Papa’s World – The good life.

We have had numerous blessings –

Through our 43-plus years of being together.

When we were married – I converted to Lutheran from Catholic.

Sherry was raised in the Lutheran faith –

And asked me to convert –

I did and have never looked back.

This was and is the first blessing we shared together.

They are very similar but different.

I did not fully embrace the Catholic faith –

But I did and always have believed in a greater being.

Today, we belong to our third church –

all Lutheran and in three states.

This more than likely will be our last home church.

This will be our final resting spot as we have a spot –

in a Columbarium right out behind Saint Lukes Lutheran Church in Shallotte, N.C.

Just five miles from our home in Cameron Woods Community- OIB – N.C.

Close to where the survivor can visit.

We have traveled the World –

here we are on the North Shore of Oahu- Hawaii.

Travel by ourselves –

or with family and our friends – The McBrides –

has led us to the different continents and many memories.

Sharing our love for that with family – friends and each other.

Our senior years have brought us South –

Warmer temperatures – water – surf and sand.

We did not plan this as such –

But a door opened and we went through a window.

A window that we would spend our senior years living a good life.

All – because of a turndown in the economy –

A major loss in our retirement 401K –

but a huge increase in the value of our home-

And a chance Google search showed a condo in North Myrtle Beach –

brought us to NMB for nine months during the Pandemic.

A billboard with Cameron Woods Homes in OIB –

Led us to a sales office model –

And that day a woman had withdrawn her deposit –

on the lot we visited and decided –

this was it!

I consider this to be another blessing in our lives together.

Here is a picture of Sherry and I –

with our close friends Cindy and Buck –

Who came to The Villages to visit us while we were staying with my older brother Roger-

seated next to me.

Growing up – Roger who was ten years older than me –

Was an idol to me.

Everything I did was based on him who I adored.

He left for college when I was eight years old –

and seldom came back home again.

He was nominated and made WHO’S WHO in collegiate circles –

He was married after graduation –

and went into the Navy as an officer during the Vietnam War.

Over the years I only saw him rarely –

But kept in touch by letters.

It was only later in life –

just before his wife passed away and I was retired –

We began spending the Winters with him –

in The Villages in Florida.

He wanted us to move down with him –

but we had young grandchildren –

and our home in Brambleton, Va.-

was going to be our retirement home.

We were blessed that we spent the last 7 years of his life visiting him –

And he also came up to visit us.

To this day I look up to him –

and still consider him to be my idol.

Today we live our senior moments here in N.C.

Where seldom is snow or ice.

Most of the time it is warm –

blue skies and beautiful Sunrises and Sunsets.

We are ten and fifteen minutes from two beaches.

We volunteer for the Coastal Carolina Senior Center –

The Protection of Sea Turtles and the Brunswick County Food Pantry.

We love our church – we have close friends – three couples –

Five to Forty minutes drive from us.

And – the possibility of one more couple moving somewhere close by.

We now play golf as often as we can –

we are right in the middle of 30 gold courses.

We are close to entertainment either in Wilmington, N.C. –

or North Myrtle Beach – Myrtle Beach.

Shopping is also close by

This is now our home.

WE ARE BLESSED!

On the North Shore – loving life and blessed to be together,

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PAPA’S WORLD –

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Papa’s World – One door closes and a window opens!

Many times in our being together – a door has closed –

We found another, opened it, and proceeded to the next step.

We always accepted the facts and moved on –

To a better life with friends – family –

Now – in our Senior years –

It seems like it has become a Window instead of a door!

Here is Sherry with her two daughters.

Debby – Tammy and Sherry.

While it was sad to leave them behind in NVA-

They had established their own families.

Their roots were now there –

Kids in schools – college and a life that they flourished in.

We in turn – in our senior years – wanted to be near the beaches – sun – sand,

and warmth.

We want to enjoy life as long as we are able.

Living the Southern lifestyle –

Going golfing with friends-

So – this was not a door opening – but a WINDOW we chose to open!

