Back in the mid to late 80s – we were youth group leaders for our Lutheran church in little Portville, N.Y.
One of our trips was to a retreat just outside Clarksville where this man once stayed for reflection – Thomas Merton.
He had a deep connection with the Franciscans at Saint Bonaventure University just outside Olean, N.Y.
At that time we went there – the University was maintaining the retreat – they may still be doing this.
Our pastor Dan – who married Sherry and me – was deeply involved in the youth group – so much so that he and I and a doctor of the congregation – took FOURTEEN YOUTHS – 7 to 12th. grade – canoeing on the Alleghany River as a trail run and later a whole week in the Algonquian Park in the far north of Canada for a week.
We went to the retreat to perform a blessing in each room marking the sign of the cross on the beams and headers of the doorways in charcoal ash.
Our purpose for those kids in the youth group was to teach love for all humans.
Looking back on each and every one of them in their now adult life – I think what we wanted to get across to them was a success.
Thomas Merton spent some of his time in this area reflecting on life and left a lasting impression on all of us that went to perform that blessing.
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TEACHING LOVE AND RESPECT TO OUR CHILDREN IN THEIR YOUTH!
In the center of this picture – Ella to the left and Maddy to the right – Ella will be a junior at Randolf College – and has started every game in her two-year career in college soccer – Maddy – who just graduated from the University of Lynchburg –
Played four years of soccer – third-team all-conference as a Sophomore – second-team all-conference as a junior and team captain her senior year – twice in four years going to the NCAA tournament and in her senior year winning the ODAC conference.
Ella at mid-field and Maddy at striker on the left side.
Now we have Bode – in the black attacking the ball and taking it away from the player in white!
He plays the left-side striker like Maddy.
He will be the next to go on to become a very good soccer player and he loves also playing Hockey!
Here he makes a pass down the sideline to a teammate at which time he raced ahead toward the middle and took the pass back from his teammates.
He took the pass and dribbled in among four players and broke free!
Breaking free he goes straight to the goal and scores the first of his two goals and just missed a third one!
Here he caught up to a ball in the air and knocked it down to dribble on toward his second goal!
Here he is just before the ball went into the air and he knocked it down and scored his second goal!
He is only eight years old and already has the sense of playing soccer much like his two older cousins!
Bode – our eight-year-old grandson who I think will follow in the footsteps of his father and his two older cousins in soccer!
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BODE AND HIS TWO SISTERS – CASSIDY ON THE LEFT AND TAYLOR ON THE RIGHT!
TAYLOR “NOW’ our horse-loving granddaughter – growing up!
TAYLOR AND HER MOTHER – “THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE – LIFETIME MEMORIES!”
We gather memories in thought and pictures – lifetime events that seemed small back then but turn into LIFE!
Life is full of little thoughts – but practice in life turns into positive happenings!
Many years ago – the four of us – friends – neighbors – decided to golf – fun times – laughter and friendships!
Today – living a mere 35 minutes away – we try to get together once a week or two – golfing in our senior years!
We were neighbors – back in WNY – and we decided to try and get the girls into golfing – they wore gloves because their hands were cold – laughing at us as we washed our balls –
Now – we are senior golfers – playing mostly scrambles guys vs. gals and they mostly win!
A LITTLE THING SUCH AS GOLFING HAS TURNED INTO A BIG THING FOR US TO WITH ONE ANOTHER!
A “LITTLE” bit of humor to bring a “BIG” SMILE! HGD!
A LITTLE TRIP AND A LUNCH – BEING TOGETHER IS PART OF OUR BIG SALT LIFE!
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PAPA’S WORLD – my sit: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog HGD!
My step father John – my mother Mary and my brother in law Bill.
John was a decorated WWII hero – with the purple heart and numerous other medals.
He captured a castle and a Nazi officer out of uniform – there is a story in a military journal
that is in the WWII museum in Eldred Pa.that chronicles that event.
He took from that officer a automatic machine gun pistol – vintage WWI – that also resides in the museum
and is worth upwards in the thousands of dollars. They keep it locked away as it is so valuable.
He was wounded several times and went back into action.
Bill was a vet of the forgotten war – Korea – he seldom talked about it but while I was growing up –
he gave to me his sleeping bag that he used in the cold winters there.
I admire his stamina as all it was is a wool blanket inside a canvas liner!
I would get very cold while sleeping outside on the ground in it!
He was more to me than a brother in law – he was my friend and like a brother to me.
One time I was out with him on patrol in the cop car – he was the town cop –
We drove down across the tracks and out past the old pipe building –
he saw a woodchuck and said to me –
“Do I get him”? “Sure I said”!
