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Papa’s World – Everyday life – Family and Friends!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Ocean Isle Beach Causeway Bridge!

We live on the mainland close to this bridge.

In ten minutes, we will cross the bridge.

Our lives changed when we moved South.

We left friends and family behind.

Some friends have since moved down near us.

Family has been to visit numerous times, and we have made the trip back to see them often.

Which, before we sold our house, we said we would do.

The trip back up I95 is not one I cherish.

So we try to stay off it as much as we can.

But this area –

Close to three beaches, stores, and entertainment –

Is suited for us.

In the five years we have lived near here-

We have experienced two snow and ice storms.

Very rare for this area.

We have experienced one hurricane – Category 1!

I have doubts if we will stay for 2 or 3!

Time will tell.

But the sun and blue skies –

The warm weather –

The golf is just across the road, and there are 30 other courses nearby.

Entertainment – shows and acts –

Is just thirty to sixty minutes away.

Sipping coffee and tea on the ICW –

Volunteering for The Protection of Sea Turtles each summer.

Live bands are in concerts all around us for the summer months.

Festivals in the other months of the year.

The three youngest grandkids love to come and spend time with PAPA and MORMOR!

The three oldest have been here also.

Their lives have changed.

Two have graduated from college, and the youngest is in her first year of college.

But the bonds remain there.

My two sons and their families have been to visit us.

It is a long 16-hour drive for them.

FAMILY IS IMPORTANT TO US!

We now have past friends living five to forty-five minutes away.

Others, a couple of hours.

We get together and continue those friendships.

FRIENDS ARE IMPORTANT TO US!

In retirement, we have no schedule.

An afternoon sitting in the shade of Sunset Beach Park –

Reading and watching the boats traveling up and down the ICW!

Our dreams have come true in our senior years.

An early morning coffee and tea at the OIB marina-

And 59 Causeway bar and grill.

Watching the boats come in or just relaxing!

This is our life now.

We also have been practicing Healthy alternatives for over twenty years-

BUILDING OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS INTO OUR SENIOR YEARS!

Information can be found at – www.https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

PAPA’S WORLD – EVERYDAY LIFE – FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

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Papa’s World – Family meets up – cousins-sisters!

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It had been years since they were all together-

And even though half were not here-

They reflected back on youthful memories!

Sherry – her daughters Tammy and Debby.

Next is Bethany ( missing her sister Chrisy and her mother Debbie – Sherry’s sister)-

Then Natalia and her mother,

Bonnie – Sherry’s sister.

Missing from Bonnie’s sons,

Ethan and Nigel!

The event was the senior graduation –

o

Of Debby’s daughter, Sarah.

at her home in Lake Holiday, VA.

Growing up, all the cousins and sisters –

Were at family gatherings!

Now, they are far apart-

From Tenn., Pa., Va., and N.C.

A little more than half the cousins were here.

They all grew up attending family functions.

Family from Sherry’s side is very important.

I have very few left from my side –

And my sons live back where they grew up in NWPA!

A niece and great-nieces

And great-great-nieces and nephews.

A little more than half were here to celebrate Sarah’s graduation.

Sarah is sixth from the right in the long light color dress!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

As SENIORS – aging as HEALTHY as WE CAN!

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Retirement – family and friends!

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In Cameron Woods Community –

We have made new friends!

Marcea and Bill –

Ken and Marylou-

Diane and Steve ( who are from where we lived in WNY)

Fun times and looking forward to more of the same!

Where we chose to live –

Near the beaches –

On the border of N.C. and S.C.

In the winter – we can survive with no snow or ice- most of the time.

And – we can walk the beach anytime we choose.

We are close to old friends – three couples!

Our enclosed Lanai is a haven for our plants and flowers!

We could not do thus BACK in NVA!

This plant belonged to Sherry’s mother – Barb – and reminds us of her every day – GIGI!

Our lemon tree – who would have thought!!!!

Small things make us happy!

Now – we get to spend time with two couples who have been our close friends for over forty years!

Golfing – singing – lifting a few drinks and laughing!

So many times we have been together that it ends up like this!

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

and we all are from back in WNY and close to NWPA!

Friends are forever and more!

My oldest buddy from grade school – Bob and his wife Pam

We now see them every year – past six years –

when they stop with their RV in their sixth year of retirement.

Friends are special parts of our life together.

Family from back in NVA-

While we left them to move South –

They come down and we go back to NVA!

Family from back where we grew up in NWPA!

Now that her mother has passed away – we do not get there as often as we would like!

But – they have been down a couple times and we hope for them to be here this summer.

Sherry and her sisters!

Bonnie on the left –

Still lives next door to where they were raised.

Debby on the right lives one mile from us in Cameron Woods Community.

Family – hoping that Bonnie can sometime in the future make it down.

When we do go back to NWPA-

We will see her and her family and my sons and their wife-partner!

Sunset Beach and in the upper far right corner – Ocean Isle Beach.

We are here because of choice.

We are happy in retirement –

With family – friends and our life here.

Thanks for reading –

my site: PAPA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

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Papa’s World – FAMILY TIME MEMORIES!

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Eleven years ago Maddy – Ella and Sarah – today Maddy is 5’6 –

Ella and Sarah are 5’10 –

What a difference time makes –
Maddy has graduated from college –

working as a Scientist-Geologist for a major Environmental firm nationwide.

Sarah is an H.S. senior and Ella is a college senior.

