early years

Papa’s World – My first work day!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

6-5-1967 – The day I drove to the American Olean Tile Company in Olean, New York.

I had to be there at 8:00 AM.

I was instructed to park in the large parking lot-

And go to the front entrance off the main street, across from ROXY’S BAR AND GRILL!

Go down the steps, and there was a small office with a partially opened window!

There would be a woman whose name was Shirley-

And tell her I was there to start work and meet with HR –

Whose name was Jim.

There were three or four chairs against a wall –

Directly across from that window, and she told me to take a seat!

Soon, two other college students came in –

They were there to work the summer and were students at Saint Bonaventure University.

Soon – one by one – we were called into the HR office and interviewed.

Those two were there for Summer jobs –

I was there to work full-time as I had a wife and baby son to support.

I was one week out of H.S.!

I had been in a terrible accident in September of 1966.

I spent 51 days in the hospital-

Not knowing if I would ever walk again.

This day, I was healed – reclassified for the draft with a family.

This was the first day of what would become a 47 1/2 year journey –

Working all those years for the same company in two different states.

Little did I know it would turn into a lifetime job.

This was the era of long-haired hippies.

But at that time, it was not me.

A supervisor by the name of Jim came to the HR office.

We would be working for him in what was called THE SERVICE GANG-DEPARTMENT!

He led us down another set of steps –

Turned left and went through a set of swinging doors.

HEAT – we felt it right away as it rushed at our faces.

We came to a large ramp and turned right!

He explained this was KILN NUMBER ONE!

It was well over one hundred degrees.

It was long – maybe 200 feet straight to the LAB.

People actually were working –

Sweat bands on their heads –

A contraption that shook sand and tile out of saggers into wooden trays.

The men had to place the saggers on the machine, and one had to take off the wooden trays and stack the tile on a skid.

They were fast – their t-shirts soaked with sweat and a woman –

Was there to grade the tile.

Fork trucks zoomed in and out –

Noise was deafening –

We were given earplugs and safety glasses.

The men had access to salt pills because they sweated so much.

It was one crew on this kiln. The other two kilns had their own crews.

It was also the hardest and highest-paid jobs in the entire planet.

They worked all week and by Friday, from eleven to noon –

Had their quota for the week and were done early!

Across the street to ROXY’S BAR AND GRILL, THEY WOULD GO!

They made at least three times what I would make and maybe even four times.

But it was hard, and we would be trained to fill in for illness or vacations.

I never had to go out there.

Instead, I was trained in the Pressroom to be a SAGGER BOY!

We continued past the Kiln and the lab –

Through a large open doorway with sliding metal safety doors in case of fire.

All inside entrances in the entire factory –

The first and second levels had these huge sliding fire doors.

As soon as we passed the fire doors –

Was the locker room for the men.

In here, we were assigned a numbered locker –

Mine was number 10!

There were no women who worked in-

SERVICE DEPARTMENT-BODY PREP –

At that time-

But if they had – their locker rooms would have been Kiln- Mounting room or Pressroom.

There was a shower room –

And a separate restroom with urinals and stalls for bathroom use.

A large round sink with a step on the pedal for water to wash hands.

A half-dozen men could stand around it!

I was about to start an unexpected journey that lasted 47 1/2 years.

Working for the same company in dozens of jobs.

A journey that I can honestly say –

I enjoyed – met hundreds of fine folks and even transferred to NVA to work at a half dozen locations.

When we came out of the Men’s Room, we turned right and down a slight ramp-

This was where Jim had a stand-up desk, and Herb, the other supervisor, had his desk.

This was BODY PREP, where the time clock was on the outside boiler room wall.

It was loud here with all the machinery –

But a lot cooler than the Kiln and Mounting room.

It was here that, after a few weeks –

There was an opening on the second shift-

Since the other two were college students and I was the youngest in the plant-

No one bid on that job, and I was assigned to the second shift!

It was TEN-HOUR SHIFTS!

I would earn two hours overtime each day, plus shift premium.

I had walked into a job where I could support my wife and baby.

We moved out of my parents’ home to an apartment over the Western Auto (now a library).

I worked that second shift for 6 1/2 years.

I made good money with the overtime.

The opening came on days, a

As I bid in the same department.

Here I am – my senior year – Number 65 –

Shortly before my car accident and about nine months before I started work at A.O.T.C.

That first day was the beginning of a career, and I have never looked back –

And never thought I missed other opportunities.

It was here in 1980-81 that I met Sherry.

We were both divorced –

We were married on June 25th. 1982.

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PAPA’S WORLD – MY FIRST WORK DAY – 6-5-1967!

Papa’s World – FORTY FOUR YEARS – time flys!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

June 25th. 1982- on our wedding day.

Our life together started with two sets of children.

This was the second marriage for both of us.

Sherry had two young daughters –

Debby – the oldest – is 7 or 8 years old.

And Tammy is 4 years old.

My two boys were Troy – the oldest – 14 or 15 years old –

And the youngest – Shawn – is 9 or 10 years old.

The boys stayed with their mother while the girls stayed with Sherry.

We lived way up at the end of the East Windfall Road.

About ten miles to the school and just over the hill from Olean, N.Y.

But we were in the far corner of the Portville school district.

The driveway was 1/10th of a mile long.

Good for sled riding in the winter –

But the rest of the time, I had to mow it up and down both sides.

That first year was with a gas push mower, and then we bought a ride mower.

All told, over an acre of lawn to mow, up and down, and part on a side hill.

That first year- it would take me three days – rest one day –

And start over again.

Way up back – we had a fire pit.

There were only two neighbors –

One we could see across the valley and hill-

And one at the very end of the driveway.

There was another family up the hill out of sight-

They had a couple of children who were friends of the girls.

Other than that, country living.

Any events or church –

Was at least a ten-mile drive.

The girls became involved in sports, and I would pick up the boys every other weekend.

Which was a 18 mile drive one way.

Money was scarce-

So we planned day outings to parks – state parks –

Packing food –

Looking back, we did not seem to care that we had no money –

We made the best of everything!

We were busy with work, the kids, church, and the church youth group.

All four were in the youth group.

We took camping trips with the youth group.

A canoe trip down the Alleghany River –

The boys went, but the girls did not go.

Church became a big part of our lives.

Many activities for us as a family since the divorce-

We had each other, and to this day-

We still have church in our lives and each other.

We lived out in the country for about five years.

But – we yearned to get closer to the church and the school and to my sons.

We found a house in Pleasant Acres Drive just three miles from the school.

We were still in the Portville school district.

We were also about three miles from the church.

My oldest son had graduated from high school.

But we still did things as a family with my youngest son.

Here is where we met our decades-old friends –

The McBrides – Buck and Cindy!

Cindy, Buck, Sherry, and Papa.

We were neighbors until mid 90s, they moved to the Wilmington, N.C. area.

We stayed in touch –

We visited them in N.C. several times.

Then we started touring the country with them.

Eventually out of the country.

During these times and after –

We transferred to NVA!

The kids had all graduated and from college.

We were empty nesters.

