Our lives together began while dating in 1980 – 81 – over forty years ago.
We were married on 6-25-1982 in Portville, N.Y.
Sherry from Mount Jewett, Pa., and myself from Eldred, Pa.
The combination of her girls and my boys.
The last of my family growing up in our house – my older brother Roger – is gone now but never forgotten.
He was the only hero I had – ten years my senior – thankfully we once again reunited the last ten years of his life – he graduated from H.S. and then College and the Navy.
He never came back home to live!
Sherry – Papa – Pam and Bobby – my grade-school – Jr. high and H.S. friend –
Now – after all these years we still get together!
Friends for life – now when here a golfing buddy!
Jimmy – Dottie – Sherry – Buck – Cindy and Papa –
close friends from back in WNY and Pa.
Visiting each other – vacations – golfing – neighbors and friends from my post-H.S. days.
To be continued – in MEMORIES OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
It all started for Sherry and me on June 25th. 1982 when we were married – the second time for the both of us – combining my two sons with her two daughters!
Today – both daughters are married with families of their own – living in NVA where we moved from.
My two sons still live back in NWPA and have come down to visit last summer.
The rest of the family has also visited and we look forward to everyone returning!
We still explore and do different things – dressing up for Halloween – driving new roads and seeing as much as possible!
Our friends visit – Bob and I went to grade school and then graduated from the same H.S.
Lifelong friends and now with Pam – his second wife – fun times!
Our only grandson from Sherry’s side – Bode – going to follow in the footsteps of his cousins whom both play and played soccer in college – Bode is going to be another soccer player!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PICTURES TELL MEMORIES OF FAMILY – and now we are living our dream near the beaches!
Our good friends Pam and Bob – whom I went to school with grade school through graduation.
Next month they will stop by on their RV tour and spend some time with us! MEMORY!
Our oldest granddaughter – Maddy – graduated from the University of Lynchburg with a degree in Environment Science – and played four years of soccer – As a Sophomore was third-team all-conference – Junior second-team all-conference and as a Senior Captain of the team –
Two out of four years they made it to the NCAA tournament!
One year was shortened by the COVID-19 Pandemic! Memory!
Our oldest daughter Debby and Mike and the granddaughters – Ella – Maddy and Sarah! Memory!
On one of our adventures of Kayaking on the marsh of the ICW in Ocean Isle Beach! Memory!
Our dream place – a ten-minute drive – sitting on the beach under the umbrella! Memory!
Our twin granddaughters who now are thirteen – Cassidy and Taylor – Memory!
Sherry with one of her best friends – Cindy – Golfing! Memory!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Us – 1982 – married – PICTURES THROUGH TIME!
My two sons – Troy and Shawn! Memory!
Our youngest grandchildren – Cassidy – Bode and Taylor! Memory!
Over the years we have experienced so many fond memories – family and friends!
The family gathers back in NWPA where it all started at Mount Nebo – a Swedish Lutheran Church built by ancestors in 1886 – in Mount Jewett, Pa.
The church today still holds special services throughout the year and the town has a yearly Swedish Festival celebrating the heritage of the immigrants from Sweden who settled here!
The church is now considered a historical church as it is eight-sided and modeled after a church still in Sweden.
Some nineteen years ago – Sherry and I and her mother Barb and sister Debbie – journeyed to Denmark – Sweden, and Norway for a ten-day bus trip exploring the countries!
Going back to where her ancestors came from was a highlight for Sherry and her family!
Some day we would like to take a trip to where my ancestors came from in Ireland!
Now we have a set of twins – Cassidy and Taylor who just turned thirteen years old!
Here is what they came home to all those years ago!
Cassidy and Taylor with their mother Tammy – all three have the same birthday which was not planned!
At three years old – while selling their home – the family moved in with us – and here they are at our front door – Cassidy on the left and Taylor on the right.
I still remember the time I found them in the downstairs half bath – with the door shut and they had set up house playing in there – so cute!
Today Cassidy and Taylor with Bode who will turn nine – Cassidy is 5′ 4″ and is gaining on Taylor who is 5’7″ and will be close to 5’10 when done growing!
Bode is also going to be tall and all three take after Sherry who is 5’9″ – Ella is 5’9″ and Sarah is the same as our other granddaughters. Maddy is 5’6″.
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
TAYLOR “NOW’ our horse-loving granddaughter – growing up!
TAYLOR AND HER MOTHER – “THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE – LIFETIME MEMORIES!”
We gather memories in thought and pictures – lifetime events that seemed small back then but turn into LIFE!
Life is full of little thoughts – but practice in life turns into positive happenings!
Many years ago – the four of us – friends – neighbors – decided to golf – fun times – laughter and friendships!
Today – living a mere 35 minutes away – we try to get together once a week or two – golfing in our senior years!
