remarried

Papa’s World – Past memories – family and friends!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

My journey through life these past 45 years has been amazing!

You see –

That is about the time Sherry and I started seeing each other, plus a few months.

Our lives together have spanned all that time.

We raised two sets of children –

Her two daughters and my two sons (they still lived with their mother).

Those days were a struggle as money was just not there.

But we made do!

June 25th. 1982 – our wedding day.

The early years were spent living way out in the country!

The daughter’s school was about eleven miles away,

And my son’s home is about fifteen miles away.

We were constantly driving the kids back and forth.

Our driveway was 1/10th of a mile long!

Good for sled riding in winter snows –

But had to be plowed often.

We could just see the neighbor at the end of the driveway,

And the same across the hill at the other neighbor.

Cindy and Dottie –

Two of our earliest friends,

Along with Buck and Jimmy, their husbands.

Cindy – Dottie – Sherry – Buck and Jimmy!

Our friendships have lasted since the end of the 70’s and into the 80’s!

We have vacationed together and traveled the world.

Our children were all involved with us as friends!

Today we are all retired –

All have grandkids.

Life has been good-

And as seniors –

We live as healthily-

As we can.

We have taken a supplement for over TWENTY years!

Building our IMMUNE systems –

Which, in your senior years, is so important!

For more information and no obligation –

GO TO: www.https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

PAST MEMORIES – FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD!

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – The Old Man!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Here I am – closer to 80 than 70!

My life has had its share of ups and downs.

Early childhood growing up in a little town where everyone knew your name (AND PARENTS)!

Roller skating – riding my bike!

Playing kick the can –

Being home when the street lights came on!

Sneaking corn silk in a corn cob pipe!

Apple trees providing ammunition for passing rail cars full of coal!

Neighborhood kids – playing tackle football at the park!

Yes – I had a good early life!

Senior year – played the first game of football and then was in a car accident.

It was the year that “NAM” was on everyone’s mind.

1966!

I spent 51 days in the hospital – 41 days with a catheter.

I did not know if I would ever walk again.

My girlfriend was pregnant- I was married at 17 in a wheelchair!

In the living room of my parents’ home.

My first son was born in January of 1967!

I was learning to walk again.

Months went by – a wheelchair turned to crutches.

I was reclassified for the draft-

Married, child, and unable to pass the physical.

I was young, growing up fast!

I had to graduate, find a job to support my family, and there was no college option.

Meanwhile, I had a cane.

I managed to walk for graduation.

One week later, I was hired at the American Olean Tile company!

They took a chance on me –

Mainly because my wife’s mother worked there!

They hired me for the summer.

I had a family!

NAM was no longer a worry, but surviving was.

At the close of summer –

I lived just down the street from this museum!

They decided to keep me on and put me on second shift!

I would get ten hours of overtime every week!

My father, who was part-owner of the Western Auto –

Had retired from the South Penn Oil Company-

Managed to get me an apartment over the store to rent.

We moved from their home in September to the apartment and lived there for five years!

About six months before the ’72 flood –

We bought a church and parsonage!

The Methodist church on North Main Street in Eldred,Pa.

Just a stones throw from where I grew up!

In December of ’71 –

My second son was born –

We had moved into the house and had started converting the church into apartments.

My father had passed away in 1969 from cancer-

My mother was raising my younger brother –

And in June of 1972 –

Hurrican Agnes –

The main street was flooded with 12 to 15 feet of water –

The apartment where we had been living –

Well – it was a mass of flood waters in front and only way in or out was by boat!

We had ducked a bullet.

We worked tirelessly helping those in need.

We had to get baby formula by helicopter flown in until that was impossble!

I never went back to work for three or four weeks.

But – after the darkness –

We saw the light –

We survived.

Two sons – one five and the other about seven months,

Life was going on –

And was about to go on first shift after six and one half years on second!

Life went on –

But the marriage didn’t.

We sperated and divorced.

The boys were 13 and 9!

I continued to work for AOTC –

For a total of 47 1/2 years.

I found and married my current wife Sherry –

On 6-25-1982!

She had been married before and had two daughters.

I was their step day but they were like daughters to me.

They were younger than my two sons –

We had a family of four –

But the boys lived with their mother and the girls lived with us.

Sherry also worked for AOTC and retired with 32 years!

The Comapny later became –

DAL-TILE and Ameiracn Olean Tile Company –

Owned when we retired by Mohawk!

We had a combined 79 1/2 years of service.

We raised the children and we bought and built a combination of six houses!

Cindy – Dottie – Sherry – Buck and Jimmy –

Dottie and Jimmy have been my dear friends before I met Sherry.

Buck and Cindy knew them and were our neighbors while we lived at –

Pleasant Acres Drive in Portville, N.Y.

Dottie from whe I knew Jimmy and her –

And I attended their wedding.

On our journey through life –

Twenty years ago –

We started a health and nutrition business on line.

To this day-

We still run this business that provides us with additional income in retirement.

If this interests you –

You can contact us through this website –

https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

It is $50.00 a year to have your own business –

Your own website and all you do is send the orders in or they do it themselves over the website!

They process the order – Bill it – collect it and ship it!

Monthly you get a paid commission –

And they direct deposit it into your account!

And you help people to get a healthy nutrition of –

FRUITS – VEGETABLES – BERRIES and OMEGAS!

The GOOD WITCH and the OLD MAN!

