I am the only one left now –

First was my brother Mike who left us way too early –

I do not have many pictures of him – but I have his image –

for as long as I live in my mind.

Curly headed little red head – always smiling –

giggling – I can still hear him.

And what a golfer he became –

the first one to hit that ball 300 yards or more.

On the old number one at Smethport Pa.

The one that runs along the highway – I was with him when he did it.

He drove past the green and into the yard behind the green!

That had to be 350 yards and a little grade uphill!

He was mostly a par golfer and had he been able to putt –

Well Gene Fazio once told me –

“IF I HAD HIS LONG GAME AND MY SHORT GAME – I”D TURN PRO”!

Gene was one of the finest golfers in our area and there were a lot of them.

One by one they passed away – first Donna –

my sister who was 15 years older than me-

Who rasied me until she she was married to Bill and moved out.

She was the most kind and considerate person I have ever known.

She always could see both sides and I never heard her say a cross word.

Bill – was second to go – a Korean War vet – a truck driver and Police chief

A Mayor and a wise brother in law – always funny –

he had nicknames for almost all the kids

but he simply called me Tommy or Tom.

We were more friends than brother in laws-

Then it was my Mom – who outlived all her friends –

two children and all her brothers and sisters – cousins –

She was almost 98 years old when she passed.

She was small – always a smile – and very kind.

She was a true baker – she could bake without following a recipe.

Cakes – Pies Homemade bread and rolls –

she did it all and everyone in town knew her.

She would sit on her front porch and they would honk

and holler “HELLO MARY”!

People would pull over and stop and come over and talk with her.

She was Mary – the kind lady – but she also was tough as nails.

She ruled the roost so to speak.

I always listened to her – I did not want to hurt her.

The last to pass in this picture was my brother Roger –

who as I grew up was my idol.

He was ten years older – but in the last ten years of his life

we became very close.

He always lived far away and I lived for any information from him

I would ask my Mom – “DID YOU HEAR FROM ROGER”?

He too played golf – although not as well as Mike –

he was always a little over Par – but always under 40.

He was very smart – having been named “WHO’S WHO”

while in college.

He was a ladies man – he knew how to be a gentlemen –

he was “IT” when it came to the ladies.

Now I am the last – my dad passed from cancer when I was just 19.

I have my two sons –

I have a niece Kelli and another Jen –

I have two great nieces and they have children.

And I have two grandsons from Shawn.

Ryan and Dylan

And I have my soulmate – Sherry – my wife.

Our extended family here whom I love dearly.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

“THE ANGELS OF MY LIFE – LOOKING DOWN ON ME”!