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.
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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
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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.
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Today – I post some pictures – just random pictures – but ones I have close to my heart!
Taylor holding MorMor’s hand – in turn MorMor also holding Bode’s hand.
They adore Sherry – whom they call MorMor – Swede for Mothers Mother!
When we walk with all three – it usually is Taylor who loses out to the other two in holding her hands.
This time it was Cassidy – who with each passing day – is becoming more and more independent.
These two are coming closer and closer together as they grow up.
They are twins – but had to come early as Taylor was taking all the nutrients.
Taylor is going to be really tall – close to six foot while Cassidy will be like her mother 5’6″.
Taylor loves to ride horses – Cassidy has a variety of interests –
but will sit for hours drawing off her computer and is really good!
I thought this to be funny – it brought a smile to my face!
We moved south to find more time to golf – warmer weather and being close to our friends!
Sherry and Cindy – we have been friends with the McBrides for almost 35 years.
They moved about 25 or 26 years to the Wilmington N.C. area – and we would spend time with them once or twice a year.
Then we moved to NVA and they would do the same.
Now – we are building a new home about 40 miles away from them –
and if the weather is nice – we golf once a week with them –
always on a new course – could be on the weekend or a week day.
They can and do stay with us and we do the same with them.
If our new home is not done on time and we have to give up the condo – they have offered us a place to stay.
FRIENDS! GOOD TIMES! LAUGHS!
This is what we have wanted to do for a very long time – it was too expensive in NVA and down here so many courses to choose from.
We both have a love to golf – one of Sherry’s highlights in golfing came with the day she broke 50 –
and it was a day she was golfing with her father!
A memory she shall always carry with her on the course. Now – she beats me! LOL
The view we have almost every morning when we wake up – the master bedroom has a big glass sliding door on her side of the bed – where all she has to do each morning is open her eyes and see this.
I see it each morning also – but I always am up before the dawn – have been that way all my life.
My favorite time of the day – writing my blog – sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise –
listening to the sounds of nature and just enjoying morning time.
Now the sun shines – causing a rainbow in the mist of the water fountain!
A peaceful setting we shall miss when we leave – but we have had by the end – nine months.
A memory we shall carry forward into the new home.
You can hear the pounding surf a half mile away –
We walk there almost every day –
the water fowl – geese – ducks – mallards – swans – otter – turtles – snakes
and really huge fish we can see when we look down onto the water.
Storms blowing in and out – rain and wind – nature at its best.
It would of been nice to have lived to the left of the picture – single family homes!
But – they were way too expensive – and the condos here – not enough space and no garage.
We have a storage unit – not a lot – but enough so that it would not fit.
The town houses here besides the condo’s – were out of our price range –
plus the one we looked at – needed a lot of work.
This is a beautiful area – one I shall remember –
We were blessed to have spent time here – but it also was expensive!
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
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SHERRY CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH HOME BUSINESS The Juice Plus Company
Our young grandson – five granddaughters and then Bode!
From the very moment they pulled in – he asked that question –
PAPA – CAN WE GO ON YOUR HIKE?
To him – a hike is like back home – rocks – hills forest – streams!
I tried to explain to him it is different here –
But PAPA – That is not a hike – we have to go to the mountains!
Bode – entering the forest for our hike – along the ICW and the marsh land – no gators – at least we saw none!
“FOLLOW ME GUYS”!
He is a leader – and always out in front!
This is him to a tee – always staying ahead of the game – his own mind.
We walked a good mile and one half through the woods –
although he was out in front of me or alongside of me –
he never sought to run off –
staying close to me!
There were many intersections going in different directions – which way do we go PAPA he would ask – I had a map so I could tell him – he always listened to what I would say!
The twins – Taylor and Cassidy stayed close to their MORMOR ( Sherry)
We spent the better part of a hour walking the marsh and the woods
I want to come back here in the Summer so we can see more wild life!
Cassidy MORMOR Taylor Tammy Bode
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The day we went on our hike –
Bode now understands a hike can be different
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At the end of the hike – snacks and a swing – life is good and feeling blessed!
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First you gather the ingredients – then you gather the grand daughters and their mother!Mother ( Debby) Ella Sarah Sherry ( grand ma) Maddy
Memories are made each year during the holidays –
making Christmas cookies is one of them!
Sherry has done this for years – and they all love it!
