The six of us have been friends for about forty-plus years. Living as neighbors to Cindy and Buck and Jim and Dottie grew up in the same little town in NWPA called Eldred in the Alleghany mountains as I did.
Jim – Sherry and I all worked for Dal-Tile – (American Olean Tile) in Olean, N.Y.
And of course, being and working in WNY – we all were Buffalo Bills fans – and we watch them whenever we can by going to
Buffalo Bills sports bars in our areas.
Cindy and Buck live 30 miles from us and we get together often to play a round of golf – have dinner and just enjoy our friendships.
Papa – Dottie – Cindy – Sherry – Buck and Jim – Dottie and Jim live in Va. Beach and in the coming years will build on a piece of property in Northern North Carolina.
They will be about three-plus hours from us when they retire.
Sherry – Cindy – Dottie – Forty-plus years of being friends. When we all get together – it comes down to Gals vs. Guys in a golf scramble.
The last time we gave them two strokes – they missed a four-foot putt on the last hole for the WIN!
So we tied 37 to 37!
Sherry and Cindy – both into walking miles and miles – I try to keep up!
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Playing golf at Magnolia Greens in Leland, N.C. where Buck and Cindy live. Living life one day at a time!
Sherry – Sunset Beach, N.C. PAPA’S WORLD – HAPPY TIMES in NORTH CAROLINA WITH FRIENDS!
He had red curly hair – a smile a mile wide and a laugh and giggle that you knew right away who it was.
He was my younger brother – we were like a second family for my parents –
Donna and Roger were 15 and 10 years older.
We had a sister who died at birth in between the two sets of kids.
We fought like cats and dogs do – but we also were close.
He instigated a lot of it and would scream bloody murder as loud as he could when I had enough.
I was the one who into trouble but mom always knew as she later told me.
He was just o darn likable with that hair and giggle.
MOM ( Mary) Sue ( Susan) his wife and Mike ( we look alike here I think.)
We played all the time together – cowboys and Indian’s – running the neighborhood –
He was always hurting himself – one time he climbed up on top of a attached shed at a neighbors house.
He was going to ambush me but I saw him and pretended to shoot him.
I saw what he was going to do and I yelled STOP – but he did it anyway –
always acting real life he sort of collapsed and rolled off the shed to the ground as if dead.
But there was a stone bird bath under the shed roof and when he came down he hit his elbow on it!
Off to the doctors office we went and then in the ambulance to the hospital to have surgery on the elbow!
He had to have a pin put in and that elbow was off to the side -making his arm seem crooked.
Mom ( Mary) talking to Mike’s daughter Jennifer at the kitchen table.
A few years later – we were on the front porch – and he had climbed up onto the porch railing – I told him he had better get down before he fell.
Well – as always – he gave me that silly laugh and giggle – and I could not help but smile until he did fall.
At the end of the porch beneath that railing – a 2 x 10 stuck out – he came down and hit that board with his other elbow and we repeated the same thing all over again with another surgery – now he had two elbows exactly the same!
But -it seemed like it was a perfect solution for him as it perfected his golf swing and he had a lot of power and strength in those arms – one time I was with him – and this was way before anyone was hitting the ball 300 yards.
We were playing the old number one hole at Smethport – he was a Freshman – me just beginning my senior year –
He hit that ball and because of how his elbows were now shaped – he hit it straight with power. That hole was a gradual uphill some 305 yards!
His ball ended up past the hole and into the yard behind it! Some 50 or 60 yards past! Uphill!
If I had not been there to see it – I would not believe it!
Gene Fazio – who was a card member of the PGA and a premier golfer in the Pa. and NYS area –
told me – “IF I HAD MY SHORT GAME AND MIKE’S DRIVING – I WOULD GO ON THE PGA TOUR”!
Mike was a scratch golfer even with those elbows.
Mike later with a red beard and that red curly hair!
Mike ended up bigger than me – he was as tall as my father who was a little over six foot tall.
The brother’s – Roger – Mike and I got our curly hair from my dad – my grandfather was bald.
Mike ended up around 215 pounds and played football – but he could kick that ball just like he hit golf balls.
Far and straight – he became a field goal kicker way before that was common in H.S.
His kick offs were always through the end zone and he went on to college at Mansfield University of Pa.
Where he became the kicker for the college football team.
He graduated in Criminal Justice.
My step dad John – Sue and Mike.
As I said before he was always doing something and getting hurt!
He was riding my bike one day and I told him to get off as he was not big enough to ride it!
His legs could barley touch the pedals – sure enough his foot slipped and he came down on the cross bar –
off to the hospital we went again – operation for a rupture!
My brother in law Bill nick named him JUICE!