We were neighbors – back in WNY – and we decided to try and get the girls into golfing – they wore gloves because their hands were cold – laughing at us as we washed our balls –
Now – we are senior golfers – playing mostly scrambles guys vs. gals and they mostly win!
A LITTLE THING SUCH AS GOLFING HAS TURNED INTO A BIG THING FOR US TO WITH ONE ANOTHER!
A “LITTLE” bit of humor to bring a “BIG” SMILE! HGD!
A LITTLE TRIP AND A LUNCH – BEING TOGETHER IS PART OF OUR BIG SALT LIFE!
Thanks for reading “LITTLE THINGS BRING BIG MEMORIES”!
PAPA’S WORLD – my sit: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog HGD!
I always thought this – now in retirement – I still think any day of golf is better than – well you choose it! LOL
The Tower Garden – the smaller unit can be used indoors with grow lights – the outdoor unit is larger – producing with just water – light and nutrients and air!
Our Tower Garden is covered up for freezing temps – looks like something from Star Wars! LOL
Sherry and Dottie – best friends for over 40 years – living life to the plus one day at a time!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Years ago we made a trip to Washinton, D.C. with a group of friends from our church – Community Lutheran Church in Sterling, Va. to see Les Miserables on stage.
What a performance and good times with friends. MEMORIES!
Before Bode came along – and her mother was staying with us – a trip to Sweet Frog in Brambleton Town Center with FIVE granddaughters and an afternoon treat.
Now – Maddy is a senior in college and Ella a sophomore in college.
Sarah is a Sophomore in H.S. and the twins are twelve years old! MEMORIES!
A random thought – SMILE!
Friends – Sherry – Cindy – Dottie – when friends come together – we sing! MEMORIES!
Me in PINK SHORTS – Playing Volleyball in our Corporate Cup competition – we had about 40 members on the team in track and field and other sporting events.and competed against the other industries in the area. MEMORIES! Sherry on the left in the white top – we played volleyball in a league for years before we retired and took up golfing!
MEMORIES – a long ago times in the past – thanks for reading Papa’s World. HGD!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog contact: fitztdf@aol.com
My very first memory of school – sitting on my grandma’s lap on the front porch –
“Grandma – when can I go to school”? I asked.
We had just watched a neighborhood boy walk past on the other side of the road –
His name was Denny and I later found out he was two years older than me!
So – I am thinking I was about four years old and I can still see him in my mind and me asking her.
The old Eldred school
I attended this old school until the fourth grade!
It was at that time – we merged with Duke Center – Rixford and Eldred to form OTTO-ELDRED.
At this time a brand new elementary school had been built right across the street from the ballpark!
I would not have to walk a mile to school in the mornings!
But – I remember that old school and my teachers and the classrooms.
The very first class was in the front and face the main street and I had Mrs. Shields.
We started off spelling the normal way – sounding out the words –
but soon after – we switched to the new way – MEMORY!
That went on for a couple years but it left me and others I know – very poor spellers.
The Alleghany River
The floodwaters of 1972
Across the main street and the railroad tracks – lays what we called THE FLATS!
And just beyond that the Alleghany River!
It seemed growing up part of life in the Spring were floods!
In 1954 or 1955 or thereabouts –
I was told not to go near the water flooded on the main street – I was maybe 6 years old.
But – I had made a raft and was sailing it on the main street – standing up and poling my way around
in about two feet of floodwater.
Unbeknown to me – a photographer from the local Bradford Era Newspaper – took my picture!
I was caught – standing on my homemade raft – poling my way around the main street –
ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE BRADFORD ERA!
But – I also shared that front page later in life with my dad!
He made a bet on the heavyweight champion of the world fight and picked
FLOYD PATTERSON – the bet – the loser would wheelbarrow the winner down Mainstreet
To Slavin’s Bar – my dad won and made that same newspaper front page being pushed by HERKY!
A WWII bomber pilot who had been shot down and made it to the allies’ lines!
The brand new Eldred Elementary School
This sits right across from the ballpark and tennis courts –
I was the first class in there in the fifth grade – Miss Cawley!
Mr. Harrington was my sixth-grade teacher and Principle!
Many games of RED ROVER RED ROVER please send ???? over!
Was played right there on that circle drive in front of the doors.
Later in life – I walked my youngest son down to those front doors and inside to enroll him in Kindergarten – and standing in the lobby with all those parents he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a bunch of dirt and worms!
He had stopped on our walk and without me knowing – stuffed his pocket with dirt and worms!
THAT I shall always remember!
OTTO – ELDRED H.S.
We were bussed every day from the seventh grade on seven miles to school in Duke Center, Pa.
Three communities combined to have one single H.S. but each community had its own
grade schools and one township grade school.
We had to find our own way home after sports practices if we did not ride the bus.
My good buddy and I – later in H.S. road with his dad to school.
We had a science teacher called CB SAWYER – who had his own music system in his lab.
He would play up to date 45 records of music between classes all day long.