The WINDOW is the SENIOR TIME FRAME OF OUR LIVES!

Our friends of over four decades are now all retired.

But – Sherry and I are the oldest.

We volunteer – at the Food Pantry – Assisted living – and Sea Turtle Protection.

We often go back to NVA to see the families and the grandchildren.

That too someday shall become less and less as we age.

Our thoughts are to age as healthy as we can.

We find interesting venues to attend – most are free!

Here is the Fort Fisher Kite Festival –

Which for us involves a Ferry ride from Southport to Fort Fisher.

Also, the Aquarium is there –

And sometimes TV film crews for several series!

All things considered – the WINDOW we opened and went through –

has been an adventure that we both wanted and have been blessed to have.

Growing into our Senior Years – as healthy as we can be.

For 19 going on 20 years –

Have never missed a day –

Skin – nails grow fast as does my hair.

I feel good – I test every 4 to 6 months on my vital stats!

This window opened for us –

The only regret I have is –

I did not know about this-

for the first 13 years, it has been around!

Today we are living in the SENIOR LIFE of an open WINDOW.

Thanks for reading –

see my site: PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoiongitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Life to the Plus!

We decided to move further South – all the way down to the border of N.C. and S.C. – OIB!

We are eight miles to the border – and in the other direction – 8 miles to big box shopping!

And – we hear in that area – a Costco is coming!

We are close to two beaches – OIB and Sunset Beach and several others.

North Myrtle Beach is thirty minutes away – and Wilmington is forty-five minutes!

A view from the pier at Sunset Beach and in the distance the tall building is Ocean Isle Beach.

In ten minutes we are on OIB and fifteen minutes Sunset Beach.

We are in the middle of 30 golf courses and with our FIRST TEE card we can play most of them at a big discounted rate.

Neither one of us likes the cold – ice and snow and down here we get very little of any of it!

It does get cold with windchill – but when the sun is out – it feels warm.

We own no snow shovels!

We grow our Tower Garden all twelve months – and now are growing Cucumbers and Lettuce.

Allowing us to eat our own pest-free produce!

This flower has just completed its second year of growing – and we will continue through the winter months – covering it when necessary.

We are from WNY and NVA and follow the Bills and the Commanders.

I love sports and I still am a big Saint Bonaventure Basketball fan and follow them year to year.

LIVING LIFE TO THE PLUS one day at a time – PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Family times and RAINBOWS!

Our life and times are defined by our FAMILY TIMES!

We try to incorporate as much family into our life as possible given how far away we are!

Both my sons have visited and hoping they come back down this year –

although a very long drive – so many things we want to show them!

Our daughters have been here more often mainly because it is half the distance that the boys have to travel.

We are in contact with all of them and the grandkids!

Ella will be a senior in college this year and will play her last season of soccer for Randolf College!

We have plans to attend her senior game with family!

We usually all rent an Airbnb and get together for that game.

Family events also play into our lives – and we return for them.

Time here seems to be so fast from day to day.

Not like it did when we worked.

Someone asked me the other day –

“What have you been doing?”

I honestly struggled to answer that because I have said –

“I DON’T KNOW HOW I FOUND TIME TO WORK”!

What is nice is that we stay busy all be it for different reasons.

Not having to watch the clock to quitting time seems to take all the stress out of TIME!

It is nice to do what you want to do – even a trip to the store is to me an adventure –

I do not have to do it if I choose not to – but I can do it the next day.

I do most of the driving these days – except on long trips and then we switch on and off.

There is so much going on here – think of your week’s vacation you have taken to the beach!

With us – We never have to feel we have to leave – we live here –

we can watch families come and go –

and we are here to watch the next weekly families move in!

That to me is living what I always dreamed of doing!

The RAINBOWS of our life – well they keep on coming –

The THUNDERSTORMS are here also –

but we tend to just sit back and wait for the RAINBOW to appear once again.

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – FAMILY TIMES AND RAINBOWS!

Papa’s World – Friends times in PICTURES!