I hope this gives some insight into my life.

It has had ups and downs-

But –

I have lived a good life.

I am happy,

And all the good and bad has given to me,

That life I have lived!

The life we have had –

Plus the friends and their daughters and Sherry’s daughters!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – The life we make together!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

We first started dating close to forty-five years ago.

We were both married before – divorced,

And had two children each.

My two sons and her two daughters.

My sons stayed with their mother,

And her two daughters stayed with their mother.

Times were tough –

We lived paycheck to paycheck way out in the country.

The driveway was 1/10th of a mile long.

Wintertime – the kids would sled ride down it!

It would take me three days mowing and then almost start over again on certain parts.

But – we were happy!

We did cheap long weekend trips with the kids,

Sometimes, we camped in a tent, and her parents had a fifth wheel.

Those were days of not eating out but packing lunches and cooking on a grill with charcoal.

Many fond memories.

The kids grew up and married.

Here is Debby – with her family.

The three oldest granddaughters.

They are all rooted in camping and outdoor life.

Here are my two sons and their families.

Both still live back in NWPA, where they grew up.

We share many memories.

Here is Tammy and her family, and “MARLEY” –

Our granddog!

Our wedding day –

6-25-1982-

The start of our life together!

Along the way –

Over twenty years ago –

We found a supplement –

We wanted to age as healthily as we could,

We read the research and decided that this was what we needed!

Starting our SENIOR YEARS!

Today, we still take the supplement!

If you would like to read about it – see the research –

Just go to https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

All these years later led us to this-

Our home in N.C.

I would not change a thing.

Our families have visited us numerous times.

Our life together has been an adventure –

Four states-

We have lived in eight different places.

We have built three houses.

Sold FIVE of them.

What started here on – 6-25-1982 –

Is now here –

Our life together –

Thanks for reading my blog!

PAPA’S WORLD-

MY SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

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Papa’s World – Living our lives together!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Here we are at the rapids just inside the Maryland border.

As we age – and having been married for 43 plus years-

Together for a year and a half before that-

What has become a thought for me-

One day, one of us will not be here!

That is life!

We have shared so much over the years.

And today we are each other’s giver.

I see friends who are going through life-changing events.

However, we still maintain that close bond of being there for one another.

A lot of truth in this!

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial – BLESSED!

Looking out across the Mall to the Washington Monument.

Sherry stands where over the 21 years we lived in the area-

We made a favorite pastime of going into D.C. –

Just to explore and walk around for the day.

LIVING OUR LIVES TOGETHER!

Buck and Cindy – our dear friends!

We have traveled the world with them.

Golfed – dinners- and friendships!

Today, we live 38 miles from them.

We were neighbors in WNY back in the late 80s and into the 90s.

They moved to where they are now, and we stayed in contact and visited.

Maintaining those friendships!

Going through life together-

SENIORS now – Closer to 80 than to 70!

Maintaining health and nutrition –

For the past twenty-plus years –

We have maintained our supplements.

Leaning on the published research.

True today as it was twenty years ago.

In fact, Sherry signed up –

To save money and allow our grandkids to have this for free!

She has had her own website for over twenty years.

On this site is her EMAIL and PHONE number.

And a link to purchase what you want.

https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

LIVING OUR LIVES TOGETHER WITH HEALTH AND NUTRITION!

We choose to give of ourselves.

Someday –

Only one of us will remain.

But until that day comes –

We shall continue hand in hand.

VOLUNTEERING – LOVING LIFE – FAMILY – FRIENDS – TOGETHER!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway. blog

Papa’s World – Together – our life!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

June 25th. 1982 – a second marriage for both of us.

Combining Sherry’s two daughters –

And my two sons.

Back at that time –

We had no money –

We both worked for AOTC –

In Olean, N.Y.

We lived in the country at the farthest point from the Portville School District.

Life was busy –

We would often load the kids up in our twelve-passenger van-

Pack food for picnics or overnight trips.

We lived on a budget yet tried to have as much fun as we could as a family.

The house where we lived had a long gravel driveway and in winter-

Provided a 1/10th of a mile sled ride.

We had a backyard, and on the far end –

A fire pit for cooking out and a bonfire at night!

Hardly any lights in the country and a star-filled sky at night!

We had dated for a year and a half.

Both of us are waiting for the divorce to be done.

It was a time that I would not trade –

We had new friends.

But the house was small –

We were going to find one closer to the school –

It was about 14 miles round-trip every time we had to take the girls to activities.

And for my sons who still lived with their mother –

20 to 25 miles round trip.

After five years, we found a home close to the school and closer to my two sons.

We lived in that house for 12 1/2 years.

In that time, the kids all graduated from H.S.

We were empty nesters, and we decided we needed a change.

We both transferred within the company to NVA!

We would end up moving three times – build two houses while working in NVA!

Between both of us-

We had 79 1/2 years of service to the same company at retirement.

During this time, we found a supplement with research-

To help us age as healthily as we can into our senior years.

Now – over twenty years later –

We are seniors and still take this every day!

Sherry’s site with email and phone number-

She decided to have this as a part-time business.

https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa – third from the left, and Sherry second from the right!

Being retired – and both closer to 80 than 70-

We volunteer – The Protection for Sea Turtles –

And the Food Pantry for our church.

Here we are after volunteering for the pick up of trash for OIB.

We covered first and second streets and side streets between Lee Street and Charlotte Street!