Within two years –

Both girls had followed us to NVA.

The boys stayed in NWPA.

Debby had married, and they had Maddy –

Less than a year old.

They all stayed with us until they found their own homes.

We still visited Buck and Cindy and were still friends with Dottie and Jim

Both from Eldred and I had known them before Sherry.

To the left- Debbie, a friend of Jim and Dottie.

Then Cindy and Sherry- Buck and Papa.

Cindy and Buck knew Jim and Dottie before us.

But I grew up with Jim and Dottie in Eldred, Pa.

Jim and Dottie met Debbie after they moved to Va. Beach area.

Sherry – Jim and I all worked for American Olean Tile-Dal Tile.

We are all still to this day –

Get together at one anothers homes.

Jim and Dottie have since retired and moved to the northeastern coast of N.C.

FRIENDSHIPS that have lasted for decades.

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Here’s to you!!!

FORTY FOUR YEARS LATER!

Our road is well-traveled.

We have since bought, sold, and built houses.

We now live in SENC-

Ocean Isle Beach – Cameron Woods Community.

Close to the border of S.C.

WE ARE 38 miles from Buck and Cindy-

Time goes on.

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Papa’s World – Looking back in pictures!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Late June – 1982 – Sherry – on our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic!

We were married on a Friday evening.

We celebrated at a local disco bar dance place with family!

The next day, we drove to Toronto, Canada, and stayed overnight.

Sunday morning, we flew out of Toronto to the Dominican Republic, to Jack Tar Village.

Everyone on the flight were Candianians.

And we were the only people from the USA!

This was a all exclusive resort –

And we departed the plane directly onto the pavement, and it was well over 100 degrees!

We checked in and were driven to our villa by golf cart.

We had to have our pictures taken and put into a holder to hang around our necks.

This way we could show ID and eat and drink!

Until then, we could drink bottled water and sodas.

I took this picture while we were waiting-

It seemed like hours, but it was less than that.

Upon arrival –

There were armed military personnel all over the place.

We wondered what we had gotten ourselves into.

I learned on that trip what FREEDOM is all about,

Living in the USA!

Later, we found out that the President of the Dominican Republic had committed suicide!!!!

WOW – nervous we were –

But we were never bothered and had a great week.

Enjoying the resort and taking several excursions into the large city –

But only two or three-storied buildings.

There was a large soccer- baseball stadium nearby-

At night, we could hear and see the lights in the dark sky.

On our wedding day – June 25th. 1982.

Shopping – there was no change exchanged –

If it were $19.25, you paid $20.00 and received no change!

We had to exchange our money.

We were taken into the small city.

All of us! (MAYBE A DOZEN COUPLES)

We went into an upscale women’s clothing store.

We waited in line at the entrance to a closed door in the back.

I SWEAR WE WERE IN A MOVIE WITH HUMPHRY BOGART!

A ceiling fan overhead –

A small peep door opened, and a pair of eyes we could see.

Spanish was spoken, and then the door opened.

There were about a dozen of us who had not made the money exchange before leaving Canada.

Inside was a man sitting at the far end of the room at a green felt table.

A single light hung over it.

He sat there with a metal box on the table.

He had on a long-sleeved white shirt-

The biceps had an arm band type thing and he had this visor on.

On either side of him were armed guards.

Our guide was named SANTANA!

He would translate, and he said not to say anything!

That man handled the entire money exchange.

I do not know if he got a commission or not –

But everyone was quiet, and it was all done in minutes.

We were escorted out of the room and across the shop to the outside.

Here we were swamped by dozens of old ladies hawking all sorts of goods!

He ushered us straight through them to the bus, and we pulled away!

NEVER HAVE WE EXPIERENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN!

Feeding cake to one another –

AND NO – WE DID NOT SMASH IT INTO OUR MOUTHS!

Sanatana knew Sherry and me were from the USA because of our accents.

We became friendly,

And he talked to us all the time.

He asked where we lived,

And we said NYS!

He asked WHERE?

We said Portville near Olean in WNY!

He said – “OH – RIGHT OFF RTE. 17!!!!!”

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT I ASKED?

He told us for years he had driven semi-tractors from Cleveland to Albany!

Going right past the exits to OLEAN, NY!

After that,

He took us everywhere in his bus,

And we got to trust him.

On one trip, he took us and three other couples to a DICO-CLUB that was closed for the day.

He had a key-

It was shaped like a huge SOMBERO!

He opened it up –

Turned on the lights and the music.

We had the whole place to ourselves.

He asked if we wanted beer,

And it was in quart bottles!

Needless to say, we did not drink it all!

We had many more adventures while there on our honeymoon.

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Today –

Almost 44 years later – MEMORIES –

LOOKING BACK AT PICTURES!

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Papa’s World – Early years in Eldred,Pa.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

LOL- I do keep lists of things, places, and appointments –

Simple reminders as I go through each day.

I can honestly say I LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME!

I spent the first 30 years of my life-

In a little town near the WNY border called Eldred in NWPA!

Small Town – maybe 800 inhabitants.

It was you know everyone, and everyone knew your parents and family!

The Eldred Boro Elementary School.

Right across from the town’s ball field.

Where we would go to watch the baseball teams play.

The first four years of school –

I went to a combination H.S. and Elementary school.

Grades one through twelve.

It was a good mile from my North Main Street home.

Sometimes I would walk the railroad tracks to the Barden Brook Creek and then cross the bridge –

And the main street and walk on the sidewalk to the school.

Then, in grade five, they opened this school, and I was in the first class to go there.

Fifth grade and Miss Cawley.

She ruled her classes with an iron fist.

She had also taught in the other H.S. – Elementary school.

Mr. Harrington was the school Principal and also taught sixth grade.

We had a combination gym and cafeteria.

It was in the gym that, while running from being tagged –

I was pushed and slammed into the wall, and broke my right arm!

It was also in this gym that stages were set up for school plays around the Holidays.

I played the Angel Gabriel!

NERVES abounded in those early years, as I was and am a horrible singer.

I also signed up and took drum lessons.

I was given two drumsticks and some sort of board to practice on!

Didn’t last long! LOL

It was here that instead of walking –

I rode my bike as I was used to that, having ridden the same path to the park to play!

I also walked to school, meeting up with friends along the way!

Later in life, I took my youngest son, Shawn –

To sign up for kindergarten,

Unknown to me –

On the way, he had picked up worms and stuffed them in his pocket.

To my surprise, he reached in and brought them out just before we were to meet the teacher in the lobby!

We made a quick exit and got rid of them, and I cleaned his hands off with my hankie!

All part of growing up in Eldred!

We lived in the valley of the Alleghany mountains(foothills)-

The Alleghany River ran through on its way through Pa. –

To NYS and back down again through to Pa. and eventually Pittsburgh, Pa.

I have canoed down that river twice.

The first time was with a group called the EXPLOYERS!

Between our Sophomore and Junior years in H.S.

While the girls of the Sophomore class went to the prom –

We went canoeing on the river.

My partner in my canoe was Bobby Goodman.

