Eldred school district –
a new elementary school was built and I attended fifth and sixth grade there.
The new elementary school – right across from the ballpark – tennis courts and playgrounds,
I rode my bike to every day during the summer.
The school is still there to this day – 60-plus years later and looks much as it does here.
Here is the town as it looked during the Hurricane of 1972 which became known in our area as the FLOOD OF ’72!
Twelve feet of water on the main street – we were trapped in the area for almost two weeks as no way in or out.
The little town is also known for its WWII museum – and has bus tours – put it on your bucket list as something to see out of the way in a little town where everyone knows your name.
Otto-Eldred High School – located in Duke Center some 7 or 8 miles away.
Today – the population is way down – we had over 100 kids when I graduated in our senior class of 1967.
Today I believe there is far less than that in the senior class.
But my four years here are full of memories – childhood friends some of whom I still see and are in contact with.
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
IN THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS in the valley sits a little town called Eldred, Pa.
MY SCHOOLS GROWING UP IN ELDRED, PA. PAOA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Ella Myers – number 10 – junior at Randolph College – Co-Captain – Midfielder – our granddaughter!
This is the third season for her – the only Freshman to start every game and almost every minute and continued through her Sophomore season.
She sustained a nerve injury during Spring practice to her left leg from the back of the knee down to the ankle. Casing 24-7 pain – during many doctors – physical training – x-rays and MRI – she has chosen to continue her soccer playing.
The coaches are easing her into playing time – this game she played 30 plus minutes – limping off the field but knowing this is her choice and she excels at it while in the game.
Ella – number 10 at her midfield position after an out-of-bounds play.
On the throw-in-in – she took the ball and dribbled toward the box – seeing her teammate, she sent a bullet pass – the teammate broke free and went one-on-one with the goalie in the box –
firing a shot that went wide by inches – should have been a goal.
They ended up losing – 1-0 – the first loss of the season – from a perfect corner kick that curved into the far corner of the goal out of reach from the goalie.
A tired Ella – with her leg still bandaged – and holding bags of ice – with our family who came to cheer her on!
Ella is climbing back to that mountain top – painful as it is – living her dream of college and soccer.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
A sense of humor – our “WHY” we moved South – snow – ice – now sand and surf!
Equality among men and women – equal pay – equal rights – humanity – law and order – great military strength here and abroad – freedom – voting rights – respect – all I believe in.
I have always seemed to improve – learn – history – believe in God – be myself – loving – human!
Life is short – now in my senior years – living life to the plus one day at a time!
If I am going to play golf – I need patience and humor! LOL
Thanks for reading my little blog for today – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Never walking alone for he is carrying me! PAPA’S WORLD!
It all started for Sherry and me on June 25th. 1982 when we were married – the second time for the both of us – combining my two sons with her two daughters!
Today – both daughters are married with families of their own – living in NVA where we moved from.
My two sons still live back in NWPA and have come down to visit last summer.
The rest of the family has also visited and we look forward to everyone returning!
We still explore and do different things – dressing up for Halloween – driving new roads and seeing as much as possible!
Our friends visit – Bob and I went to grade school and then graduated from the same H.S.
Lifelong friends and now with Pam – his second wife – fun times!
Our only grandson from Sherry’s side – Bode – going to follow in the footsteps of his cousins whom both play and played soccer in college – Bode is going to be another soccer player!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PICTURES TELL MEMORIES OF FAMILY – and now we are living our dream near the beaches!
Here in Cameron Woods Community – we have fantastic sunsets – this is the view from our driveway
And yet you turn 180 degrees and you have the same in fantastic sunrises!
We also can go out to the same spot and see STARLINK come across those same sunset sky’s!
We can google STARLINKS and see the time and direction that it will appear in a cloudless night sky!
What you see here is a straight line of dozens of space internet satellites known as STARLINKS
which are launched by Space X – and Elon Musk!
To date, there are some 4500 hundred of these circling the earth bringing internet service to remote areas and the vast amount of the population on this Earth!
It is an exciting sight to view them as they cross the sky in a straight line of dozens of White Satellites.
Our sky here is an experience almost every day with white and gray clouds!
We live in a great area for daytime and nighttime views of the sky!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Our good friends Pam and Bob – whom I went to school with grade school through graduation.
Next month they will stop by on their RV tour and spend some time with us! MEMORY!
Our oldest granddaughter – Maddy – graduated from the University of Lynchburg with a degree in Environment Science – and played four years of soccer – As a Sophomore was third-team all-conference – Junior second-team all-conference and as a Senior Captain of the team –
Two out of four years they made it to the NCAA tournament!
One year was shortened by the COVID-19 Pandemic! Memory!
Our oldest daughter Debby and Mike and the granddaughters – Ella – Maddy and Sarah! Memory!
On one of our adventures of Kayaking on the marsh of the ICW in Ocean Isle Beach! Memory!
