I never imagined – back when – as I neared retirement – I would sometimes not remember what day of the week it was ! Nor – would I ever wonder – with the hours of each day – “HOW DID I EVER FIND TIME TO WORK”?
You want to stay Young ? You want to stay active ? To do that – at least I find – the way I remember – is that Monday night is put out the GARBAGE – and pick up is Tuesday ! Now – that I remember for some reason. Also – I know it is Monday – because that is the day Tammy – our daughter – closes her store up , Kids 529 Consignment shop ! So – she does not work that day – and in the school year – I do not pick up the twins from school.
Bode – Cassidy and Taylor- Tammy & Marcus little ones.
The rest of the week – each day – I go and wait in a car line to pick up the girls – and I get there early – so I am usually second in line – and the line when school is out is about 70 or more cars ! So – I am prepared – I take my water -maybe a snack- a pillow – and leave the car on – it is a Hybrid so it mostly runs on the battery. I kick the seat back and turn my favorite radio show on – 106.7 – the Sports radio show that covers the D.C. area.
Sometimes I even drift off for a power nap!
Cassidy – Bode & Taylor 8 – 4 – 8 years old.
That takes me up to Tuesday – garbage day and pick up the girls day. Wednesday is take the twins to choir day – and meet Granny -( Jennie )- Marcus mother – who picks up Bode every day from preschool.
She takes him home and when Marcus is done – he picks him up and then will come to our house and pick up the twins.
But – Wednesday is church choir and all three sing – even Bode who can not read but will memorize the words and they are good singers.
We now have covered Monday thru Wednesday . Thursday – I start preparing again for garbage day – but also recycle day – by setting everything out for pick up on Friday !
At National Harbor – Washington D.C. Sherry’s shirt says it all!
There are also days that we will journey into D.C. for special trips – taking all the grand kids – we took the two oldest – Maddy and Ella – and got off at Arlington – took in the Tomb of the Unknown soldier and then walked across the 14 th. street bridge and spent the day at all the memorials – walking the Mall and having lunch. We walked miles that day and they loved it.
So – that leaves Friday – the day the GARBAGE & RECYCLES are picked up. I count the days by that format – very seldom do I know the exact date – I can look at the top of the paper – or my phone.
On Oahu – North Shore NO CARES – NO WORRIES #livinglifetotheplus
But to be perfectly honest with you – being retired – it does not really matter – I also count down days by what we have scheduled coming up ! Yes -we PLAN- put it down in writing – search and research – add names of visitors to come – the dates and what we are going to do. Some people can not do that for whatever reason – but not us – WE DO IT! Such as so goes our life – we live life to the plus one day at a time – but we know what is ahead – after all – for us – that is part of the excitement – just like little kids – “HOW MANY SLEEPS ARE LEFT PAPA ” ?
And then the early morning comes and you head out – all part of that special time – now I look back – and I wonder – JUST HOW DID I FIND TIME TO WORK ?
RETIREMENT – YOU COUNT THE DAYS BY GARBAGE – the weekends – well they are just another day -most times you just do not care !
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.
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Our granddaughter – Cassidy – Starfish and Swan in The Little Mermaid – 2 1/2 hour production.
We had lists of things to see and do while they were here for twelve days!
The downtime was also on those lists and arts and crafts for each of them.
Keeping three kids on the go – with rest times.
Bode and the crafts he made – along with his stuffed shark.
While he did the crafts by himself – we had to read a lot of the instructions to him so he would understand them. He will be in second grade in the fall.
He did very well and made the contraption to pick up items from the floor.
Taylor with her crafts – the picture frames they all picked out the colors.
She would much more like to ride a horse but she was game and made the things you see here
even stitching the leather notepad holder.
She is our reader – books and books – always reading.
This is Cassidy’s element – she loves her arts and crafts!
She is so talented – making things – she made the cards – painted the switch plate covers –
painted rocks and copied the American flag that President Bush painted – exactly like he did.
Cassidy’s drawing with a pencil.
Cassidy’s other little girl drawing.
The list was long – but downtime was important and it showed in the arts and crafts.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World- my blog: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
One is the oldest granddaughter while the second is the youngest granddaughter with her twin sister.
One is in her third year at University of Lynchburg – Enviromental Engineering major.
One is in the fifth grade – so caring she calls or zooms her grandmother almost every day.
One starts at the attack front position for the ranked lady soccer hornets soccer team.
And had played in 13 games as a freshmen – started her Sophomore year and again as a junior.
One moved to sit beside her older cousin at the soccer game.
Both are dear to our hearts!
Cassidy with MARLEY – the newest addition to her family!
Always smiling – always caring – always protective of her brother – just who she is. Cassidy
Maddy – a junior at the University of Lynchburg – Environmental Engineering – playing soccer and carrying above a 3.80 GPA! Next to Papa in the picture.
Number 13 – left front attacker – crossing a dribble with her left foot to get around a defender. On a top 25 team in the Division III national polls.
Granddaughters – oldest to youngest – youngest admires the oldest – both exceptional to us –
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MY SITE: PAPAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog MY EMAIL: fitztdf@aol.com
Many times when her father was alive – we would go on vacation with them –
then when he passed away – we continued taking GIGI with us where ever we went.
The grandchildren all loved their GIGI – and today – the grandkids call Sherry – MORMOR – Swede for MOTHERS – MOTHER
You see GIGI ( Barb) was Swede through and through – her mother was born in Sweden.
In Mount Jewett where they lived – was an early Swedish settlement from immigrants.