To this day, we remain good friends and play golf together.

The second time was with the church youth group –

I think we had fourteen youths and three adults!

Otto-Eldred High School, where I went seventh through twelfth grade and graduated.

We did not have a big class –

Somewhere over 100 kids.

Quite a few have passed away.

In my senior year –

After playing two football games-

I was in a car accident-

I spent 51 days in the hospital in traction.

I did not know if I would ever walk again.

I was in a wheelchair for months after being released.

I was reclassified for the draft –

The VIETNAM WAR was raging!

Then I went to crutches and to a cane.

I walked for my graduation.

One week after graduation –

I was hired at American Olean Tile Plant.

I was married with a small baby boy who was named Troy!

I ended up working for this company for 47 1/2 years.

I worked in Olean, N.Y. –

In 1999, I transferred to Alexandria, VA, near the Springfield Metro.

During my time in Olean, we were owned by National Gypsum.

!980 some I was divorced and met Sherry, who worked in Payroll.

We were married on 6-25-1982 – she had also divorced.

I had two sons, and she had two daughters.

All young!

We raised both sets, although the boys lived with their mother.

After they all were gone from the houses-

We both transferred to NVA!

She went to Chantilly –

And at this time, we were owned by Armstrong!

She managed two different locations – the last in Chantilly, across from the Dulles airport.

She then took the outside sales job encompassing NVA and some of WV.

By this time, we were owned by Mohawk.

I worked at four different locations.

We both retired with a combined 79 1/2 years of service to the same company!

My early years in Eldred, Pa.

A lot of memories – experiences that I would never trade away!

It seems like every year it floods –

But 1972 was the worst,

It reached the second floors of most homes –

We were lucky – we lived on North Main Street-

Which was higher and out of the flood waters.

Sherry – Papa – Pam, and my grade school buddy – BOBBY!

It has been a long road since those early years in Eldred, PA.

Looking back to the early years.

Memories of life as I recall it.

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Papa’s World – Small Town childhood- Eldred, Pa.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

LOL – Yes – that very well could be me!!!!!

My father could do almost anything as far as building, working on engines –

But not me – I just did not get those genes!

But – what I did get was a sense of curiosity –

Wonder – history – how did things happen?

I love nature and try to see the little things and the wonder of it all!

I remember being very young and thinking that this place I lived in was the World!

Where did that road go?

I also was always wondering about OUTER SPACE!

Buck Rogers – The day the Earth stood still!

Lost in Space and the Twilite Zone!

I love to read – and often thought I would love to discover the buried past.

SMALL TOWN CHILDHOOD – ELDRED, PA.

My sister Donna was 15 years older than me.

My brother Roger was 10 years older than me.

My brother Mike was almost 4 years younger than me.

My memories of Donna were mostly after she left and was married.

My brother Roger was my hero –

My brother Mike was my antagonist!

Growing up in my early years was the 50’s-

Since I was born in 1949.

My brother had a club in our cellar.

He and my father drew and painted Disney Characters on the drywall, and my dad built a bar.

He later found one of those bowling-type games –

Where were you rolling these wooden balls –

At the head was slanted and leather cups with holes –

The ball would jump the Bariers and either go into the hole for a score-

Or into a hole that let the balls come back down a chute to the bottom of the game.

The further up the holes, the higher the score you make.

I have no idea where he got his thing, but it was great playing it!

Later, he also bought a pool table, and my younger brother and I would play pool.

Eventually, when I was in my middle teens –

I would go to the POOL HALL down on Main Street.

It seemed like a lot of the older town men would go and play pool –

I would watch them endlessly!

Rock and Roll –

Leather jackets and turned-up collars were part of the late 50’s!

Rolled up sleeves – slicked back hair-

Blue jeans with rolled up bottoms and boots!

My era was the 60’s – mid to late.

The Vietnam War and our coaches telling us we may get drafted and go to war.

But the HIPPIE GENERATION was in.

Smoking cigarettes – I never did!

I remember kids who did not make the team for football.

Dances at the tennis courts in the ball park.

I belonged to what was known as “THE EXPLOYERS”!

It was like a next step up from the Boy Scouts!

It was organized by my classmates’ father.

We had maybe 20 to 25 of us.

Seventh to twelfth grade.

We are the group that organized those dances and provided the records for the music.

Ye – a record player was used with 45s.

Long hair was coming in – hippies were working for peace and to end the WAR!

MUSIC – THE BEATLES HIT AMERICA, and I remember standing in the lunch line –

At the Otto-Eldred H.S,. and a upperclassman was singing “I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND”!!!!

Today I am retired, and my hobby and pastime is writing blogs!

My reasons!

To leave a journal of our lives for future generations to see and read on just who we were and how we lived our lives.

And – to keep my memory sharp –

An exercise of the mind.

Writing down my past memories-

Recording my childhood and my adult life.

A MEMORY JOGGER is what I call it!

WHERE I GREW UP and MY FAMILY, of which most are now gone.

I enjoy life – with all its ups and downs!

At this stage –

Doctor appointments – Dentist – errands that we share together as little trips!

Make the most of them because one day it will only be one of us.

GIVE THANKS FOR EVERY DAY – YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS THE LAST!

These are but a few past memories of growing up in a little town in NWPA!

My two sons –

Troy on the left and Shawn on the right!

Both still live back near where I was raised in Eldred, Pa.

I have moved on from there –

But I hold the memories dear to my heart.

They have remained to continue our heritage there!

I hope you all like this blog on my early years.

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Papa’s World – More early years memories.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

LOL – Never thought of this, but most likely it would work!

In our backyard, to the right of the big red barn –

Sat a small chicken coop!

I remember my mother and father –

Had a partial log with the flat side up.

A CHOPPING BLOCK, they called it.

I was not that old –

Perhaps 4 to 6 years old?

My job, with the help of my mother,

Was to catch the chickens.

My dad had a hatchet and stood by the wooden block.

Gruesome is what I call it today –

But back then, it was just what you did!

We would bring the chicken over,

And he would grab it and then “WHACK”!

Off would go the head.

That was life back then.

MORE EARLY YEARS MEMORIES!

One time, I was washing my parents’ car in the driveway in the backyard in front of the big red barn.

I had a bucket, soap suds, and a sponge.

Now my brother Mike and I fought like dogs and cats!

He would pick and pick, and when I had enough –

He would run and scream at the top of his lungs!

This time, he picked up the water hose and turned it on me!!!

I was soaked, and I took off after him.

He ran into the house through the cellar door.

With me right behind him, he was screaming bloody murder.

There was linoleum on the floor.

And it was wet from the hose.

My feet hit that spot and went out from underneath me!

I came down on my left side and put my hand down to break the fall!

It broke the fall, but also my finger!

The one next to the pinky now lay sideways!

All because he squirted me with the water hose.

My mom walked me down the street to the doctor’s office!

Dr. Krall was his name.

In we went, and he took one look at it and said, ” Sit down “-

Close your eyes-

This is gonna hurt!

He grabbed it and in one swift motion –

Yanked it straight and back where it should be!