Our dream place – a ten-minute drive – sitting on the beach under the umbrella! Memory!
Our twin granddaughters who now are thirteen – Cassidy and Taylor – Memory!
Sherry with one of her best friends – Cindy – Golfing! Memory!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Us – 1982 – married – PICTURES THROUGH TIME!
My two sons – Troy and Shawn! Memory!
Our youngest grandchildren – Cassidy – Bode and Taylor! Memory!
Over the years we have experienced so many fond memories – family and friends!
The family gathers back in NWPA where it all started at Mount Nebo – a Swedish Lutheran Church built by ancestors in 1886 – in Mount Jewett, Pa.
The church today still holds special services throughout the year and the town has a yearly Swedish Festival celebrating the heritage of the immigrants from Sweden who settled here!
The church is now considered a historical church as it is eight-sided and modeled after a church still in Sweden.
Some nineteen years ago – Sherry and I and her mother Barb and sister Debbie – journeyed to Denmark – Sweden, and Norway for a ten-day bus trip exploring the countries!
Going back to where her ancestors came from was a highlight for Sherry and her family!
Some day we would like to take a trip to where my ancestors came from in Ireland!
Now we have a set of twins – Cassidy and Taylor who just turned thirteen years old!
Here is what they came home to all those years ago!
Cassidy and Taylor with their mother Tammy – all three have the same birthday which was not planned!
At three years old – while selling their home – the family moved in with us – and here they are at our front door – Cassidy on the left and Taylor on the right.
I still remember the time I found them in the downstairs half bath – with the door shut and they had set up house playing in there – so cute!
Today Cassidy and Taylor with Bode who will turn nine – Cassidy is 5′ 4″ and is gaining on Taylor who is 5’7″ and will be close to 5’10 when done growing!
Bode is also going to be tall and all three take after Sherry who is 5’9″ – Ella is 5’9″ and Sarah is the same as our other granddaughters. Maddy is 5’6″.
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Oftentimes we will come to Sunset Beach just to see the Sunset – but – you also can come at dawn to see the Sunrise – above is the Sunset – next to the Sunrise!
At low tide, the expanse of the beach is flat and wide in the early dawn of the day.
Quiet – almost deserted as the Labor Day weekend has passed.
The water is still very warm – and we saw a lot of fish jumping in the surf and a little farther out two Dolphins!
The Sun just peeking above the horizon and a jet plane leaves a white trail across the sky!
Just enjoy the quiet walk – the sounds of the surf and the wide wet sand of SUNSET BEACH AT DAWN!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
WALKING SUNSET BEACH TO SEE THE SUNRISE in N.C. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
On our recent trip to Ashville, N.C. – we booked a comedy tour – including a couple hours of driving and stopping all around Ashville – while being entertained by two comics!
Our tour guide and comic – put on a hilarious monologue – and would be joined by another comic at different stops all over town.
Each time he would get on in a different disguise and then at a stop – get back off!
The whole tour was fun – and these two were very good!
I do not know how he made it to stop to stop – and his different parts were in different voices!
We even stopped at a brewery for a bathroom break and could purchase a can of beer that could only be opened and drank on the bus!
The lobby of LaZoom Comedy Tour – very comfortable and they had drinks there to purchase!
The decorations were really outrageous – but also very comfortable.
At the brewery for our rest stop and Sherry with a very good craft beer.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – COMEDY BUS TOUR – LAZOOM – ASHVILLE, N.C. PAPA’S WORLD!
To think these magical gardens are over 100 years old – it takes your breath away!
Here is where thousands of trees – plants and flowers were carefully cultivated to bring life back to a land cleared for farming!
I can not imagine the cost of building this and maintaining it; it still functions today!
The arrangements and colors are breathtaking – the entire average surrounding the estate is a result of years of planting trees – shrubs, and plants that flower.
Cindy and Sherry are inside the greenhouse with thousands of plants.
It is stunning that this is still going on all these years.
If you visit – walk the walled-in gardens and visit the greenhouse – you will not be disappointed.
THE BILTMORE ESTATE GARDENS in ASHVILLE, N.C.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
One of our day trips while in Ashville, N.C. was to Lexington Glass Works – where we watched Hand Blown Glass being transformed into beautiful glassware!
In this picture are four artisans working the glass in front of the kilns!
How they shape the glass – blowing it and adding colors all by hand.
I will post some of the finished glass in a beautiful array of colors mounted on the wall and shelf!
The pieces are all hand-done and costly – but well worth it!
All displayed in unique ways – a do not touch or handle sign – asks you to request help and they are very quick to respond!
All pieces were priced and a steady flow of customers was coming and going – the process was very detailed with the employees describing each step in the process and interacting with the customers.
We selected an aqua blue and white pumpkin that matched items we had at home!
Not seen here as these were much larger!
The detail is amazing in this mirror with a wall reflecting back!
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LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS ASHVILLE, N.C.