I really do not know why other than he was like electric – energy running through him – always a live wire!
Then one day Bill and I were sitting on the front porch –
and he said “HERE COMES JUICE”!
And then Bill said “JESUS CHRIST”!
And Bill hollered at him – “JUICE- PUT THE ROPE DOWN”!
But too late!
Mike was walking up the street twirling a dog rope with a clasp on the end of it over his head like a cowboy!
He got it too low just after Bill yelled to put it down and it started to wind around his head lower and lower.
It came around and smacked him right on the mouth –
“KNOCKING OUT HIS FRONT TOOTH”!
Off to the dentist office we went – oral surgery to extract what remained in his mouth of that tooth.
THAT IN A NUTSHELL WAS MY BROTHER MIKE!
Red hair – bearded – always smiling and that silly laugh – giggle.
I MISS HIM as he passed away when I was 35.
Sue Mike Jenifer
My brother MIKE – loved – close as brothers are – gone way too young – but never forgotten.
Our three oldest granddaughters – Maddy ( 22) Sarah ( 16) Ella ( 19 ) – we have watched them grow up – two in college – one in H.S. – it seems like only yesterday there they were at the top of the stairs – giggling – waiting for their parents to get up on Christmas morning – we lived life one day at a time back then and today we also still live life one day at a time!
Our life is to give what we can – one day at a time.
The dawn of a new day with the picture of Sherry – my life – forty years married – forty-two years together – living our life one day at a time – living life to the plus each and every day!
Together we walk – together we explore and together we live our lives to the plus one day at a time.
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We traveled back to NVA to have Thanksgiving with the Myers family – as we will not see them for Christmas.
We stopped and saw the Krohn family on our way north and spent a night and day with them as they will come down after Christmas for a few days and be with us.
Our three oldest granddaughters – Sarah – Maddy and Ella in the sunroom – working on some crafts and laughing!
Debby – Mike and Sherry getting the dinner ready. It was the best-tasting turkey I have had in a long time and the stuffing was even better!
The three granddaughters set the table – the Tower Garden in the background – growing year around indoors!
Chef Mike prepared the turkey and then cut it up! I do not know what he stuffed it with – but it was really juicy!
Ella – home from Randolph College – Sarah – A Sophomore in H.S. and Maddy – A Senior at The University of Lynchburg.
Debby lighting candles at the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Time for giving family thanks.
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PAPA’S WORLD – THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY AT LAKE HOLIDAY, VA. THE MYERS FAMILY!
Tough choice – made easier by the drop back in 2020 for our 401K –
but also the increase in the value of the housing market!
We decided to sell – our daughter and family had moved – not far away – about thirty minutes on a good day of traffic!
But – before they were a mile away – we would pick up the little ones from school and have the youngest sometimes also.
It was an easy walk to their home and we spent a lot of time with them.
But it was the 401K – losing 30 plus % – yet the house gained more than that!
Another door had opened – an adventure awaited – we disclosed our plans – and we said we would be within an easy days drive
6 to 8 hours – but someplace warm and near a beach!
We also wanted to golf – for far less expensive than it was in NVA!
After a couple months of searching – we found our beaches – Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach – one four miles and the other six miles away – we wanted to stay on the mainland – and not in a flood zone – we found Cameron Woods Community.
We built our home – six to eight hours from our NVA families – they have come to visit numerous times and we have been back the same.
We live right across the street from four 18-hole golf courses and are within 30 minutes of another twenty-five!
We have new friends and neighbors – and are close to dear friends we have had for 35 years.
Our life had changed – we went through that door – it was not easy –
now we are in the twilight of our years – but every day brings new adventures and experiences.
A new day begins – another day to explore and live the Carolina life – thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – OUR LIFE!
PAPA’S WORLD my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com OUR CAROLINA LIFE!
The parents – Mike and Debby – held a birthday party with a Halloween theme for their daughter’s sixteen birthday!
Sarah has always wanted to have a birthday party such as this and being so close to Halloween – they decided to do it!
THE SKELTON WAS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE FOOD AND ALL OF THIS WAS SARAH’S IDEAS!
It was a hit and everyone loved it! The food was almost all gone by the end of the party and over in the kitchen were meatballs – mac-cheese – salads and rolls!
DECORATIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE AND OUTSIDE – Sarah worked for two days!
STAIRWAY TO THE DANCE FLOOR IN THE CELLER – BOOKCASE IN THE LIVING ROOM!
OUTDOORS IN THE FRONT YARD AND THE BACKYARD – THE FORTUNE TELLERS BALL OWL AND RAVEN!