In July 2024 –

Our family celebrated our 75th birthdays on the beach!

With our friends, the McBrides,

After a day of golfing.

Thanks for reading my blog-

PAPA’S WORLD:

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – Memories fondly remembered!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Life has very quickly put us into our Senior years!

But – also given us many fond memories.

My blogs are to record those memories for future generations.

Please enjoy as much as we did in making them!

April and Brian –

Before we transferred from DAl-TILE ( former AOTC) in Olean, NY. –

We worked with Brian for a few years as he transferred from Lansdale.

We became friends and met his wife, April.

Now, they too are close to retirement –

And contacted us as they were staying near Barefoot Landing in SC.

We arranged to meet up and had dinner together, and showed them around.

The past meets the present –

AND CREATES MANY FOND MEMORIES!

LOL – my little humor for the day! But it might just be true!!!!

This is the WWII museum from my hometown of Eldred, PA.

Many blue tours stop and pass through the front doors.

For such a small town –

This museum offers a fantastic look back at WWII.

If ever you happen to be in this town –

Take time and see this marvel!

ANOTHER FOND MEMORY!

Maddy, while playing Travel Soccer in HS.

On her own, she traveled 65 miles each way to play soccer for Loudoun County.

More competition, and for two years, she prevailed.

Getting an offer to play soccer for the University of Lynchburg.

She played all four years –

Starting as a Sophomore – named third team all conference-

In her Junior year, she was named second team all-conference-

And in her senior year named team captain.

Two out of the four years she played –

They made it to the NCAA tournament.

One year, they won the conference championship.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FOND MEMORIES WE HAVE!

On our wedding day –

6-25-1982.

Combining two families –

Her two daughters and my two sons.

A start of decades of being together –

And now in OIB-

Living our dream of sun-sand, and ocean,

And golf!

THE START OF MANY YEARS OF FOND MEMORIES!

Thank you for subscribing to or reading my blog –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

FOR OVER TWENTY PLUS YEARS –

WE HAVE TAKEN THIS SUPPLEMENT –

AGING HEALTHY INTO OUR SENIOR YEARS!

FOR INFORMATION AND CONTACT- EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER FOR SHERRY-

JUST GO TO http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Blogging – Worldwide.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

My wife said to me, “You need to BLOG. You write all these stories –

and events on Facebook, and then it just disappears into the Cloud!”

“You have such a memory on what – where – who and when –

you need to put it down where you can store and conserve it!” said Sherry!

So with the help of a friend- Belinda – we met at the Brambleton Library in Va.

Spending over an hour –

she got me started on my own site –

in WordPress!

That was over six years ago.

Today – here I am –

over 1500 blogs posted –

140 more are scheduled to go as of this writing.

Family History –

and our life together these past 43-plus years!

I actually have very little of my family history –

except what was told to me –

and I remember.

Very few pictures –

No letters-

Just lots of memories –

and some pictures people have found and sent to me.

And – I am just about the only one left in my family I grew up with-

One niece who lives in the same house she grew up in

and a great-niece who lives in the house I grew up in.

This home has now been in my family for over 80 years!

I have another great-niece in Portville, N.Y. –

and My two sons –

still live in the area I grew up in.

Two grandsons from my youngest son –

have moved out of the area.

Blogging into the new year –

I try not to do politics-

rather focussing on Good Vibes- Humor – Laughs and Family – Friends –

Places – Events – Music- Neighbors – Beach and Where we live in the South.

I have over 650 subscribers –

I only know a half dozen of them.

The rest are from all over the World.

that is unbelievable –

as I never thought that would happen.

I post my blogs after midnight –

And I can see where in the World –

people are seeing my blogs.

Each time I open my site and look at the STATS –

EIGHT to TEN COUNTRIES across the World have already read my blogs!

That astounds me.

Thank you to my wife Sherry –

who inspired me to write my thoughts down.

To preserve it for future generations –

in our families to come.

You can SUBSCRIBE on my site!

IT IS FREE!

Thanks for reading and HGD!

PAPA’S WORLD:

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – BLOGGING – WORLDWIDE!

/ Tom / 2 Comments

LOL – My life has not changed all that much over the years regarding sleeping habits!

I go to bed when I am tired – usually between 8 and 9pm.

If I stay up – I seem to get a second wind and then I am awake into the early hours of the evening!

Since childhood, I would wake up at 5 to 6 am.

This was the time my parents were up and getting ready to go to work –

My mother worked at “ALCAS” later to be “CUTCO” maker of great knives –

dinner knives are known to replace or sharpen them at no cost.

My father was a supervisor on the oil fields for South Penn or PENNSOIL.

This meant that my brother and I had to get up early

and my mom would walk us down the street to my sister’s and brother-in-law’s apartment.

We would wait there and have breakfast and then walk to school.

My wife encouraged me to start a blog – as I was writing on Facebook every day and then it was gone!

This blog was a way to preserve my writings!

Neatly kept in a site controlled by me.

Little did I know that there were people out there that I did not know –

who enjoyed reading my blog on family – friends and our life in general!

I wanted this blog to be my journal – a way for future generations to know us!

We were married on 6-25-1982 – a second marriage for both of us – Sherry had two daughters –

and I had two sons.

On weekends – we were all one family.

Sherry on our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

She is the main reason I write the blog and along with a friend – helped me set it up!

Little by little people from all over World – joined my site!