They laugh and laugh at her and with her!
The results – or a small fraction of the results – all decorated by each of the grand daughters!
She teaches them her heritage and is passed down generation to generation.
Sherry is Swedish – her grand mother was born in Sweden.
She is 5 ‘ 9″ tall – and Ella is almost as tall – Sarah will be that also and Taylor at 10 years old
comes up to her chin!
The temptations are there – YUMMY!She is a educator – teaching them to be themselves – honor – compassion and self worth!
Respect is what they have for her.
Admiration – and laughing – both at her and with her.
Going shopping with Grandma!
MEMORIES for a lifetime!
Ella Sarah Sherry
We will come up once more and spend a couple days and Christmas eve.
Then we will go back to Tammy’s for Christmas day!
The little ones are so excited and she made cookies with them also!
To them she is not grand ma – but MORMOR – mother’s mother in Swedish!
After Christmas we will once again head back to S.C.
Knowing that Memories were once again made
and captured into this blog
for future reading – seeing !
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My little contribution to the cookie making!ELLA will be on a soccer team in college – and will play against her sister Maddy at the University of Lynchburg!
We have bought and sold FIVE houses in our 38 years of marriage.
And – each one I have left behind a little bit of myself!
Our first house was in the country – EAST WINDFALL ROAD –
outside Olean New York – but Portville N.Y. school district.
The driveway was a 1/10 th. of a mile long.
Great for sled riding in Winter but also getting stuck in the snow!
At that house – Sherry’s father and I built large butchers block –
multiple colors of wood – glued together – light and dark and oiled.
It was large and took up the full counter to the right of the stove.
It replaced that counter top.
It was really something and he taught me so much
as he was a master carpenter.
Our second house was Pleasant acres drive – Portville N.Y.
At that house I left a tiled floor in both the laundry room and the half bath.
As well as nearly 50 % of the basement.
My very first tile work.
I also replaced all the molding and door frames with the help of her father.
And we installed chair molding in the dining room.
But the secret was the finish – he taught me just how to get that high finish.
Tricks he used using cheese cloth to strain the stain – steel wool it –
and apply coat after coat until it almost was like a mirror!
Our third house was Fountain side lane in Fairfax Va.
Here I painted the entire ceiling and walls of the garage –
having to close the garage door and it got really hot in there.
I also went into the woods there and followed a small stream
and collected all sizes and colors of limestone rocks.
I used them by the eaves spouts for when it rained
and let the water gush over them like a stream.
I installed dimmer light switches for the dining room
and pained rooms.
Our next house was Ridgetop Commons – just a few blocks from the last one.
Both houses were about 2 miles from the NRA headquarters
and George Mason University.
At this house I put down sand and gravel a
and installed blocks for our patio under the deck
I also installed a small swing for our grand daughters
During that time when we first moved in –
the water drain backed up – we had to vacate –
They had to come in and dig up the driveway and to the middle of the road.
When they built the place –
someone broke the main drainage line
connecting to the main sewage line in the middle of the road.
Here we had a 15 foot hole in our driveway & to the middle of the street.
They put us up at the Hyatt in Reston until they fixed it!
But – I wrote my full name and date in the cement of that driveway!
I also built and installed a platform in that garage for storage.
In our last house on Minerva drive in Brambleton Va,
This was our dream home – thinking we would be here –
never moving again.
I built this patio out the back door
and moved
and took out all the bushes on the whole yard.
I planted all the bushes and trees by hand – mostly on my knees
as the ground is full of rocks and I dug them out with a garden trough.
I planted everything and it comes back each year.Every tree and bush I plantedI moved these from the front yardThe last things I planted were these bushes and the Swedish Roses – given to us from our close friends in memory of Sherry’s mother Barb ( GIGI)
I have often thought in my mind to return and see if it all is still there
after 38 years have gone by!
Yes – I have left a little bit of this and that where ever we have lived!
I somehow remember them all!
There is a piece of me all over –
but for the most part I am the only one who knows.
Except my name – set in cement with the date
On Timber Meadows Drive- Fairfax Va.
And by the way – I also installed a ceiling fan there
in the Master Bedroom – and while up on my metal step ladder
a storm blew in just as I was connecting it up –
And rain poured and lightening flashed –
Thunder roared and scared me – here I was – standing on that ladder
But my name is engraved on that driveway- and the date.
I 