FAMILY TIME MEMORIES!

Sarah – Ella and Maddy today!

A very emotional Bode as he ended his role in The Little Mermaid.

Taylor – Cassidy and Sarah after their performance in The Little Mermaid.

The three – brother and two sisters –

went to a two-week camp to participate in The Little Mermaid.

This was the third year in a row they have done this.

FAMILY TIME MEMORIES!

Marcus – Taylor – Tammy – Bode – Cassidy and Marley!

Bonnie and Debbie – sisters and Sherry – the oldest.

FAMILY TIME MEMORIES!

Tammy with the twins – Cassidy and Taylor-

FAMILY TIMES MEMORIES!

A long time ago in a bar somewhere in DC.

SHAERRY and PAPA-

FAMILY TIMES MEMORIES!

This past summer – celebrating Sherry and my –

75th. birthdays with beach vacations with family.

FAMILY TIMES MEMORIES!

The six grandkids – FAMILY TIMES MEMORIES!

Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

June 25th. 1982 – Sherry and Papa –

FAMILY TIMES MEMORIES!

Papa’s World – SAND – SURF and OCEAN!

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Fireworks over the Fourth of July –

reflect off the nighttime action of the waves pounding the shoreline!

This was on our Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.!

Water – warm during these months of Summer –

Attract both humans and fish –

Jellyfish – Man-of-wars and Sharks!

A big White Shark was attracted not far from this shoreline for several days in July!

But – the beach is crowded with thousands of vacationers this time of year!

and here on OIB –

you can rent golf carts to move around the streets of the beach community!

Restrictions are that you must wear seat belts –

have a driver’s license on you –

and as with the company we used –

DO NOT CROSS THE CAUSEWAY BRIDGE to the mainland!

You use the headlights at dark

and always the turn signals!

Here are Ella – Papa – Maddy and Sherry –

on the morning we checked out of the beach house-

we rented for the week of the Fourth of July!

We were the last to leave –

and ensured everything was neat, tidy, and locked up!

We decided to do a BEACH VACATION to celebrate my earlier birthday –

and Sherry’s birthday –

on the 5th of July!

We both turned 75 years old this year-

and we live one day at a time –

and we try to live life to the plus each and every day!

This house brought our families together-

in that we could sleep all twelve of us –

and it had 3 1/2 bathrooms!

We were a two-minute walk to the beach entrance –

and the surf and sand!

135 yards – not bad –

and the front porch was shaded for afternoon cocktails –

music – laughter and bonding time.

There was ample room to park four cars,

two golf carts,

and a car of the company we had for several nights

who visited us during the day!

We had a very large living room – kitchen and dining room all in one.

Two bedrooms- a full bath –

and a half bath on the first floor –

and two bedrooms –

and two baths on the upper floor.

A large area underneath –

with an enclosed shower and picnic table –

another table and four chairs we did not use –

and an outdoor BBQ charcoal grill which we used for one night!

All in all, it was a perfect fit for our families!

We celebrated on the beach the Fourth of July major fireworks –

no personal fireworks are permitted!

You were allowed Sparklers –

but nothing that exploded!

Here five of the six grand stood in the driveway with their sparklers!

SAND – SURF and OCEAN were our major themes for our vacation together in the OIB!

OIB – JULY FOURTH – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Times with friends and family!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

The family arrived –

all except Maddy and Ella who came a few days later.

Here – we are in our community pool at Cameron Woods Community.

We would the next day move into the beach house we rented on OIB.

But – for this one day –

it was relaxing after a day of driving to get here –

and – we had the entire pool to ourselves!

The water was lukewarm but refreshing –

and later at the Ocean – it was warmer!

This was our first family vacation since before the Pandemic.

It also was to celebrate both Sherry and me turning 75 –

and our wedding anniversary of 42 years.

Being all together brings back so many fond memories of past vacations.

TIMES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

We have all been friends for years and years-

often getting together every 4 to 6 months-

At each other’s house for long weekends –

and playing golf.

Seeing movies – singing Karaoke –

just having Friends time together.

Now – we are all retired –

living our lives out in different parts of N.C.

Friendships that go way back for years –

PRICELESS!

TIMES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

It has been a long journey of 42-plus years –

but really –

how did that go by so fast!!!!!

We have given –

but we have received so much more from Family and Friends!

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – TIMES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Papa’s World – Today – Sherry’s Birthday!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

A very special person in our family – a leader – mother –

and Patriarch of the family –

inheriting many fine qualities from her parents –

Born and raised in a small community in NWPA –

in the Allehany mountains –

built by the Swedes in the 1800s – Mount Jewett, Pa.

Swedish and German decent –

Reminds me so much of her father!

Tall – smiles – humor – and a guiding light for the family.

The day we were married – 6-25-1982 – born 7-5-1949 – beautiful outside and inside.

Mother to Debby and Tammy – highly respected by both – sharing lives together – and grandchildren.

These are her heart and soul –

She would and does anything for them.

Grandkids – call her Grandma and MORMOR – MOTHERSMOTHER!

This is who she is – advocating for the rights of women and those who are looked down on.

She is caring – giving and helpful to those in need – volunteering her time and service.

If you know her – if you see this – if you see her –

WISH HER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY –

and know that she is always watching over people – family – friends – and neighbors.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRY – and so many more to come – love – Tom (Papa) – 7-5-2024

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – TODAY – SHERRY’S BIRTHDAY!