The birthday party – Sarah – SWEET 16 – and Sarah 1-year-old – thanks for reading Papa’s World- livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Randolph College – the University of Lynchburg – one a sophomore – the other a senior.
Both colleges are in Lynchburg, Va. Ella is a sophomore, Randolph – and Maddy is a senior.- Lynchburg.
Both start on their teams – Maddy a wing and Ella midfielder.
Sad this most likely will be the last game they play against each other – but as a family – MEMORIES!
Captains meeting midfield – Ella middle on left in white – Maddy on the right – middle in black.
Shaking hands
And then THE HANDSHAKE AMONG SISTERS! MEMORY!
And then the procession out onto the pitch – Number 10 white – Ella and number 13 black – Maddy.
For us as grandparents and as mother and father – there is no winner and no loser !
For the granddaughters – bittersweet as for the second time – Maddy’s team has won.
Ella never came out of the game – and she has now started and played every game as a freshman
and now as a sophomore – the only freshman to accomplish that.
She will be a very good player when it is all said and done.
Maddy is ending her career for a third straight year as a starter.
Lynchburg has gone to the NCAA tournament for 16 straight and won a national title in 2016.
Wearing the same numbers all the way through – youth – travel and HS teams.
Since they both could walk with their father working with them on ball handling and passing – shooting and footwork – they both take the corner kicks for their teams.
Today Ella has grown so tall – almost 5’10”
Maddy will graduate in Engineering Science with now a 3.85 GPA!
No one lost here – proud parents Debby and Mike – the tradition of the family – love of soccer and life.
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD and WHEN SISTERS MEET ON THE SOCCER PITCH!
We play scrambles with other couples – friends – guys vs. gals!
You take the total of your 18-hole score – then you get deducted one stroke for every par the other team made – and two strokes for a birdie and so forth.
Surprising – most scores then come down to one or two strokes – or even.
Buck Dottie Cindy Jim Papa Sherry – all these years friends.
We have tried other ways – giving and taking strokes – handicaps, etc.
And it all is in fun – but I will tell you – we tied the first nine and the guys won the second nine by one stroke while carding a 35!
THEY ARE THAT GOOD!
OH YEAH – I KNOW THE LAST ONE SO WELL!
DOTTIE
CINDY
SHERRY
Friends are priceless – all these years – song on 40-plus years.
We later went on the ICW on a pontoon boat – cruising up and down – a few drinks –
a lot of laughs and some singing.
Papa and Cindy – on the ICW – OIB to Holden Beach back to Sunset Beach and then OIB!
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A call came on Wednesday – can you make 4:30 pm. if I make tee times on Friday?
Of course, we can – make them and we will be there – and so we did.
Sherry and I left early as we wanted to do some things in Wilmington, N.C.
Unless we go for a certain thing or event – we do not get there all that often.
We were golfing at Magnolia Greens located some eleven miles from the city.
Our friends live there and I think it to be one of the better courses down here.
Twenty-seven holes – and we were playing just nine this late afternoon.
Now it looks like we are looking for balls in the water – but we were in a huge sand trap on a par three – Cindy was raking the sand and Buck and I were picking up my ball and going to play his on the grass.
LOL story of my life!
We once again played a scramble against the ladies and once again we lost!
We had a couple bad holes – but we also played well – here we are on in two – par four hole and a putt for a birdie – which we did not make and ended up with a par.
You can see where Bucks putt went and I had still had to putt – did not make it and we settled for a par.
I love golf on TV!
It turned out to be a great day – beautiful weather – no humidity – 80 degrees!
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Papa’s World – Magnolia Greens – golfing with friends on a late Friday afternoon.
We all stay in touch – a group of friends from back in the days living in WNY and WPA!
All of us lived near each other or just across the Pa. line.
Slowly we all moved South – to now the N.C. region – Wilmington to OIB
with one couple in Va. Beach and the other couple still in WNY.
We golf together whenever we can – playing scramble guys vs gals – and one other couple – still lives back in WNY – sometimes they also make it down – this time they did not but they were here last year.
Jim – Buck – Papa – Mike
Mike and Carol still live back in WNY – own and operate a large painting business with crews traveling out to the midwest and everywhere in between – painting pipelines etc.
They have a lake house that we go up and stay with them.
The FOUR AMIGOS
Thanks for reading – to be continued – old friends coming together – going on 40-plus years!
Our family from WPA came to visit – driving some 16 hours – a very long trip!
First time for my two sons and their families to make the trip South.
Troy the eldest – Papa and Shawn the youngest.
We tried to work as much into the seven days as we could –
sometimes letting them go off on their own as we had other commitments
but we did sunrises and sunsets all together – beach time and places to eat out together.