Six people I knew also joined my site.

Today – 618 folks have joined – from all over the World!

Here is an early morning screen-shot – my post goes live at Midnight!

Throughout the day – more and more people read the blog and some comment.

Every morning at sunrise – I am up no later and showered by 6am. –

I look at my stats –

Showing me the previous day’s numbers on who visited.

My goal so to speak is to leave all these blogs to our own future generations to come to read-

and see the pictures of just who we were.

I want to thank you all for supporting my blog and my writings!

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog join it is FREE!

PAPA’S WORLD – BLOGGING – WORLDWIDE!

Papa’s World – Over 3/4 of a Century!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It is hard to believe it went by that fast!

It seems only yesterday I stood here in this picture – 6-25-1982 – 33 years old!

And now today I am 76 years old!

Here is my grade school – High School friend – Bobby –

Both are now 76 years Young!

Still staying in touch for all those years!

We grew up together in a little town in NWPA – called Eldred!

Sleeping out – under the stars – playing sports-

on our porch and in the yard in the back of the house.

No ground cloth – just sleeping bags –

Mine was a hand-me-down from my brother-in-law Bill!

It was his olive green Korean War one!

I really do not know how they stayed warm in those!

It was just a wool blanket inside a canvas bag!

Two of my oldest friends – on the left – Dottie and Jimmy – whom I have known since they graduated from H.S. in little Eldred, Pa.

I was at their wedding and they were at Sherry and my wedding!

My wife Sherry on our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic –

We have been side by side since the day we were married and a year and one-half before that!

We have traveled the world – raised two sets of children –

We have sold and bought SIX HOUSES in that time –

and three of them we had built!

We had a combined 79 1/2 years of service with one company –

American Olean Tile – Dal Tile –

And at retirement had gone through FOUR acquisitions

The final one is MOHAWK!

We both transferred from Olean in 1999!

To Northern Va. – Alexandria for me and Dulles for her.

In the end – she went from being an SSC manager – gathering numerous awards along the way –

to an outside sales rep for NVA and parts of WVA!

In 2020 – both of us being retired – the pandemic hit and the 401K went South!

But – what was a surprise –

The values of our RETIREMENT HOME FOR LIFE –

Increased so much –

We decided to sell and move to a warmer climate.

Sunset Beach, N.C., and in the distance Ocean Isle Beach. N.C.

Golf – sand – ocean and warm weather in the Carolinas!

We were eight miles to the border of N.C. and S.C.

We left behind families – both in Pa. and NVA.

But we moved forty miles from our dear friends Buck and Cindy –

who was for years our next-door neighbors in Portville, N.Y. –

In Pleasant Acres Drive!

They had moved South a few years before we did to the Wilmington- Leland, N.C.

We often Ed visited them and decided we liked it in this general area.

Today – we often get together to golf – dinner and trips!

We have traveled the World with them!

We have made new friends in our neighborhood –

Here is Diane along with her husband Steve –

are from WNY –

and still to this day spend summers at their cottage house at Rushford Lake –

A few miles from where we lived in Portville, N.Y.

Today – they live but three doors up from us in Cameron Woods Community!

For almost nineteen years we have run an internet business from our home base-

Juice Plus – Fruits – Vegetables – Berries and Omegas in powdered and liquid form –

In capsules with over 40 scientific researches done-

by Major institutions all over the World-

to prove what it does.

Not only have I never missed a day –

at 76 years old – and having tests conducted every four to six months-

I am convinced of what the research proves –

That I will take this for the rest of my life.

And what it has done for our economy –

is provides us with 19 years of residual income-

from our own website in our home!

A big thank you for reading my blog on what is today year number 76 in my life.

You can follow me for free by joining my blog –

over 650 folks worldwide now follow my daily blog.

I owe my health to Sherry –

who is an SSC with the company.

and a certified health coordinator

PAPA’S WORLD –

my blog: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – A great day to be alive!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Papa – this picture was taken shortly after my Heart Attack

but before my FOUR BY-PASSES OPEN HEART SURGERY!

I really should not be here – I had a 100% blockage and three other partials!

I made it because in my mind I had changed my eating habits and “GONE HEALTHY”

Eight years before. The damage of slow arteries becoming clogged –

was 40 years in the making!

And in that journey – my wife convinced me to take a supplement –

which through research in major medical facilities worldwide –

showed that arteries could be opened by taking a combination of BERRIES!

I am convinced had I not changed – I would have died that day!

Today – ” IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE” ten plus years later!

Not only being gratefully for our lives in serving humanity – but literally for my HEART!

We continue our journey – walking every day – twice a week –

Tuesdays and Thursdays – at the Brunswick Senior Center –

Participating in “GERIFIT” for Seniors!

A 45-minute exercise class that goes on every second working on all your muscles

in your body and balance – strength and being flexible!

We eat as healthy as we can –

still, take our daily supplement of “FRUITS – VEGETABLES – BERRIES and OMEGAS”

ALL PLANT BASED!

It is truly “A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE”!

A little humor along with a great feeling!

Just being here knowing that the % of not being here was very large –

I beat death – I had the help of the one I love –

I shall always remember that.

Forty-two years ago she said yes – and then ten-plus years ago – with her help –

I beat death.

I am forever grateful.

Yes – today “IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE”!

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!

Papa’s World – Early years – memories!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

6-25-1982 –

the day we were married –

Looking back – we combined two families –

her two daughters and my two sons.

