decades

Papa’s World – Walking 1 1/2 miles to the Kindred Spirit!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

At the end of the street on Sunset Beach – SW end

Is a long walkway and a handicapped ramp to the beach.

This is the beginning of BIRD ISLAND and the end of residential SUNSET BEACH!

Other than the pier some 1/2 mile to the NE –

It is here that you can begin your walk to the KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX –

Almost a mile and one half down the beach.

There are no more houses –

Only large sand dunes and the other side is marsh –

And a sanctuary for wildlife,

This is known as “BIRD ISLAND”!

It is a quiet walk and in warm weather –

Wading in the surf helps to keep you cool off!

As you near the end of the one-and-one-half-mile walk –

A sort of gradual sand ramp marks the –

“KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX” location.

Two benches await you to sit and –

watch the surf –

and write in the journal.

The walk is easy as it is level –

Much more so than OIB!

Here you can see other walkers –

already at the mailbox.

This has been the location for over four decades –

When a “HIPPIE COUPLE” –

carried everything needed to install a mailbox-

And placed a journal and ink pen or pencil inside-

For folks to walk here –

And stand on top of the dune –

Glance out to sea or turn around –

and see over the marsh and causeway to –

Little River and Cherry Grove in NMB!

Walk to the top of the dune behind the “KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX” –

And you will find a large driftwood mass –

With a plaque on it dedicating this spot to those two individuals.

We have been here many times –

Stopped and wrote our thoughts in the journal-

Which is collected by volunteers –

And sent to the University Of S.C. –

To preserve as a way to keep all the writings for people to see.

Sherry is about to climb the sand ramp to the mailbox-

A lone individual looking for shells at the surf edge-

It is a quiet moment –

The old mailboxes have been replaced –

over the years-

But new generations make the peaceful walk down the beach.

Two hippies and a mailbox-

Left us something for generations to come –

“THE KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX”

Thanks for reading-

A rare event of snow on the sand.

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Good times in pictures!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

On one of our GOOD TIMES together – Sherry and Cindy.

We were neighbors in WNY in the mid to late 80s and mid-90s.

They moved to the Wilmington, N.C. area and we would visit.

Over all these years – we often time planned vacations together taking us all over the world.

Buck – Cindy’s husband and I –

We golfed together when they lived as our neighbors back in WNY.

It was there that the gals decided to golf –

making for many laughs as often they would make fun of us for things we did golfing.

Like washing the golf balls off –

Not wearing mittens in cold weather –

Later they came to be good or better than us.

Today – we still laugh at all of the above.

GOOD TIMES IN PICTURES!

The very first couple we met when we moved to Cameron Woods Community –

Is Diane and Steve.

We found out that they not only are our neighbors here –

But that they lived near us back in WNY –

And knew many of the places we did and still had a cottage on Rushford Lake.

Now – they spend their summers back in WNY while we watch their home.

Then for the rest of the year,

they are here and we do many things together.

All four of us are Bills fans!

GOOD TIMES IN PICTURES!

Two of my best friends – Buck and Jim.

Many laugh together over the years.

Jim and I grew up in the same little town in NWPA – ELDRED!

We played softball together and both worked for American Olean Tile in Olean, N.Y.

First – after 32 years –

I transferred to NVA –

And a few years later – he transferred to the Va. Beach area.

Buck had already moved to the Wilmington, N.C. area.

Today – Jim – Sherry and I all retired from Dal-Tile,

which was the former American Olean Tile and is now owned by MOHAWK INDUSTRIES.

We have maintained this friendship all these years.

Decades and decades of get-togethers and so many laughs.

GOOD TIMES IN PICTURES!

Getting together – here is Dottie – married to Jim – and also from ELDRED, PA.

Friends for all this time and still having fun together –

All are now retired and enjoying life to the plus.

Dottie who works and prepares so hard for our get-togethers

LOVE HER!

GOOD TIMES IN PICTURES!

Enjoying our life here in the Carolinas – what we dreamed of has become a reality.

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

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Papa’s World – A look back – thoughts and words!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

On our last Florida trip just before the Pandemic made travel almost impossible-

We were at one of the Disney resorts –

A couple saw us trying to do a selfie and asked if we would like them to take the picture.

Here are the results –

Whomever you were – a big thank you!

A couple of years ago – Bob and Pam were camping at Myrtle Beach in their RV.

We made the trip down to see them and walked out on the WINDY BEACH!

You can tell that we were only a moment before we retreated to the other side of the sand dunes!

Another picture of a moment in time!

Four decades plus of best friends –

The McBrides – who were our neighbors in Pleasant Acres Drive in Portville, N.Y.

The Browns whom I knew back in my hometown of Eldred, Pa.

Today – we all live in the state of N.C.

We are further South in OIB-

While Cindy and Buck are outside of Wilmington –

And Jim and Dottie are near Edenton –

We still travel to one another’s homes for visits and golf!

When the husbands are designated drivers! LOL

You never know what these three ladies will do!

It’s all about smiles – laughter and besties getting together!

Oh, the times they have been together –

Through the years – BESTIES ALL THE TIME!

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD-

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

A LOOK BACK – THOUGHTS AND WORDS- BESTIES!