Visiting the area and nature walks along with mini golf!
Andrea and Troy – selfie!
Our time together was priceless and I encouraged them to fly next time to be able to spend
more time on vacation and less time driving!
When we moved south to NVA in 1999 – they stayed in WPA for their families and jobs.
Relaxing on the mainland side of Sunset Beach in the park.
Our garage became a favorite place to meet and talk during rain and hot sunshine while at the house.
Shawn and Troy
Shawn runs his own Energy Auditing business contracting with major energy companies for the states of Pa. and firms from NYS. Troy works for and runs the insulation side of the business for Shawn and government and state programs for the elderly.
In the morning they left to drive back to WPA – not saying goodbye but until we meet again.
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Buck – Cindy Sherry – our first time golfing on the island.
We had seen this course when we vacationed here about ten years ago –
and we both said “SOMEDAY”!
Well – that day came and we met our friends Buck and Cindy there –
however – we could look out to the ocean and see a storm – thunder and lightning and
we had some sprinkles!
So we decided to go into the bar & grill – have a drink and wait it out!
Which after some 35 minutes – it looked like it had passed and we began.
I had already hit from the tees father back – and this is number one – this course I like because it is open!
MY GENERATION!
My phone takes a picture and if you hold your finger on it – it actually goes through the swing – I wish you could hear the sound on this tee off by Sherry – SMACK – she connected straight down the fairway.
This one is also her second shot off the fairway – “SEE THE SOUND” as I have been told!
YEP – ME! LOL
It was a good day golfing – the rain did come back on the last two holes but was just a sprinkle –
It was a good first time golfing here and we both want to go back.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
OUR DREAM GOLFING – THIS TIME OAK ISLAND, N.C. WITH FRIENDS!
I wanted color back here – the builder planted white Crepe Myrtles out front – these are WATERMELLON!
We also replaced all the Pine Straw and moved it to the tree line where we had three Oleanders put in!
They are young plants and hoping they will take hold – watering them everyday – but next year they should bloom
a bright RED againest the back drop of the protected tree line.
The second Crepe Myrtle – all trees in the yard now have stone and brick or edging depending where they are. The ones next to the house are mulched in black and serve as a contrast to the light gray siding.
A quiet neighborhood – but already a man rang the doorbell trying to sell home securtiy!
We are slowly putting in flowers that will come back year to year – hoping to make this area wild but colorful!
This will be a on going work in progress – adding a little bit here and there!
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Our family from back home in NWPA drove almost fifteen hours to stay with us for a week!
Andrea – Troy – Papa – Shawn – Trisha and Autumn
We decided other than beach time we would take them exploring nature – and the best way for that for us was Vareen Gardens – just across the border in S.C.
You walk the boardwalk across the marsh and come to this area on the ICW – where you can gather shells – make a wish – sign them and hang them from a tree or bush.
There was what is called a KING TIDE and water came up the steps!
Andrea and my oldest son Troy. BEACH LIFE!
We explored the coast – ICW views and the trail then continues across the marsh and into the woods.
My youngest son Shawn
Shawn is a ranked pool player in both Canada and the USA – here taking a selfie!
Troy can build a house from the ground up!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD and my family and Vareen Gardens. livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – Vareen Gardens with FAMILY – Priceless!
Folkart – sold to every state in the Union and all over the world.
Windows painted from the back to the front!
Mary has a unique style – painting from the back of the glass panes to the front so that it looks as if it were painted on the front of the glass pane!
The quilt work look-alike painting!
Room after room after room after room!
Every bit of space is used to display the Folkart!
House after house – was built with bottle walls!
I think someday this all will be very valuable FOLKART!
Thanks for reading MARYS GONE WILD – CHAPTER FOUR!
Mary Paulsen and Sherry with one of two pieces we purchased – knowing it will go to feeding hungry children!
PAPA’S WORLD: my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Mary has made her life mission to feed hungry children!
Just one of the many rooms that Mary built to hold her Folkart!
The walls – ceilings and floors are all painted with Folkart and anything she can paint on!
But her interest is in glass – window frames – painted from the back mirror image to the front side – what you see here is painted on the back of the glass.
All are bright colors in the Folkart tradition.
Painted like stained glass to be hung so the light shines through them if you want!
Most are titled and signed and dated by Mary Paulsen.
She cuts out the glass – she has no training and says she was inspired by a vision from God.
Thank you for reading – next Chapter Three of Mary Gone Wild
Known for her Folkart – Mary has her art in every state of the union and worldwide.
She has donated money from her art to feed tens of thousands of children.
Papa’s World – Mary’s gone wild – Chapter two – next chapter three.
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