My sons – we would have on weekends –

the rest of the time they lived with their mother.

Her daughters would go every second weekend-

to their father.

Long weekends were our “VACATIONS” back then.

We had a twelve-passenger second-hand van.

Packing picnic lunches and dinners –

going to state parks –

visiting family –

rarely overnights –

Camping – her father had a fifth wheel!

Money – well – we had none.

We did what we did –

and what we could afford –

It was a memorable time –

Many memories – fun times –

and we were together.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Sherry – Bonnie and Debbie –

sisters!

Barb and Bill –

Mother and Father.

We spent a lot of time at their country house.

Her father had a workshop –

and he taught me a lot about finishing.

He was a union carpenter –

who made many – many fine furnishings.

we still have the hutch he made for Sherry –

and he made each of her sisters one.

They had a fifth-wheel camper –

we had tents for us and the kids.

We would meet them at the campground –

And their camper became home base for cooking –

and getting out of the rain.

Many fond memories of back in that time!

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

This is so true –

the innocence of a child!

College soccer – first Maddy-

and now Ella who has completed her soccer senior year in college.

Travel teams for both granddaughters –

H.S. teams –

Journey to Lynchburg to watch both play-

Maddy – University of Lynchburg –

And Ella – Randolf College –

where as a Freshman –

She became the first to start and play all games as a freshman.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Living life in our new neighborhood –

making new friends and neighbors.

We choose Cameron Woods Community –

Being close to two beaches –

and over 30 golf courses.

But – we have found new friends –

a plus of moving here –

and one couple has a cottage-

back where we lived in WNY!

Small world –

good friends and good neighbors.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Our home here in N.C. –

No snow or ice –

cold – yes but the Sun warms it up!

Living in the South after the first 50 years in N.Y. and Pa.

We have found our new home after all these years.

EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Taylor and Cassidy –

when they first lived with us-

as they were waiting to move into their new home.

Now – fourteen years old –

and in the eighth grade.

If only we could go back in time!

THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

Papa – Taylor and Cassidy –

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THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES!

COME BACK OFTEN – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – Remembering the past!

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Our first home together was way out in the country – some tem plus miles from the school –

for Debby and Tammy.

Our nearest neighbor was at the bottom of the driveway –

1/10th of a mile away, at the bottom of the driveway!

And then the next neighbor was-

across a huge field, and up the side of a hill.

It would take me 3 solid days of mowing with a riding mower – rest for a couple days and start over again.

The driveway had mowed grass on either side eight feet wide!

We lived here for five and one-half years – campfires –

cows in a pasture behind the house hidden by a tree line.

Debby would earn extra money by cleaning the neighbor’s house across the field.

School sports and activities required ten-plus miles each way –

and my son’s another ten miles on top of that!

Our cars seemed to be forever in motion –

and our workplace was six to eight miles away!

This was country – deer – turkeys – and all the other critters including bears.

But it was also a time of peace – church – raising kids –

and going on picnics to state parks,

Inviting friends up for campfires – visiting our parents –

mine some twenty-plus miles away and hers some forty-five miles away.

Our little home had three bedrooms – each girl had their own on the second floor –

and ours was just off the kitchen with a huge deck and glass sliding doors.

There was a living room with a wood-burning fireplace –

it was here I asked for her hand in marriage.

There was a kitchen with a table in it –

and a country door into the laundry room ( it was two parts – upper and lower)

a squirrel once got into the laundry room

and our cat caught it after a raucous round of chasing it all over that room!

At night before we put in a street light – you could star gaze and listen to the owls –

coyotes and other critters of the night!

It was way up on the end of the East Windfall Road in the Portville, N.Y. school district.

The road continued as a dirt road up and over the hill –

eventually turning back again to blacktop!

Going back toward Portville – you could take a right and go over the hill into Olean –

past the golf course and come out at the hospital.

After five and one-half years –

we put in an offer on a home at Pleasant Acres Drive-

on the other side of Portville behind the cider mill!

We would then live here for twelve and one-half years –

until the kids were in and out of college and we were empty nesters!

That will be another blog – but until then –

our first house together resides as great memories in my mind!

Sherry back when we lived way out in the country – 1982 –

REMEMBERING THE PAST – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Time passes you – through the years!

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June 25th. 1982 – The day we were married – 42 plus years ago – time passes!

It has been a busy 42 years – kids are all grown up

and the three older grandkids are too

three younger ones – two in the teens and one about to be ten

We have moved six times – built three houses – and lived in four states-

Worked a combined 79 1/2 years at American Olean Tile- Dal Tile and retired from there.

We have traveled the world and this country.

Our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic –

Very hot there – all-inclusive – even cigarettes and cigars when we smoked!

A diverse country with no middle class.

I guess you can say we experienced a lot of different things!

But – we did it and have no regrets – just wonderful memories!

We have had friends – close friends for all of that time – laughter – good times – wine – beer and golf!

We still get together a couple times a year – friends for life –

and now – in a couple days – all will be retired!

We are grateful for the lives we have led –

Love – faith – family and friends!

Living life one day at a time and living life to the plus!

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PAPA’S WORLD – TIME PASSES YOU THROUGH THE YEARS!!!!!!!

Papa’s World – MARRIED – 6-25-1982 – life with SHERRY!