Then a splint and a cast!

I do not know where Mike went, but he stayed out of my sight for some time.

MORE EARLY YEARS MEMORIES!

Summertime was riding my bike down the street to the park.

Oftentimes, I was by myself.

I would ride all the way back to the Pavilion –

Lay my bike down on the Creek bank and go down and hunt for crabs and frogs!

It was not deep –

No more than perhaps a foot.

Right across from that side were paths leading up and into the woods.

I admit I was scared to go back in there.

I did not know where it went, and the trees were large, with ferns and bushes.

A couple of times, I did go over there and take a few steps back in!

But I would chicken out and go back to the other side.

Those early years – I would ride that bike all over town!

It had a closepin with a bubble gum card on the spokes.

It made the coolest noise as I rode it!

My favorite card back then-

THE DUKE BLUE DEVILS CARD!

MORE EARLY YEARS MEMORIES!

There was a creek called THE BARDEN BROOK that ran through town and down to the Alleghany River.

When I was in my early teens –

There was a swimming hole not too far up the brook –

Called”BABS” –

I always wondered if it stood for “BARE ASSED BEACH”!

Perhaps someone who reads this and is from the area knows!

I went there a couple of times and swam.

Today, I would not even think about it!

But back then, it was a cool place to go and cool off on hot summer days!

MORE EARLY YEARS MEMORIES!

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MORE EARLY YEARS MEMORIES!

Papa’s World – Remember When?

/ Tom / Leave a comment

LOL- I do have some memories of when I was in grade school and before.

We were playing “JACKS” on the front porch of our house on North Main Street-

Eldred, Pa.

I only remember one child who was there, but vaguely – there were others.

The conversation came up about “LASSIE,” which we all watched weekly!

I googled “LASSIE” and it ran from 1953 to 1973.

George Cleveland, who played “GRAMPS” for four years –

Died of a Heart Attack July 15th, 1957!

We discussed that while playing “JACKS”!

I would have been eight years old then!

I also remember having a CORN COB pipe.

I do not know where I got it –

But we had a very big red barn-garage in the back yard –

That the railroad tracks ran directly behind it!

It seemed so close that the barn would shake when a train came by.

My father would park his car inside on the wooden planks on the first floor.

There was a door directly in front of the car that opened out, and I would stand there and watch the train as it whizzed by!

To the right as you first entered –

Was a stairway to the second floor where my older brother had installed a basketball hoop!

Under those stairs open to view –

Was a old horse-drawn sleigh.

Black and one seat for two people.

I never knew who had this or why it was there.

I often wonder what became of it.

It most likely was from the 1800s.

Upstairs – the huge room with a wooden floor and the basketball hoop-

Was an open window –

I could stand there and look down the tracks toward the town and see the Whitehawk beef company.

Also, the rear of the Slavins Furniture store and all the neighbors’ houses to that store.

I remember taking cornsilk – dried out –

And putting it in that corncob pipe!

Lighting it and puffing away and blowing the smoke out that window.

I did not inhale – just puffed on that pipe.

That didn’t happen all that often, but just the thought of doing it and getting away –

Well, it was part of my growing up!

I think it was right around the time that I spoke of “LASSIE”!

LOL – just some humor!

I also remember “BLUE BERRY HILL”!

That is what we called the hill with the large TV ANTENAE directly across the street from our front porch.

That ANTENAE was huge – sitting on top of that hill.

I believe it is for a reception for the town for TV.

We used to walk down to Slavins Furniture store and ask if they had any cardboard boxes we could have.

North Main Street of Eldred.PA –

Had a large group of young kids when I was growing up.

We all played together.

Back then, the cardboard had wax on it.

We would break the boxes down that the stoves – refrigerators came shipped in.

You would sit down, grab the front, and bend it back toward you!

Then someone would push you, and down the hill you would go.

The hay-like grass was about a foot high –

And that waxed cardboard made it slick –

And you would slide down that hill, going faster and faster.

Holding the front of the cardboard back toward you –

Gave you some protection in running over bushes that had thorns on them.

If it was going too fast – I just bailed out!

Watching “LASSIE” and sliding down the hill on cardboard-

Was part of my youth growing up!

The other thing before I got my bicycle –

Was going up tos sawmill!

It was just three houses up from my home.

Later in my early teens –

My father bought a membership at Smethport-

My younger brother and I would go with him-

We would start off first, and then he and his friends played behind us!

Back to the Sawmill.

They had a huge sawdust pile-

And we would go there and dig a hole or tunnel in it.
They would come out and chase us away, saying it could collapse.

Looking back now –

It was dangerous!

After a while, they told our parents, and we stopped doing it!

For our health, the past twenty years.

For information on how to purchase –

Just go to-

www.https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

APPLE TREES!

To the right of our driveway –

On the neighbor’s lawn –

A huge APPLE TREE!

At the beginning of the driveway on the left as you turn in –

A smaller APPLE TREE!

Directly in the backyard, to the left of the red barn – an APPLE TREE!

Four houses down the street –

Two more APPLE TREES!

These trees were not only good eating apples –

Some are so tart, and others are juicy yellow ones!

BUT THEY WERE NEIGHBORHOOD AMUNITION TREES FOR APPLE WAR FARE!

Also good for chucking at rail cars as they came by on the tracks!

My early years growing up in my neighborhood of North Mani Street in Eldred, Pa.

This is but a few memories of REMEMBER WHEN!

Thanks for reading my blogs-

PAPA’S WORLD –

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – SUBSCRIBE – IT IS ALL FREE!

Papa’s World – Great times and memories!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

How true is this!!!! LOL!!!!!

My life has been full of doing things!

From after H.S. to playing basketball for a radio station!

Playing softball for over ten years-

Then remarried and played co-ed volleyball with my wife.

At one point in my life before remarrying –

I rode a motorcycle for 8 years!

And I even had long curly hair! LOL!

After volleyball, we took up golfing!

And we both attempted to go golfing today!

We have now been married for over 43 years!

We are living out our retirement in OIB- N.C.

In our time together –

We have bought and moved SIX TIMES!

Three of those times, building homes!

Our life together has journeyed from NYS –

To NVA –

And S.C. and now N.C.

We both retired from the same company with a combined service of –

79 years!

FRIENDS! We lived as neighbors to Buck and Cindy at Pleasant Acres Drive-

Outside Portville, N.Y.

We now live 38 miles apart in N.C.

In the forty years we have known them –

We have traveled the world on vacations!

Many adventures –

And to this day, we still get together to golf –

See entertainment-

Dinner -enjoying the company after all those years!

So true in our life together!

My two sons – Troy and Shawn!

They still live in NWPA in the area they grew up in!

Always on my mind!

FAMILY means a lot to us!

For us, it started on 6-25-1982 –

The day we were married.

Time has gone by –

But we still make memories.

Thank you for reading-

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway. blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

LIVING AND AGING AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN!

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Years gone past!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Maddy – her first day on the bus for her first day of school!

Now – 23 years old and working as a Geologist-Scientist for a national environmental firm.