His favorite back then was PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS – “GLAD ALL OVER”
and it was everywhere in the hallways – piped through the loudspeaker system!
OTTO-ELDRED H.S.
I have always said someday I would like to go back and rewalk those halls to that blast of music!
It was across from here I watched a fight between two seniors – and I was one of a hundred people!
I still see it in my mind and they were about three years older than us.
Their names were Ron and Jim!
My senior picture
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com
In the midst of the Alleghany hills – amongst the green and lush valleys – sits a little community-
Population – around 800 souls – and back then – I knew almost every one of them!
Eldred Pa.
The town sits on the Alleghany river which eventually flowed into Pittsburg – but – it flowed North first!
Yes – it left Pa. and flowed into NYS before flowing once again South through Pa.
It ends up in Pittsburg some three-plus hours away.
We would be considered the snow belt – some 80 miles south of Lake Erie and Buffalo N.Y.
I helped a friend of mine growing up with his paper route – his name was Brent – and we hung out.
He bought a go-cart with his money and he would let me ride on it.
He was two years older than I and eventually married my cousin.
Funny how that worked out – he graduated and I lost track of him.
The town nestled in the hills.
I would ride my bike everywhere – I had to be home each night for dinner and before the street
lights came on. Every night at 10 o’clock sharp – the siren from the firehouse would blow-
You could hear it all over the town – that was “CURFEW” for the streets –
I think no one under 18 could be out and about!
My first friend I can remember is the girl next door – her name was Sharon – and she had a big brother whom everyone called Sonny “KING” – and he dressed in a black leather motorcycle jacket and slicked his hair back like Elvis!
Sharon and I were like brother and sister – we would watch Lassie together – play on the front porch –
sneak a corncob pipe and gather silk from the corn and smoke –
puff it – in the big red barn behind the house.
We would walk to school together – and our route always was behind the main street along the tracks.
Behind the Eldred Garage and then on the tracks themselves.
Just before the creek – Lynches lived and behind their house was a tree –
like a little island raised up on a piece of land.
We would sit there and play our Kazoo’s together –
“THREE BLIND MICE”
That was all I knew how to play! LOL
She moved away and my sister and her husband moved in right next door!
Bill Luce – on the left – my brother-in-law.
Over his shoulder is the greenhouse I grew up in – my bedroom was the two windows on the second floor –
after my older brother Roger left for college.
Every morning I would wake up to the birds singing in the tree outside that window –
the Sunlight would come streaming in –
There was the main street – highway right out front –
and I would sleep and hear the sound of cars – trucks rolling by –
and then – the accidents that happen right there –
crashes would hit the cars parked there.
Some – I sept right through – others – would jolt me right out of bed.
That curb was where my best friend and I were sitting one early morning after midnight –
he was sleeping over and my parents had gone somewhere –
we got into the hootch under the sink.
My sister came out and grilled us –
“ARE YOU GUYS DRUNK”?
No I said and right at that time a car came
and the lights showed right on my friend – and he got sick –
and threw up all over the place!
” HE IS,” I said! LOL,
my sister always laughed at that and would tell the story many times over and over!
My friend and drinking buddy – lower right-hand corner!
We have reconnected about fifteen years ago at a class reunion –
he spent about a week here last October –
and we played golf once again – after some 55 years have gone by since we last played together!
My brother Roger and Sherry – a few years before he passed away – gone but not forgotten.
He was my hero growing up – ten years older than I –
named WHOS WHO in American colleges
OFFICERS TRAINING SCHOOL and a Lt. in the navy.
His bedroom became mine – when he came back I would sleep on the floor.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – to be continued in livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Side by side – over 40 years – making memories together.
The time has rushed by – youth to middle age to now autumn years – together as one.
Here we are today – but we were there 40 years ago – starting a journey – bound by love – together in spirit.
Spending time with family in those early years – continues today – although they are gone – memories still exist of the good times – the fun times and the love of each other. Sherry’s mother and father – Bill and Barb.
Today we have become what her parents were to our children and now us to their children.
All of the grandchildren – Christmas at our home in Brambleton, Va.
Past memories – past family gatherings – looking to the present and future of family times to come.
The present – doing what we love – golfing together.
Just the two of us during the week – afternoons – we are right in the middle of 20 plus golf courses.
The present also brings us to a small bar 1 1/2 miles from the house – watching the BILLS with friends.
A step outside of this small bar – to observe the sunset next to the small airport of OIB.
We are here now in OIB – making new friends – members of a church – exploring the area –
doctors are here now – life is going on – making new memories – but never forgetting the past ones.
We have managed to be 6 to 8 hours away from the family – but we have room for all of them.
Beaches – golfing – hiking – entertainments – venues – shopping – we are excited to share all of that.
Inviting fire on a chilly night
Thanks for reading Papa’s World: MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog MY CONTACT: fitztdf@aol.com
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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