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This sums up our commitment to each other – our life is based on the foundation of the Church of the Rock –

That is what Pastor Dan – our minister who presided over that ceremony all those years ago said.

6-25-1982 – 42 years ago – the day we both said “I DO”!

Combining two sets of families into one – both divorced – her two daughters –

and my two sons who we had on weekends.

It was not easy – we had no money – both working for the same company –

but we had “FAITH”!

I converted to Lutheran from Catholic –

And we attended Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville, N.Y. where we were married.

Those were both hard years from the standpoint of money – but also fun years in trying

to take the kids on vacations – in a big passenger van!

Sherry – at the resort for our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic –

We had scraped and saved for a year and one-half to do this.

Neither of us had been out of the country and we drove from Portville, N.Y. –

to Toronto, Canada to fly out.

I shall always remember that week – and then back to reality –

Working and trying to save money.

Debby – Tammy and Sherry – after they went to college and started their own families.

My two sons after they started their own lives.

Our happiness is based on love for one another and those around us.

And now the grandkids – when they were little – love this picture as it was captured on vacation

at the beach – the way they sat all together.

Today – life with Sherry has gone 42 years of marriage.

6-25-1982 to 6-25-2024 – Happy anniversary my dear – it has been a whole lot of years –

and THE CHURCH OF THE ROCK still exists in our minds and hearts.

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PAPA’S WORLD – MARRIED – 6-25-1982 – LIFE WITH SHERRY!

Papa’s World – Some stories and memories!

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In this blog will be my memories of what the picture represents – writing jogs my memories!

After a year and one half of dating – we were married on 6-25-1982 in a little Lutheran church –

“BETHEL” in Portville, N.Y.

I had already converted from being Catholic to Lutheran.

Sherry was raised in Mount Jewett, Pa. – a Swedish community, and was Swedish Lutheran.

We both were married before and she had two daughters – ages nine and four –

I had two sons ages thirteen and nine.

We had custody of the girls and my ex had custody of the boys – except on weekends!

We combined the two sets of kids and did what we could and we had no money!

We lived way out in the country between Olean and Portville, N.Y.

The boys still lived in Eldred, Pa.

That being said – we spent a lot of time in the car shuffling children –

Sports – events – back and forth between exes –

We lived on the property for 5 1/2 years

and then moved to Pleasant Acres Drive just outside of Portville.

We both worked for American Olean Tile – Dal Tile the entire time we married.

This is a picture of my bride – Sherry – taken at the resort in the Dominican Republic in June 1982!

We had an all-inclusive week at the resort and had to drive from Portville, N.Y. to Toronto, Canada!

Here we flew out on Sunday morning –

being married Friday evening and traveling Saturday to Toronto.

It was hot – we disembarked fright off the plane onto the tarmac.

We smoked back then and cigarettes and cigars were included.

Anything you wanted to drink from 6am. to 2am. and also food –

Music – pool – private beach – and we had our own VILLA – BR – LR – Bath – and patio.

We shall always remember our time here and many unique experiences!

My two sons now after all these years – Troy on the left and Shawn on the right –

Both still live back in Pa. near where they grew up.

Both have been to visit us in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Sherry with Debby and Tammy – Debby lives in Lake Holiday in NVA – outside of Winchester.

Tammy lives just outside Leesburg – in NVA –

Debby has the oldest – Maddy – Ella and Sarah – while Tammy has the youngest –

Taylor – Cassidy and Bode.

This is how our life together began in June- 1982.

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PAPA’S WORLD – SOME STORIES AND MEMORIES!

Papa’s World – My soulmate – SHERRY!

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She is all of the above to me!

We dated one and one-half years before we were married on 6-25-1982!

We found out at work that we would both get a divorce by accident.

That in turn resulted in us getting together and sort of just talking about our lives.

After we were each divorced – we started to date and the rest was history!

Sherry on our honeymoon to the Dominican Republic – at the resort!

Combining four children into one family was not easy –

but we made it as easy as we could on each of them.

Our life evolved to having all four on weekends – my two sons would come to visit and we would do things together.

Money was scarce so we made do with what we had and took weekend excursions with them.

Later they all went on to have their own families and we decided to transfer from WNY –

staying within the company – and resettling in NVA.

My sons had their lives in WPA – and decided to stay there.

Our daughters decided to follow us to NVA – Tmmy was single at the time and Debby married

Maddy as a baby.

The boys would come to visit and then Tammy was married after meeting Marcus.

We had long-time friends who relocated to Va and N.C. and we meet up two or three times a year.

Sherry started an internet business and I help her with health and nutrition –

now going on to 19 years!

This has given us extra income in addition to SS pensions and 401K!

She and our daughter Debby – formed TEAM GENERATIONS – from like-minded folks all over the country.

Helping individuals especially children develop healthy eating habits.

All the grandkids – are healthy – and developing nutritious eating habits.

Soulmate – living life one day at a time and to the plus!

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PAPA’S WORLD – MY SOULMATE – SHERRY!!!!

Papa’s World – Who am I?

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Papa – my niece Terri and my younger brother Mike.

I was born across the border in Olean, N.Y. at the Saint Francis Hospital –

To an Irish Catholic mother –

Mary (Aiken) Fitzsimmons and an Irish Protestant father Clarence (Bob) Fitzsimmons.

As you can tell – there were many dynamics in my family.

I had one sister – Donna – who was 15 years older than me –

A sister who died at birth –

and a brother – Roger – who was 10 years older than me.