How this has changed in the years following!

The team I was part of for the protection of Sea Turtles – we sat this nest from 7pm. to 11pm.

each night until it hatched!

This was our first year – Sherry was on a previous nest.

My friend of many years – Buck and I at the COMEDY bus waiting for it to leave on our tour.

On a trip to Ashville, N.C.

Three oldest granddaughters – Ella – Maddy and Sarah during their vacation in Cameron Woods to see us.

My golfing buddies and friends for years and years – Buck and Jimmy!

The twins when they were young – playing hide and seek with me!

A memory from long ago!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – 1982 – the year we were married – YEARS GONE PAST!

Papa’s World – Early years – memories!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

6-25-1982 –

the day we were married –

Looking back – we combined two families –

her two daughters and my two sons.

My sons – we would have on weekends –

the rest of the time they lived with their mother.

Her daughters would go every second weekend-

to their father.

Long weekends were our “VACATIONS” back then.

We had a twelve-passenger second-hand van.

Packing picnic lunches and dinners –

going to state parks –

visiting family –

rarely overnights –

Camping – her father had a fifth wheel!

Money – well – we had none.

We did what we did –

and what we could afford –

It was a memorable time –

Many memories – fun times –

and we were together.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Sherry – Bonnie and Debbie –

sisters!

Barb and Bill –

Mother and Father.

We spent a lot of time at their country house.

Her father had a workshop –

and he taught me a lot about finishing.

He was a union carpenter –

who made many – many fine furnishings.

we still have the hutch he made for Sherry –

and he made each of her sisters one.

They had a fifth-wheel camper –

we had tents for us and the kids.

We would meet them at the campground –

And their camper became home base for cooking –

and getting out of the rain.

Many fond memories of back in that time!

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

This is so true –

the innocence of a child!

College soccer – first Maddy-

and now Ella who has completed her soccer senior year in college.

Travel teams for both granddaughters –

H.S. teams –

Journey to Lynchburg to watch both play-

Maddy – University of Lynchburg –

And Ella – Randolf College –

where as a Freshman –

She became the first to start and play all games as a freshman.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Living life in our new neighborhood –

making new friends and neighbors.

We choose Cameron Woods Community –

Being close to two beaches –

and over 30 golf courses.

But – we have found new friends –

a plus of moving here –

and one couple has a cottage-

back where we lived in WNY!

Small world –

good friends and good neighbors.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Our home here in N.C. –

No snow or ice –

cold – yes but the Sun warms it up!

Living in the South after the first 50 years in N.Y. and Pa.

We have found our new home after all these years.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Taylor and Cassidy –

when they first lived with us-

as they were waiting to move into their new home.

Now – fourteen years old –

and in the eighth grade.

If only we could go back in time!

THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Papa – Taylor and Cassidy –

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my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

COME BACK OFTEN – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – My early years in Eldred, Pa.

/ Tom / 2 Comments

My mother was Pa. Dutch-Irish Catholic – My father was Irish Prostatant –

My mother had ten brothers and sisters – my father had two brothers and a sister.

My mother’s mother married an Irishman – named Aiken – last name – David’s first name.

On my father’s side – the story went that five brothers came over from Ireland – County Tyrone –

it seems once here they split up and never saw one another again.

That was in the 1800’s.

I had an older sister by 15 years and an older brother by 10 years.

Then a sister who died at birth was 5 years older than me.

My younger brother came a little over 4 years after me.

My sister – lived next door to our house and had three children – the oldest was a couple year younger than my little brother.

I am on the left – my niece in the middle( Terri) and my brother Mike.

All three of us grew up together-

By the time I was ten years old – both my sister and older brother had moved on –

Eldred was a small town – 800 to 1000 people –

It seemed I knew just about everyone.

The main street was prone to flooding in the Springs –

It was cool at night – just a fan sometimes or open windows with screens.

It was lush and green but there could be the dog days of August!

My early life was filled with riding my bike – skating on the sidewalks – playing with neighborhood kids.

Smoking corn silk!

Spending hours at the ballpark – throwing apples – sliding down the hill on cardboard –

Going to work with my father – he was a supervisor for South-Penn – Pennsoil.

Playing baseball or football at the park.

Trust came in be home before the street lights came on.

My grandma lived with us – I remember sitting on her lap on the front porch –

Seeing a neighborhood boy walking on the sidewalk across the street on his way to school.

He was two years older than me – and I asked her when it would be my turn to walk to school!

My early years were spent in that small town – not knowing much about the world beyond those

town limits – except when we would go for the Friday night fish fry at the Moose Club in Olean, N.Y.

Sometimes even a movie at the theater down the street from that Club.

“OLD YELLOWER” comes to mind.

Playing “JACKS” on our front porch with neighbor children and discussing –

“Grandpa on Lassie died” – real life.

Those were my early years and so much more I remember – another time and another place.

I worked for 48 1/2 years – all except one of those years for the same company.

Today I am far removed from that area and town –

although my two sons still live in that area.

I have a couple of great nieces and their children still there and a niece still there.

Everyone in my immediate family is now gone.

But I have memories of those early years and it seems I can still see those streets I roamed in my mind.

Now in my senior years – my memories are still bright and I write them down in case they dim.

That little town of Eldred, Pa. still holds a special place in my heart –

someday I shall return – instead of walking the streets, I shall drive.

Visit the graves and see the ballpark – gaze at the house I grew up in – my great nieces live there now which means that house has been in my family now for over 80 years.

Thanks for reading my little memory of my early years – with my wife – who also grew up some 40 miles from there in a little town of Swedish descent called Mount Jewett, PA.

Visit my blog on my ongoing memoir of our family lives.

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Starting out – young – old – older!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Maddy – around four or five years old – soon to be 24 –

A college graduate – Environmental Science –

Today she works for a nationwide environmental firm as a Scientist-Geologist –

A four-year college soccer player – third team all-conference – second team all-conference –

And in her final year – Captain – two of the four years they made it to the NCAA Division III –

National tournament!

Papa – Ella (three-year starter college) Maddy and Sherry.

Life has been good to us – two granddaughters – one graduated from college –

and next Spring – the other (ELLA) graduates while having a four-year – two-degree- diploma-

and playing again all four years of college soccer and being captain in her Junior year.

She will be a PHYSED teacher to young children!

Ella next to Maddy – always smiling – kind – big heart to match her smile.

Will excel after graduation teaching children!

YOUNG – OLD – OLDER?

Maddy the day she graduated from the University of Lynchburg!

A life and career awaits her –

YOUNG – OLD and OLDER?

When they were young – Sherry – Cassidy – SARAH – Taylor Tammy and Maddy.

Today Sarah is almost 18 and going into her senior year in H.S.

SARAH – Cassidy – Ella – Taylor and Maddy.

SARAH – “SHE HUMS A BEAUTIFUL LULLAY TO THE HEARTBEAT OF HER OWN SUNRISE”!

The youngest of the three oldest grandchildren –

She is fashionable – graceful and artistic –

She is bold – graceful and funny!

SARAH is the heartbeat of youth!