He pulled out his gun and from the front seat shot that old woodchuck –
I almost went deaf from that gun going off!
I said ” JESUS CHRIST BILL” and then we both just burst out laughing!
Lesson – never fire a gun from inside a car – you can barely hear for like 10 minutes!
John and Mary ( my mother) holding pies that she made from scratch!
Mom was known all over the town and county and into NYS for her baking.
She would bake rolls – bread – pies and cakes. Sweet rolls and sticky buns.
There was not anything she could not knead and bake and all from memory!
She did not need a receipt – she just did it after almost 85 years of her life baking!
She baked as a child learning from her mother who passed at 85 years old.
Mom was next to the youngest of 11 kids and was almost 98 years old when she passed.
She supplied pies and cakes and rolls for a diner in town.
She was so kind and loving – warm and gentle – but she also was a strong women – way before her time – she believed in equal rights and taught me that – she would come up with these sayings that made me laugh – ” You are as useless as a two petered billy goat”
Or she would say ” You are as useless as teats on a boar hog”! She had me in stitches –
she also played the accordion my father the spoons and sang and my uncle jack the wash board.
They would do this at family picnics and if the beer was free – at social events.
When she was young – she traveled with my grandma in the logging camps of Pa.
Making breakfast – lunch and dinner as a way to make money in the depression.
My father passed away in 1969 after a long battle with cancer – leaving mom a widow and my younger brother just entering H.S. After about ten years she met John – and they remarried – both of them.
They were together until he passed away at age 81.
She called him “JOHNNY BOY” and he was so good to her – just what she needed after ten years losing my dad.
He could fix anything and construction was his forte.
His cars and trucks immaculate even though they were ten years old – showroom condition.
He fixed up and remodled the house which she had kept going all those years .
That same house today is still in the family after almost 78 years –
my great niece lives there today.
Mary ( Mom) and John ( her Johnny boy)
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS
MY BLOG SITE: livnglifedoingitmyway.blog
Just another memory of my family gone but not forgotten.
If you are interested in good health and nutrition –
We have a walking group that meets every Monday and Friday at the park across the street. You walk at your own pace and usually do two complete loops – just over a mile each and then once around the track.
This in total would be 2.30 miles!
Then during the day, we will get in the rest of our 10,000 steps – my heart doctor has told me just to “MOVE”!
Growing up in the 50s-60s and 70s – the generations that wanted love and peace – still has a place in my heart today!
We have adopted a healthy choice lifestyle – I do not drink soda or milk anymore – or fast food!
We live just a few miles from the beach – often going there for our walks – sun – sand, and surf!
We try to golf once a week or every other week – usually with dear friends of 35 years.
Just being out in nature – and yes – we get STEPS in that way!
Our dear friends – golfing – having dinner together and making plans for fun trips!
SENIOR YEARS – living one day at a time and living life to the plus – LIFE WITH US –
Our grandaughter Taylor with her mother – soon to be a teenager – she has grown up riding horses!
A beautiful young lady to be – she would clean stalls and groom horses every day if she could!
It all began with her – she could barely walk – yet she knew what she wanted and today she rides so gracefully – here her mother helps to steady her on her first ride!
Now she is a regular at the riding stable and volunteers to groom and take care of the horse’s stalls!
Tall in the saddle – little Taylor does not need any help – becoming an accomplished rider.
Her dream is to someday own her own horse – she is so graceful and an easy learner.
LITTLE TAYLOR LEARNS TO RIDE! PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedooingitmyway.blog
Taylor and her MORMOR ( Swede for grandmother) walking hand in hand – PRICELESS!
She has been in practice for six months – she played a Starfish and a Swan – in all the performances.
She did not try out for a speaking roll as she still is shy but has a beautiful voice.
Cassidy as a Starfish – she danced on stage and did a cartwheel in both directions and sang.
We were amazed at the costumes and the skills of the 6-7 and 8th. grade cast members.
Cassidy is on the right dancing and singing – once she gets over being shy – she will shine – she sings in front of the congregation in the choir and does vocals in a youth group band.
Cassidy as a swan between her sister Taylor and mother Tammy.
As a swan she danced and sang – she was very graceful.
Our shy little Cassidy – getting more brave to perform in front of a audience.
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Our granddaughter – Cassidy – Starfish and Swan in The Little Mermaid – 2 1/2 hour production.
Main Street and Beach Blvd intersection of North Myrtle Beach – during our nine-month condo stay here – we walked this almost every day – heading for the beach – you can see the stage at the entrance to the beach.
The radio station 94.9 THE SURF is on the left along with HODO’S Beach Club and the Old Arcade on the right.