Then there was me for over four years and then Mike came along.

We lived in Pa. – on the main street in a very small town called Eldred.

My father was a supervisor in the oil fields for South Penn-Pennzoil.

My mother retired from Alcas – which today is known as CUTCO –

A world leader in the manufacture of KNIVES.

My sister married and lived next door to my parent’s house – and my brother-in-law-

Bill – was both Mayor – Police Chief and drove a semi-tractor trailer for Ethan Allen.

Growing up I always had a dream of one day living on or near a beach!

Today – we have realized that dream – living in N.C. in OIB – Cameron Woods Community!

My mother Mary – my father passed away at age 59 from cancer – he was a heavy smoker –

my mother was almost 98 when she passed on.

Our home on North Main Street in Eldred – was a beacon to all my friends –

my two brothers’ friends and my sister’s friends.

Even after we had left and moved away – Mary had an open door to any and all of them.

I grew up there – when a senior was in a car accident not knowing if I would walk again –

I got married at 17 with my first son on the way in a wheelchair.

After I graduated from H.S. – with a child – no college for me – I had a family to support –

I started work at AMERICAN OLEAN TILE CO. – in Olean, N.Y.

For the next 32 years – I had another son – divorced – work many jobs in the plant –

and remarried to Sherry on 6-5-1982!

Above is our wedding picture we lived just outside Portville, N.Y. in the country.

We combined two families – her two girls and on weekends my two sons.

On our wedding day in 1982 – the boys had gone home. Debby holding her cousin and Tammy with her arms around her cousin.

We stayed in the Portville area until 1999 – when we both transferred within the company –

Sherry also worked for AOTC – which became DAL-TILE –

Our close friends Elaine and Steve during those years in Portville, N.Y. – to this day.

We golfed – played competitive Volleyball – took vacations together and raised families.

My two sons – Troy and Shawn – still live back in Pa. not far from where I grew up.

They have been down to N.C. and hoping they come back although it is a 16b hour drive!

1982 – our wedding day – growing up in Pa. and N.Y.S. –

beautiful in the spring – Summer and Fall – brutal in the Winter

as I am not a snow-cold and ice person.

We both retired from AOTC-DAL TILE – ARMSTRONG – MOHAWK –

With a combined 79 1/2 years!

Sherry and Papa – living our dreams at the beach –

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PAPA’S WORLD – WHO AM I? SENIOR LIVING TO THE PLUS – ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Papa’s World – Family Memories with Pictures!

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June 25th. 1982 – we had dated a year and one half – then we combined two sets of children –

Sherry’s two daughters and my two sons –

The girls lived with us and the boys came on weekends and special events.

We lived in the country – between Olean and Portville, N.Y.

Our driveway was 1/10th of a mile long and we were in the Snowbelt in the hills-

Lots of sled riding and that first year I mowed everything by hand –

it would take four days rest one day and start over again.

FAMILY MEMORIES WITH PICTURES!

Before Bode with five granddaughters at our enclosed patio in Brambleton, Va.

We lived here for 14 1/2 years – thinking this would be our forever retirement home.

Then the downturn – 401K dropped over 30 % – but the housing market climbed.

Time to cash out – kids were older –

we could see them every month or two –

“LETS HEAD SOUTH – NEAR A BEACH and WAMER WEATHER”!

GOLFING – SUN – SAND led us to Cameron Woods Community in N.C.

We would be 7 hours away.

FAMILY MEMORIES WITH PICTURES!

Family picture a couple years before we moved South.

Bode is here now – he was in Kindergarten – the Pandemic had started – we helped out as best we could-

We stayed with them for three months – helping all the little ones in their from-home school.

It was a special three months –

FAMILY MEMORIES WITH PICTURES!

During those early years of their growing up – we did family vacations to the beach.

This picture holds so much joy in my heart – note on the end how protective of Bode

Cassidy is – still to this day she is like that to him –

And even at that time note how close Taylor is to Sarah.

FAMILY MEMORIES WITH PICTURES.

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BODE – FAMILY MEMORIES WITH PICTURES!

PAPA’S WORLD: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Old memories in pictures!

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Our oldest granddaughter is Maddy – now 23 – here she is riding her bike and her constant companion –

PIGGY – she went nowhere without PIGGY!

Today – she has graduated with an Environmental Science degree –

and is working for a LARGE ENVIRONMENT FIRM – COUNTRYWIDE –

As a Scientist – Geologist – and PIGGY – well somewhere he remains! LOL

Mary – my mother – who was almost 98 when she went to heaven – SHE WAS THE BOSS!

Mary – everyone knew her – honking their horns as she sat on her front porch-

Pulling over and parking and coming onto the porch and sitting and talking to Mary.

The friends of my sister – brothers and myself – would stop in and talk to her even though we had moved on years before.

MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER

My High School graduation picture in the yearbook – 1967.

Sherry and Papa – our first Christmas together.

Now almost 42 years married.

MEMORIES IN PICTURES!

Halloween – and yes – at one time in my life in the mid-70s -long hair – I rode a motorcycle!

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But that is a whole other blog yet to be written!

Papa’s World – Life with Sherry!

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Being married for 41 plus years and together for 43 years – you have to have a sense of humor –

which both of us have! LOL!!!!!

We dated for over a year before the engagement led to the wedding on 6-25-1982!