Beautiful inside and out – she takes after her grandma – almost 5’10” tall –

Works all the time –

Whatever she chooses in life – she will excel!

YOUNG – OLDER – OLD?

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Early times – places – pictures!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

I remember the early days of golfing with Sherry!

But – she always hit the ball down the middle – me – not so much! LOL

I had a slice that made a right turn – around trees!

Those days were filled with laughter with our close friends the McBrides –

Buck golfed but Cindy didn’t!

Sherry and Cindy made fun of us for using the ball washer to clean the ball.

They would wear mittens with no fingers and laugh at us!

Those were the days of is – Buck and myself – “TEACHING” them to golf!

Today – in a scramble – us vs. them – they will beat “US”!

The early years are gone replaced by sighting the distance to the flag and selecting the ‘RIGHT” club!

I just grab the one I hit the best and go at it! LOL!

Those early years have turned into “US” years –

still playing with the McBrides but also going out by ourselves –

Our dream of living where we do is a reality –

Being together – sharing sun-fun and golf one day at a time!

While living in NVA – for about 20 years – we became baseball fans and attended many games –

We would drive into D.C. or go to the Metro – fifteen minutes away –

And ride it to the stop just a block or so from the stadium.

OUR PLACE IN THE SUN!

Beer – peanuts and hot dogs –

Some people think watching baseball is like watching “PAINT DRY”! LOL

But – we were there during the 2019 season and the WORLD SERIES run-

and the years running up to that magical year!

“TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME” still rings in my mind!

A picture of the early years back in NVA!

Cassidy and Taylor – now 14 years old – are here – The Brambleton town center –

most likely between 2 and 3!

Between houses for a year – they came and lived with us –

One day – I could not find them in the house-

the downstairs half-bath door was shut!

I knocked and they both said in unison – “HERE”! LOL

They had gone in and shut the door and set up the house with their dolls and toys!

That is an early memory I shall always carry with me!

So sweet and innocent – the early days of being close as twins –

having each other to play with –

I wish that could continue but growing up they had separate interests-

Taylor – riding horses and working in the barn and stalls!

Cassidy – gymnastics – arts and crafts and plays!

Both play the violin – both sing and both are different yet the same!

THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES IN PICTURES!

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – EARLY TIMES – PLACES and PICTURES!

Sarah – Cassidy and Sherry – MORMOR!

Papa’s World – My early years after H.S.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Eldred, Pa. Sits among the foothills of the ancient Allegheny Mountains!

About six miles to the border of New York State and Olean-Portville and Allegheny, N.Y.

Also this area in the ancient past – was part of the Seneca Indian Nation!

The Kinzua Valley and Chief Cornplanter –

Salamanca, N.Y. is now the reservation and has its own casino!

My early years were full of softball – basketball and football.

I also started golfing when I was ten years old –

my father had a family membership at Smethport Country Club.

My brother and I would go with him and he would send us off in front of his foursome.

Those early years of golf –

I did not know WHAT I was doing-

and of course, I used the old baseball swing!

Mike – my younger brother –

well, he was always breaking something –

He broke both arms at the elbow at different times.

One – he played he was shot and fell off a small roof –

at a neighbor’s house and his elbow hit a stone birdbath –

shattering the elbow and requiring surgery –

He had a pin in the elbow and his arm when held straight out – well the elbow was odd –

Sort of off-center.

Then later he fell off the railing on the front porch-

and hit his other elbow on a six-by-six –

and I will be darned – did the exact same thing!

Now – he playing golf – because of how his arms were when straight out –

he could drive a golf ball-

straight down the fairway and boy could he hit it.

This was back in the late 50’s and early 60’s –

He could drive past the old number one green at Smethport!

That is easy over 300 yards.

He became a scratch golfer and an excellent golfer in our area –

Gene Fasio –

once said to me –

“IF I HAD YOUR BROTHER’S DRIVES AND HIS OWN SHORT GAME – HE WOULD TURN PRO”!

Me – I still struggle hitting it straight –

although I am better now than I ever was!

I never went to Bradford, Pa. much –

I always got the feeling in H.S. – better to stay away from

all those Bradford lads!

Olean – that is where I went to work at 18 years old – June 5th. 1967.

Little did I know I would end up working for the same company for 47 1/2 years!

Those early years – 6 1/2 years to be exact –

I worked on the second shift –

3:00 PM. to 1:00 AM.

We had no breaks –

we “ARE ON THE FLY” as they say –

taking a break or lunch when we could.

We would all gather together on the back deck in Body Prep – there were four of us.

For 15 or 20 minutes we ate our dinner and then back to work –

We worked 10 hours and were paid two hours O.T. each day!

Back then – I was making $1.72 an hour and that O.T. was a lifesaver!

Then I bid on a job in the same department-

only on the first shift –

and continued the 10-hour days for another three years!

During my early time there I made many – many friends and it was an enjoyable time of my life.

But – my early life of marriage started to have cracks –

After a couple years on the day shift-

and in the Shipping department – I got a divorce.

I then met Sherry – and we have been married for 42-plus years!

On our wedding day June 25th. – 1982.

My early years were full of so many people and things we did –

Today – we are in our dream place living our life to the plus –

eating HEALTHY – Taking our supplements for close to 19 years.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog email: fitztdf@aol.com

PAPA’S WORLD – MY EARLY YEARS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL!

Papa’s World – Moving on from the early years of sports!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

For years and years, we followed these two granddaughters as they played soccer.

Today – our grandson is about to start his journey into sports and we hope to be there for him.

Loading the car up with cushions – chairs – food and drink –

driving miles and miles – rain – cold – snow and freezing ice.

We were grandparents who loved watching them play.

Travel teams to college – Maddy has graduated and Ella will be in her Senior year in college.

I remember them so fondly – cheering them on – heartbreak in losing – but regrouping for the next game or tournament.

Although I never played soccer – or was on a travel team – I did play baseball – football and softball –

later in life basketball and volleyball!

But watching them play – both ladies have talented skills in ball handling and passing.

Both were named Captains for their college soccer teams.

Ella will graduate as a four-year starter – being injured during her Junior year

with a leg injury.

Our early time of traveling to games came to an end when they both went off to college – Maddy University of Lynchburg and Ella to Randolf College.

But we selected games to go to for both of them – renting AIRBNB’S so the whole family could go and watch.

In two of the four years Maddy played – they won the conference title and advanced to the

Division III NCAA Tournament.

Ella has one more year to accomplish that!

Times we spent watching sports – and in the future one more grandchild to try and see as he grows older.

We have now moved on from those early years – I guess you could call us –

“THE SENIOR YEARS” LOL

But – we shall always cherish this time – living life in sports through our grandchildren!

Thanks for reading and as always HGD!

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Time passes you – through the years!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

June 25th. 1982 – The day we were married – 42 plus years ago – time passes!

It has been a busy 42 years – kids are all grown up

and the three older grandkids are too

three younger ones – two in the teens and one about to be ten

We have moved six times – built three houses – and lived in four states-

Worked a combined 79 1/2 years at American Olean Tile- Dal Tile and retired from there.