The men in 1886 built a replicant of an eight-sided Swedish church – and the one in Sweden still stands as does the one called Mount Nebo in Mount Jewett – in NWPA!
Every year in that little town in NWPA – a Swedish festival is held.
Both Barb and Bill at one time were the king and queen of that festival.
GIGI – holding Taylor – Maddy holding Cassidy – Sarah and Ella
Memories of GIGI for the grandkids was she was always laughing – smiling – red cheeks –
Holding her hand as they walked or climbing up and sitting beside her.
Learning how to sing a song in Swedish and singing it to her.
Those are memories not lost – but retained in our minds.
GIGI is ever there watching over us.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – where memories come alive and live on.
I have always been a history buff – ancient history – but also family history.
My sister and brother were fifteen and ten years older than me.
So when I came along I had missed the family fishing trips to Canada each year.
And my sister became the family photo taker and camera buff.
All the family history was passed down to my sister’s daughter and then suddenly she passed away.
Unknown to me – a friend of their family cleaned out everything and threw it away.
Everything was gone except the few pictures I had and my brother had.
I decided that what happened there would not happen for me and my family.
So – by being encouraged by my wife Sherry – we set up this blog – where all the family history and pictures can be in one place for all to see and read.
Sherry and Papa ( Tom)
She has encouraged me to write it down along with pictures for future generations to look back on.
Our family before Bode
I have two sons from a previous marriage – Troy and Shawn who still live back in NWPA.
Shawn runs an energy company contracting out to the state and large power companies.
Running state audits and working through state grants to insulate senior citizens’ homes from the harsh winters.
He covers the entire western part of Pa.
Troy – built homes from the ground up – anything you wanted he could do.
After years of doing this ( he was in high demand) Shawn talked him into coming to work for him –
His business has grown to almost seven days a week.
Troy runs the insulation and energy side while Shawn concentrates on the Audit side.
Troy is learning that side and taking tests and courses to also step in and help.
I am very proud of both these boys and trying to talk them into taking a break and coming down for a visit.
Shawn and Trisha ( our daughter-in-law)
Winterizing homes in Eastern USA for the elderly has become big business – conserving energy
on the power grid for major corporations in order to provide heat and electricity –
He has tapped into a business that for him is seven days a week.
He constantly is looking to hire people and train as auditors.
Troy started working for him a couple years ago.
If anyone is looking for a career out there – contact me – fitztdf@aol.com and I will put you in contact with him – he travels the whole western part of Pa. North to South.
Shawn ( young one ) and Troy – my sons back in NWPA!
For them I write – post pictures and give them memories that I still have in my head.
Ryan – our oldest grandson
Ryan lives in Tenn. and we have stayed in touch with him – he manages a hotel
and recently opened a bar – restaurant business with two other partners.
We attended his wedding a few years ago in Nashville, Tenn.
He has visited us once a few years ago – he served his country
and is like his father(Shawn) making his own way in the business world.
Dylan Shawns youngest son
He just spent four years in the service and is now out – living with his mother or in that area.
He reminds me so much of Shawn.
While we do not often get to see either one – both are in our memories and hearts.
Hoping they can come and stay with us in the future.
Bode – the youngest grandchild from Tammy – is the only boy with five granddaughters.
He is all boy – cars – trucks – bikes – and always without shoes and socks – even in winter! LOL
Bode’s parents and sisters and their puppy Marley.
Debby and Mike and their three daughters – Ella – Sarah and Maddy
This is my “WHY” for writing this blog – my memories put forth in words and pictures for all these grandkids and our children to read in the future.
Life in pictures in words – memories – past – present and future to come.
I want to thank my wife who is the driving force behind this blog.
SMILES – LAUGHTER – PEACE – HARMONY and POSITIVE THOUGHTS!
That is WHAT PAPA’S WORLD is all about.
THANKS FOR READING and being member of PAPA’S WORLD: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
From that little one to an adult and a junior in college. Maddy was the first and now there are six.
TAYLOR and Papa.
Cassidy – TAYLOR – Bode
TAYLOR – today – who is going to be taller than all the rest – no longer my LITTLE ONE!
ELLA ( tiny) and Maddy
ELLA ( tiny) now a Freshman at Randolph College
We called her the nickname from her father – she always had a soccer ball or basketball in her hands.
Today – she is the starting midfielder for the college – playing almost every minute of the games.
Tiny now is taller than Sherry who is 5′ 9″.
CASSIDY and Taylor
CASSIDY – the caring little mother to Bode.
Today she is the smaller of the twins – with the biggest heart – always protecting Bode when not arguing with him! LOL, They should have been the twins they are so much alike!
She is the one who counts the days down to when she can see us – who zoom calls every week.
A little fireball with the biggest heart of them all.
SARAH and Ella
SARAH – Bode – Cassidy – Taylor and Ella.
Today – Sarah is almost as tall as Ella who is 5’10” – the fashion girl who wants to go to NYC!
The twins adore her and whenever we get together – they are three peas in a pod.
She is only a Freshman in H.S. – already was a contender for prom queen.
She is her own self – funny – outgoing – and just might have been a very good soccer player like her sisters.
Cassidy BODE Taylor
Taylor BODE Cassidy
So much like Cassidy that they should have been the twins – yet – he is growing –
and someday I think will be taller than Taylor who he is built just like at seven years old.
Full of energy – always on the go – wear no socks or shoes most of the time.
Or a jacket or gloves!
Out of the six grandchildren – the only boy.
Bode Ella Cassidy Taylor Maddy and Sarah
Here today at Christmas day for presents – memories from the past to the present.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World MY BLOG: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com
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