We had no money – both divorced – her two daughters – me two sons – who stayed with their mother.

A lot of road traveling in the early years to share custody both ways.

Our wedding day was on June 25, 1982.

We lived way out in the country – farmland all around us – very private – about two acres of grass to mow and the driveway was 1/10 of a mile long – that had to be mowed 8 feet on either side by hand that first Summer!

Debby – Sherry’s eldest – and Sherry’s father – Bill – first granddaughter of his to be married!

Today Debby has three daughters – Maddy – 23 – Ella – 20 and Sarah 17 –

Mike and Debby have been married for 28 years –

Her father Bill was like a second father to me as I lost my own father when I was 19.

Here we are with five granddaughters – taken before the only grandson – Bode.

Sarah – Maddy – Ella – Cassidy and Taylor – before they could walk.

Today Bode and his mother Tammy – Bode is nine years old.

Sherry with Tammy and Debby and Maddy’s boyfriend – Kendrick and all the grandkids.

Sherry with my sons and their partners and daughter – family!

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

BODE – CASSIDY – TAYLOR – SARAH – ELLA and Maddy – LIFE WITH SHERRY!

PAPA and SHERRY – LIFE WITH SHERRY – living our dreams since 6-25-1982 – PAPA’S WORLD!

Papa’s World – Our early years! 6-25-82

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Our wedding day – June 25th. 1982 – starting out together after dating for 1 1/2 years!

It seems like only yesterday yet it is over 41 years ago and longer since we first started dating.

Both divorced – both had two children – her two daughters – my two sons –

We planned vacations on a budget – packing food to stop and have lunch on our way to a destination.

We had an old 12-passenger van – but fun trip.

We lived in the country – our driveway was 1/10 of a mile long – ice in winter –

It took me days to push and mow the lawn.

The early years – Sherry and her sisters. We were close to her family – often spending weekends with her parents!

Camping – tents and fifth-wheel and tag-along camper.

Our dream back then was warm weather – beach – surf and sand – vacations – wanting to stay!

We explored our states and country – sometimes by ourselves – mostly with kids –

providing what we could – money was tight.

But – we were happy – and we both worked for AOTC and DAL-TILE.

Along the way was National Gypsum, Private, Armstrong, and Mohawk.

The early years – Sherry and her sisters. In the mountains of the Kinzua Valley – Mount Jewett – Pa.

Our family was aging – the kids were gone to college and work.

We were thinking of transferring to within the company.

Several openings came up – but not what we wanted.

Then in 1999 – we applied for transfers and moved to NVA – still with Dal-Tile –

along the way we remained close to our friends for many years – one couple left for Wilmington, N.C. a few years before we went to NVA, and later the other couple transferred to Va.Beach.

We stayed in touch and in June of this year they all came to our new home to play golf –

FRIENDS FOREVER!

Our early years have now transformed into our senior years – now retired – and our dream came true!

We found our beach – sand – surf and warm weather – now our families come to visit.

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PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog OUR EARLY YEARS 6-25-82!

LIVING OUR DREAM TO THE PLUS ONE DAY AT A TIME – 2023 – OUR SENIOR YEARS BEGIN!

Papa’s World – June 25th. 1982 – 2023 – 41 years!

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We have now been married for 41 years – a second marriage for both of us – HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

June 25th. 1982 – married at Bethel Lutheran Church – Portville, N.Y. by Pastor Daniel Hoffman.

Sherry – sister Bonnie and sister Debbie – mother Barb and father Bill Overbeck.

Our marriage is based on love – kindness, and gratitude for our life together and those around us.

Grandmother – MorMor and her granddaughters – the loves of her life!

And now a grandson – Bode – the only boy – the apple of her eye.

Finally – our dream comes true – living near a beach in warm N.C. just 8 miles from the border of S.C.

Dottie and Cindy – friends from the last 35 to 40 years! Oh, the times they have had!

The oldest granddaughter – Maddy graduated from the University of Lynchburg, Va.

Second oldest granddaughter Ella – now a junior at Randolph College – Lynchburg, Va.

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JUNE 25th. 1982 – JUNE 25th. 2023 – 41 years – HAPPY ANNIVERSARY – SHERRY and TOM.

Papa’s World – Over 40 years ago – MEMORIES – when we were young!

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June 25th, 1982 – Papa – brown suit – Sherry – as tall as me – our wedding day – The tall young girl – Debby – Sherry’s daughter -next to her – with her arms around the little girl – Tammy – Sherry’s youngest daughter.

We combined two sets of children – my two sons and her two daughters – in the early years – not much money but we made it!

Last summer – Papa and my two sons – Troy – with the beard – my oldest and Shawn – my youngest – still lived back in NWPA!

They visited last summer and will be back!

This is me! LOL If only I could putt!

Debby with her family – three girls – and husband Mike – Tammy with her three kids and husband Marcus.

The grandkids are growing up – Maddy graduates from college this spring – Ella will be a junior in college in the fall –

Sarah will be a junior in HS in the fall – Taylor and Cassidy will be in their teens next birthday and Bode will be nine on his next birthday!

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The six grandkids – Maddy – Ella – Sarah – Taylor – Cassidy and Bode – Cassidy always watching over Bode!

MEMORIES OF TIMES GONE BY – GRANDKIDS – and PAPA’S WORLD! livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Troy – Shawn – Autumn – Andera – Trisha – after a week of good times and fun – will be back! The salt life!