We have traveled the world and this country.

Our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic –

Very hot there – all-inclusive – even cigarettes and cigars when we smoked!

A diverse country with no middle class.

I guess you can say we experienced a lot of different things!

But – we did it and have no regrets – just wonderful memories!

We have had friends – close friends for all of that time – laughter – good times – wine – beer and golf!

We still get together a couple times a year – friends for life –

and now – in a couple days – all will be retired!

We are grateful for the lives we have led –

Love – faith – family and friends!

Living life one day at a time and living life to the plus!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – TIME PASSES YOU THROUGH THE YEARS!!!!!!!

Papa’s World – Who am I?

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Papa – my niece Terri and my younger brother Mike.

I was born across the border in Olean, N.Y. at the Saint Francis Hospital –

To an Irish Catholic mother –

Mary (Aiken) Fitzsimmons and an Irish Protestant father Clarence (Bob) Fitzsimmons.

As you can tell – there were many dynamics in my family.

I had one sister – Donna – who was 15 years older than me –

A sister who died at birth –

and a brother – Roger – who was 10 years older than me.

Then there was me for over four years and then Mike came along.

We lived in Pa. – on the main street in a very small town called Eldred.

My father was a supervisor in the oil fields for South Penn-Pennzoil.

My mother retired from Alcas – which today is known as CUTCO –

A world leader in the manufacture of KNIVES.

My sister married and lived next door to my parent’s house – and my brother-in-law-

Bill – was both Mayor – Police Chief and drove a semi-tractor trailer for Ethan Allen.

Growing up I always had a dream of one day living on or near a beach!

Today – we have realized that dream – living in N.C. in OIB – Cameron Woods Community!

My mother Mary – my father passed away at age 59 from cancer – he was a heavy smoker –

my mother was almost 98 when she passed on.

Our home on North Main Street in Eldred – was a beacon to all my friends –

my two brothers’ friends and my sister’s friends.

Even after we had left and moved away – Mary had an open door to any and all of them.

I grew up there – when a senior was in a car accident not knowing if I would walk again –

I got married at 17 with my first son on the way in a wheelchair.

After I graduated from H.S. – with a child – no college for me – I had a family to support –

I started work at AMERICAN OLEAN TILE CO. – in Olean, N.Y.

For the next 32 years – I had another son – divorced – work many jobs in the plant –

and remarried to Sherry on 6-5-1982!

Above is our wedding picture we lived just outside Portville, N.Y. in the country.

We combined two families – her two girls and on weekends my two sons.

On our wedding day in 1982 – the boys had gone home. Debby holding her cousin and Tammy with her arms around her cousin.

We stayed in the Portville area until 1999 – when we both transferred within the company –

Sherry also worked for AOTC – which became DAL-TILE –

Our close friends Elaine and Steve during those years in Portville, N.Y. – to this day.

We golfed – played competitive Volleyball – took vacations together and raised families.

My two sons – Troy and Shawn – still live back in Pa. not far from where I grew up.

They have been down to N.C. and hoping they come back although it is a 16b hour drive!

1982 – our wedding day – growing up in Pa. and N.Y.S. –

beautiful in the spring – Summer and Fall – brutal in the Winter

as I am not a snow-cold and ice person.

We both retired from AOTC-DAL TILE – ARMSTRONG – MOHAWK –

With a combined 79 1/2 years!

Sherry and Papa – living our dreams at the beach –

Thank you for reading and as always HGD! My Site: PAPA’S WORLD: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – WHO AM I? SENIOR LIVING TO THE PLUS – ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Papa’s World – Thoughts – younger years!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

My mother’s name was Mary – she was Irish Catholic – my father’s name was –

Clarence -Russell – Everyone called him Bob.

I grew up on North Main Street in a little town called Eldred – in Pa. near the NYS border.

Bradford, Pa. was 14 miles as was Olean, N.Y.

Bradford was known for OIL – Pennsoil – Kendall –

Olean for Saint Bonaventure – BONNIES BASETBALL!

My father introduced me to those years of BONAS basketball – sitting at the kitchen table –

with a small radio – a sheet of lined white paper – and he would write the names of each basketball starter

for Saint Bonaventure down and those of subs.

It was the age of ROCK and ROLL – for my brother – turned collar – slicked back hair.

He was ten years older.

I would sit with my dad, listening as he did and watching him put down an X for a score.

At the foul line, it was a ZERO, and if made a line on a slant drawn through it!

I must say I went with him when he bowled – yes our small town had a bowling alley!

He taught me how to keep score often saying –

“ADD TEN – THEN SUBTRACT 3 IN YOUR HEAD TO GET THE CORRECT SCORE”

depending on what number you were using to add and subtract.

My dad, you did not cross the line but was also very dedicated to his family.

It was sitting with him during those games at our kitchen table –

in the mid to late 50s- that I became a BONNIE fan.

Then – we would drive down the street to the local watering hole – “SLAVINS”!

A bar- grill and all the men would meet there as RUSS was a huge BONNIE fan.

He had a radio for the bar and everyone leaned in to listen while sipping beer.

Our seats were just by the entrance as the bar top bends around so your back was toward the door.

That went on for several years and then he somehow got a hold of one season ticket at the OLD OLEAN ARMORY!

Now this place was crowded and tickets were so hard to come by

hundreds of fans around the whole court so that you could touch the players sitting on the bench or throwing the ball in !

IN OTHER WORDS – A LOUD PIT OF SCREAMING LOYAL BONAS HOMETOWN FANS!

I had to stay home with the radio at the kitchen table and that is when I took up keeping the scores with Xs and O’S with slanted lines.

He wanted to take me but there were no tickets.

Later in life – after the RILEY CENTER was built on campus – I got my own tickets.

Later – before we moved to NVA – Sherry and I had season tickets along with

a golf membership across from the University at their golf course.

To this day I follow the “BONNIES” – checking news stories – recruiting and transfers –

I no longer keep score – but I remember my times with my dad –

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

AND MARY – SHE RULED THE HOUSE – IRISH CATHOLIC – my dad – IRISH PROTESTANT-

That my friends is a whole other blog to come! LOL

Papa’s World – Our early years! 6-25-82

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Our wedding day – June 25th. 1982 – starting out together after dating for 1 1/2 years!

It seems like only yesterday yet it is over 41 years ago and longer since we first started dating.

Both divorced – both had two children – her two daughters – my two sons –

We planned vacations on a budget – packing food to stop and have lunch on our way to a destination.

We had an old 12-passenger van – but fun trip.

We lived in the country – our driveway was 1/10 of a mile long – ice in winter –

It took me days to push and mow the lawn.

The early years – Sherry and her sisters. We were close to her family – often spending weekends with her parents!

Camping – tents and fifth-wheel and tag-along camper.

Our dream back then was warm weather – beach – surf and sand – vacations – wanting to stay!

We explored our states and country – sometimes by ourselves – mostly with kids –

providing what we could – money was tight.

But – we were happy – and we both worked for AOTC and DAL-TILE.