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On a recent trip with our good friends Cindy and Buck – we scheduled a tour of the brewery –
Sierra Nevada – just outside Ashville, N.C.
Entrance to the lobby and what a sight to behold – really beautiful – well done!
The kitchen is to the left – the bar in the middle is serviced from all sides – and seating is all around.
You had over a dozen on-tap brews!
The draft beer list is on tap! We also had a beer tasting at the end of the tour.
From here you can see into the different rooms and some we were allowed to go into with the guide!
The hops room and as soon as I entered it smelled just like beer!
Five copper vats for each stage of brewing!
There were two of these vats for the final stage. Everything was so clean – their first brewery is in Chico, Calif.
We also could see the plant floor although it was past quitting time – all the cans and bottles were packed by hand – and the whole place was very clean.
We had a great tour and tasted four very good beers – one of which is only made for this brewery here for tasting – that was my favorite – a German brew!
Thanks for reading my BLOG – PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – SIERA NEVADA BREWERY – ASHVILLE, N.C.
Our life revolves around family and friends – each in its own place,
Here we celebrate Ella’s birthday with all the family at Lake Holiday, Va.
We try to get together as often as we can being so far apart.
Extended family and grandkids – at Barefoot Landing, S.C. at the marina.
After 12 days – we met the parents and delivered the three youngest grandkids back to their parents – since we moved to OIB in N.C. – we have made it a vacation time for the grands to visit us.
We have made new friends in Cameron Woods Community – getting together at different places by the water for food and drink!
Older friends from our work time in Olean, N.Y. that to this day stay in touch with!
Getting together with friends to golf – a couple times a year!
Our oldest neighbors and friends – we have traveled the world and the country together –
This time to Ashville, N.C.
Our family is in Lake Holiday, Va. Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – LIFE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
After dinner, I said to Sherry – “Want to go to Sunset Beach – get ice cream and stand on the deck”?
That is Southern Beach Living!
Living the Salt Life!
Our view of the Gazebo on Sunset Beach where we stood with our cups of small ice cream!
This is where the bathrooms – showers and free parking are!
If you turn around – you are looking at the beach – pier and ocean – we stood here and a bonus – there was live music on the pier we could listen to – that is why all the people faced the pier!
Looking West from this spot – the dunes – the pay-for parking lot – and the first row of houses – oceanfront means long walkways over the protected dunes to the beach and ocean!
Because the coastline here is on a curve – the beach faces almost South and a little bit East!
From Charleston, S.C. to Wilmington, N.C. the coast looks like a quarter-moon crescent!
Sort of like a huge coastline bay!
Most storms come up from Charleston and then make a beeline to Wilmington – Cape Fear River area and then onto the Outer Banks!
I believe the last Hurricane to cause disaster damage was in the 50s!
Sea oats on the dune – we can be here in 15 minutes – but we have the island – the ICW and the main coastline between us and the ocean.
So far we have experienced a tropical storm and a grade 1 Hurricane, a number 2 is pushing it for me – but could remain – it is the wind and the trees I fear the most!
Living the Salt life – choosing to be here – living life one day at a time!
Thanks for reading and as always HGD!
PAPA’S WORLD – EVENING TRIP TO SUNSET BEACH -ICE CREAM! My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We had told our neighbors about the “SHAG DANCE” and how we ventured into a dance club while living for nine months in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
You walk through the “JUKE BOX DOORS” into the past – the 40s – 50s – 60s – 70s – 80s – 90s and still going strong in the 2000s!!!!
Over 80 years – a dance was born in this area – from rhythm and blues – swing – jitterbug and rock and roll all wrapped up in one called “THE SHAG”!
You look up at the water tower and a couple is dancing – and “FAR HAROLDS” is THE CLUB!
The past 80 years are on the walls in pictures – plaques – trophies – name plates on the bar top –
a dance floor with one wall covered with ceiling-to-floor mirrors!
And – we arrived at 6:30pm. thinking we could just walk in and get a table!
It was STANDING ROOM only!
A small portion of the people in the club – and another back room and bar was closed!
6:30 pm. WEDNESDAY night and dozens of folks were dancing the night away –
you could not walk on the dance floor!
I took this picture between songs and a break – if you look toward the right side back of the room –
you can see the control room of the DJ and this was being broadcast live on 94.9 THE SURF –
the classics and beach music station on NMB!
We brought our neighbors Bill and Marcea –
and before we left – it was can we come back and take dance lessons!!!!
Papa – Bill – Marcea – Sherry at “FAT HAROLDS”! Note the pictures on the wall – Shag competitions over the years – they have a week of Shag Dancing every four months all over the town –
Live music in all the clubs.
Stay tuned for DANCE LESSONS – learning how to do the”SHAG DANCE at FAT HAROLDS BEACH CLUB”
PAPA’S WORLD – SOMEWHERE NEAR THE BEACH IS A CLUB – FAT HAROLDS!!!!!!
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