The parking lot on Friday nights is full of beach chairs and the streets are closed off for concerts on the stage.
Turning around from the intersection is Main Street and you can see Sherry walking up the street.
We were here at the beginning of the Pandemic and this was a ghost town – although the stores were open.
Our favorite nightclub to go to where we finally learned what THE SHAG was!
A dance that came from the Rythem and Blues of the 40s and became a cross-over called Carolina Beach music.
And has become the state dance!
This scene has been ongoing for 80 years!!!!
“ENTER THROUGH THE JUKEBOX DOORS” so goes the advertisement heard on the radio.
This club is full of history – pictures and items from the past 80 years!
The dance is like the STROLL-JITTER BUG – SWING where you never lose contact with your dance partner.
Yearly competitions are held here and every four months SHAG comes to town –
Bands – music- dancing in the streets!
Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame – the sidewalks are full of plaques from all through the years of people and dancers and dates!
The big water tower that overlooks the town has a picture of a couple dancing THE SHAG!
On the beach from the beach entrance – we walked this every day while we lived here!
Sherry walking North Myrtle Beach – one of the widest beaches at low tide I have ever been on!
Exiting the sixth street beach entrance and looking up the street to where we stayed at the back entrance to Ocean Keyes.
Over 700 condos and a huge lake with six water fountains.
Six pools – tennis courts and a workout room.
Loved living there but no garage and no storage space – or else we might have stayed there.
Looking back from sixth street beach parking to the main town of North Myrtle Beach – our old neighborhood.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – REVISITED OUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD – NORTH MYRTLE BEACH! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
My dream growing up was endless vacations near the beach – today we have that – watching others packing up to go back home – while we can come back the next day and the next day whenever we want!
Our dream now – living life to the plus one day at a time!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA and SHERRY – on the ICW – OUR LIFE IN PICTURES!
Cousins – Sherry sisters daughter and her family – the JONES – and Debby and two of her daughters – the Myers!
We journeyed to Sunset beach – to catch the sunset – it so happened that the JONES was visiting and the Myers were also here at the same time.
Through the years we have tried to be all together – but families spread out and lives are different – so many things going on in each family.
Grandmothers and granddaughters. On the beach in Myrtle beach – after some shopping at the outlet mall and some dinner all together at Barefoot Landing.
The little ones are growing up so fast – years seem to go by before we meet up.
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PAPA’S WORLD – COUSINS COMING TOGETHER – MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
June 25th, 1982 – Papa – brown suit – Sherry – as tall as me – our wedding day – The tall young girl – Debby – Sherry’s daughter -next to her – with her arms around the little girl – Tammy – Sherry’s youngest daughter.
We combined two sets of children – my two sons and her two daughters – in the early years – not much money but we made it!
Last summer – Papa and my two sons – Troy – with the beard – my oldest and Shawn – my youngest – still lived back in NWPA!
They visited last summer and will be back!
This is me! LOL If only I could putt!
Debby with her family – three girls – and husband Mike – Tammy with her three kids and husband Marcus.
The grandkids are growing up – Maddy graduates from college this spring – Ella will be a junior in college in the fall –
Sarah will be a junior in HS in the fall – Taylor and Cassidy will be in their teens next birthday and Bode will be nine on his next birthday!
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The six grandkids – Maddy – Ella – Sarah – Taylor – Cassidy and Bode – Cassidy always watching over Bode!
MEMORIES OF TIMES GONE BY – GRANDKIDS – and PAPA’S WORLD! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Troy – Shawn – Autumn – Andera – Trisha – after a week of good times and fun – will be back! The salt life!
The yellow pollen was everywhere – so happy that we had the back lanai enclosed with EZ-BREEZE – allowing us to keep
it outside and not all over our furniture indoors!
But – the outdoor patio was covered as were the outdoor window screens and the screens to the lanai!
So – out came the water hose – and I moved all the furniture off the patio as well as the rug.
I began to wash everything down – starting with the siding and the screens.
I gently used the shower feature on the hose to rinse off the Tower Garden – and the big chairs which are too heavy to move and are connected.
The chairs are really heavy and connected – hard to move for Sherry and me!
I also gently showered the flowers – which we have grown since last spring and the Solo Stove fire pit!
Now on such a nice day – I would rather be out golfing – but this yellow pollen from all the pine trees is everywhere.
I have even seen it in the ocean!
When done and everything is back in place – glad to have it over with and nice and clean – however – this will have to be done again as the pollen season lasts for a while.
When the wind blows it is like a yellow dust cloud floating in the air.
A good rain will wash a lot of it down onto the ground but it forms a yellow scum on the water in the ponds!
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