Along the way was National Gypsum, Private, Armstrong, and Mohawk.

The early years – Sherry and her sisters. In the mountains of the Kinzua Valley – Mount Jewett – Pa.

Our family was aging – the kids were gone to college and work.

We were thinking of transferring to within the company.

Several openings came up – but not what we wanted.

Then in 1999 – we applied for transfers and moved to NVA – still with Dal-Tile –

along the way we remained close to our friends for many years – one couple left for Wilmington, N.C. a few years before we went to NVA, and later the other couple transferred to Va.Beach.

We stayed in touch and in June of this year they all came to our new home to play golf –

FRIENDS FOREVER!

Our early years have now transformed into our senior years – now retired – and our dream came true!

We found our beach – sand – surf and warm weather – now our families come to visit.

Thanks for reading my site – PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog OUR EARLY YEARS 6-25-82!

LIVING OUR DREAM TO THE PLUS ONE DAY AT A TIME – 2023 – OUR SENIOR YEARS BEGIN!

Papa’s World – Back when grandkids were growing up!

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Before our only grandson Bode from Tammy was born – there were five granddaughters –

three – Maddy – Ella and Sarah from Debby and Mike – and the twins – Taylor and Cassidy from Tammy and Marcus.

Here at Sweet Frogs in Brambleton, Va. is Maddy – Sarah – Ella and Taylor, and Cassidy.

Cassidy and Taylor are fraternal twins – today Taylor is 5’7″ and Cassidy is about 5’2″ at twelve years old. Cassidy is slowly catching up to Taylor.

Cassidy received the top Math student award in her class while Taylor received the top award in her class for Integrity.

Today – Maddy has graduated from University of Lynchburg with a degree in Environmental Science

and Ella will be a Junior at Randolf College with a degree in Elementary PHYS ED.

Sarah will be a junior in H.S.

Both Taylor and Cassidy will be in the seventh grade!

Taylor and Cassidy – miss these early years!

Maddy with Taylor and Debby with Cassidy – Debby is Maddy’s mother.

Cassidy and Maddy – cousins – the bond is there!

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Taylor – Sarah – Cassidy – when they were young –

BACK WHEN GRANDKIDS WERE GROWING UP!

Papa’s World – Years have gone by – family – friends!

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Papa – 1967 H.S. yearbook – a long time ago!

Sherry and Papa – 1982 – the year we were married – where did the time go!

DRIFT AWAY – the times have been good – exploring places and seeing the world – living life!

Papa – on the water – wind in my hair – living life one day at a time!

Gratitude – love – happiness – kindness, and smiles are free!

Papa and Ryan – my grandson!

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PAPA and ELLA – now a junior in college! YEARS GONE BY – FAMILY AND FRIENDS – PAPA’S WORLD.

Papa’s World – Looking at the Past!

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SIXTEEN YEARS and counting – taking this supplement – trying to AGE healthy – walking – playing golf and pickleball!

Enjoying a Washinton Nationals game during the World Series season while living in Brambleton, Va.

Walking the beach with the twins 12 years ago – Sherry holding Cassidy and Papa holding Taylor!

Summer of 2022 – on the ICW – OIB and Sunset Beach – living the SALT LIFE – our dreams come true!

LIVING LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME – LIVING LIFE TO THE PLUS – LIVING OUT OUR DREAMS!

Thanks for reading Papa’s World in the sunset of our lives – living as healthy as we can. livnglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – LOOKING AT THE PAST – living for the future – one day at a time.

PAPA and SHERRY – dream life in OIB, North Carolina – the early years – thanks for reading!

Papa’s World – Life with SHERRY!

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A number of years ago – we had this taken – today – they have all grown so much – the next picture was taken last year!

And now there is MARLY – the Goldendoodle of the Krohn family – the kids love her! LIFE WITH SHERRY!

Sherry and her very close friends Cindy and Dottie – for 40 years – sharing life with SHERRY!

When Cassidy was on the left and Taylor was small – this was the year SHERRY retired from Corp America! Almost 12 years ago!

At a winery in California in the area of the wine country North of Sacramento.

LIFE WITH SHERRY!

Doing shots on the ICW marshes with Pam and Bob – my grade school buddy!

LIFE WITH SHERRY!

Dottie – Cindy – Sherry – before the wine tour at our home in Brambleton, Va.

LIFE WITH SHERRY!

Our grandkids – Maddy – Ella – Sarah – Taylor – Cassidy – and Bode – note how Cassidy takes care of Bode – to this day – still the same way!

LIFE WITH SHERRY!

LIFE WITH SHERRY has led us to PLAN B – living the salt life – one day at a time and life to the plus in the Carolinas!

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Sherry – Cindy – Dottie – always through the years – friends – LIFE WITH SHERRY in PAPA’S WORLD!

Papa’s World – Through the years – now living in the Carolinas!

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Our married life began on June 25th. 1982 in a little town in WNY – called Portville!

We both worked for the American Olean Tile Company in Olean, New York.

We combined two sets of children – my two sons and her two daughters – although my sons lived with their mother.

We traveled with all four on vacations and weekend events.

Troy – my oldest son and Shawn my youngest – both still live back in NWPA where we all are from and raised.

They have been down to visit last summer and hoping they come once again.

Our lives with our family are so important – and hoping all will visit this summer!

Mother and daughters and their families. Debby – is the oldest on the left and Tammy is the youngest on the right.

Our life together reflects the above in our values as a family.

Today we move forward in our retirement in the Carolinas – living our dream of the salt life one day at a time!

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PAPA’S WORLD – THROUGH THE YEARS – NOW LIVING IN THE CAROLINAS – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Times gone past – our life together.

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In the nearly 42 plus years we have been together – we are thankful for all we have! BLESSED!

While living near the nation’s capital – we were at many Nationals games – memories of a World Series – division titles!

Before Bode and when grandkids were young! Taken almost 12 years ago – the twins were not walking then.

After Bode – the twins are now 12 and Bode is 8! Maddy graduates from college and Ella will be a junior in college. Sarah will be a junior in H.S.

Some SENIOR HUMOR – been there done that! LOL Living life to the plus one day at a time!

Papa and MorMor with the grandkids – a few years ago. Bode loves Ella! The memories of times past! PRICELESS!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog TIMES GONE PAST – OUR LIFE TOGETHER!

SHERRY AND PAPA – in wine country in California – living life to the plus one day at a time! MEMORIES!

Papa’s World – Memories through the years – our life!

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When friends visit – we have shots while Kayaking – on the marsh of the ICW! OIB!

While living just outside Washington, D.C – taking in a Nationals game!

Papa being set up for the spike – late 80’s Corporate Cup competition for American Olean Tile Co.

Debby – Papa – Sherry – Elton awards for the Juice Plus Company – I do clean up! Two beautiful ladies!

Friends – Dottie – Cindy – Sherry before our wine tour – all these years and still getting together!

In our backyard – Solo Stove fire pit! Thanks for reading Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – MEMORIES THROUGH THE YEARS – OUR LIFE TOGETHER!!!!