cops

Papa’s World – Childhood in a little town in NWPA – what it is like growing up in ELDRED!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
A small town – I knew almost everyone!
My brother-in-law Bill on the left – was the town cop – and later the mayor – many memories of him and me!

He was a very funny man and watched over me and my buddies!

State troopers were at his house at all times as he was friends with several of them.

He would let us know and made sure we were on our best behavior.

He had nicknames for everyone and he called my younger brother “JUICE”!

My younger brother Mike ( JUICE ) – always doing something – a great golfer – miss him.

He broke both arms at different times and they were crooked – but could he play golf and hit that ball!

He was a 300-yard driver back in the ’70s!

He had a one-stroke handicap –

he knocked his front tooth out by twirling a dog leash until it came around his head

and smacked that tooth!

He was riding my bike – he was too small for it and his foot slipped and he had a rupture –

He played football and basketball and went onto college and kicked field goals.

He was always doing something!

Sitting on my front porch – looking up and across the street – sat this church.

It was part of my playground growing up – but I had to be extra careful –

always look both ways before crossing the main street!

I had neighborhood friends on both sides of that North Main Street.

There were a lot of kids when I was growing up there.

A lot of memories sitting on the lawn in front of the church –

a lot of KICK THE CAN game and HIDE and SEEK were done there!

Tastee Freeze – is still there today!

We would walk some two miles to this place – they had the best soft ice cream!

We also would go and buy their burgers and fries!

Today – whenever I visit back home – we pass it and the memories after all those years come back!

The ELDRED TASTEE FREEZE – often think I should stop for old times!

Growing up in Eldred!

Growing up – I rode my bike everywhere – to the park to play baseball or football – the tennis courts and the dances that were held there –

The Town Team men’s baseball team and my dad as manager.

The carnivals in the park –

The parades and celebrations – the crowds of people and sleeping out and roaming the streets.

ELDRED was a small town where everybody knew your name!

ELDRED – SMALL TOWN USA

Thanks for reading – PAPA’S WORLD – my life as a young person – in a small town.

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

MY CONTACT: fitztdf@aol.com

Papas World – Madre Gras at Lake Wales – Florida!

/ Tom / 2 Comments

We decided to attend this celebration at Lake Wales.

We love a parade – and they threw in the floats!

One of about a dozen floats
and some were as big as this
and others half this size
but all were throwing beads!
MADRE GRAS
at Lake Wales , Florida!
And we placed our chairs
right on the curb in the grass
and had a front row seat!
The BEADS just came our direction
and WE DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
to get them! LOL !!!!!
Each float had a different theme
and each float blasted their own music
and each float parked side by side in the park
each blasting their music!
PARTY TIME!!!!!
There was music
there was laughter
there were dancers
there were cops
there was booze
OH I LOVED THIS PARADE
Just sing it to Toby Keith! LOL
A lot of work went into this
on all of these floats!
And of course for my wife
a Float of a viking ship!
Don’t know how the Swedes fit into all of this
but there they were!
The Grand Marshall
I think!
Lake Wales
MADRE GRAS!
They also had a stage with live bands
and all the while in the park
the floats had their own music
and parties going on!
The lake and pier
The entrance to the party by the lake
before the parade
after – we could barely
make our way through here!
Thousands of people converged
and we managed to sit up our chairs
to the left rear of the stage!
A look back from the pier
to the party like tents
from Lake Wales.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

MY SITE!

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

THANK YOU!