For years and years – these three have been best friends – DOTTIE – CINDY and SHERRY!

The many times they have had a little too much wine – LOL – have resulted in cherished memories!

Today – when we get together – GOLF is involved – they get a couple strokes –

and are hard to beat – often times one stroke separates the GALS vs. the GUYS!

A lot of laughter results in crazy antics!

Get togethers are usually three times a year – at each other’s houses-

Today we live 32 miles from Buck and Cindy –

And Dottie and Jim just built a house in Edenton, N.C.

About 3 1/2 hours from Sherry and me in OIB-N.C.

Buck and Cindy live just outside Leland, N.C.

LOL – and again I say to Jimmy – “GIVE THEM NO STROKES”!

We are all retired except Dottie who is very close – JIM AND DOTTIE grew up in Eldred. Pa.

where I also grew up!

JIM – SHERRY and I all worked for the same company and retired from that company.

Buck and Cindy were our neighbors in Portville and knew Jim and Dottie from before that!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA – BUCK and JIM – BEST BUDDIES FOR YEARS AND YEARS!

PAPA’S WORLD – FRIENDS TIMES IN PICTURES!

Papa’s World – Papa and Sherry – beach & golf and shopping! Retired with part-time income!

This is me! LOL, but we do enjoy golfing – by ourselves or with friends!

Sherry and Papa – married for over 40 years – together for 42 years! Living now what is called THE SALT LIFE!

We are retired – although for the past sixteen years – Sherry has owned and operated a network marking business!

Allowing us to retire in N.C. in Cameron Woods Community, Ocean Isle Beach!

We are four miles to one beach and six miles to another beach.

Here we are with a neighbor on Sunset Beach – relaxing in the sun on a weekday – living what locals call THE SALT LIFE!

We found this little piece of paradise – where the temps are moderate during FALL – WINTER and SPRING!

It can and is HOT in the summer – but we find the ocean – with a breeze – more than comfortable.

5 to 10 minutes and we are sitting on the sand!

The beach was a major factor in choosing this area – but also – love to golf!

We are within thirty minutes of over 30 golf courses!

Four of them are right across the street!

We can choose whatever we want to play!

Now – we are not all that good – but being out in the open on the golf course is what we love.

We have purchased what is called the first tee – which gives us major breaks in what we pay each 18 holes!

32 different courses – just call up and make an afternoon tee time!

We like playing afternoons as most people like to play before noon!

Major shopping – outlets and big box stores – are only a thirty-minute drive for us down Myrtle Beach.

Sherry and Papa at Tanger Outlets – Myrtle Beach – S.C. Thanks for reading Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Being retired with an income additional to SS and Pension and 401K –

Has allowed us to select where to live and this is THE SALT LIFE!

CONTACT: ssherrylynn49@fitztdf

RETIRED WITH PART-TIME INCOME!

Papa’s World – We attended a retirement party for our friend.

A cake and a drawing – almost 46 years working for the same company – the same that Sherry and I worked for!

Between the THREE of us – we had a total of 125 years and when you add in his brother – Paul – 158 years!

A bunch of balloons – and a room full of co-workers – on a very rainy night – a farewell to all those years – memories and priceless.

Now – when we play – he can join me at the senior tees! LOL It will be fun and the start of many years to come.

Happy retirement my friend – Jim Brown – and thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – WE ATTENDED A RETIREMENT PARTY FOR OUR FRIEND – JIMMY!

Papa’s World – Bald Head Island – part two.

The streets on cul-de-sacs – palm trees and each house have a small little cottage over the golf cart garage!

The streets are two-way – most of them – through the housing – the houses are a mixture of cape-cod and craftsman style. Two stories and little cottages in the front. Most have elevated views of the ocean and many are beachfront.

The ladies – Diane and Sherry – explore the path to the beach and water.
While Steve goes over the map – get a map or you end up in dead ends!

We had the car for about five hours – and also a map to get around. Here we can see where we want to go – but it is on the other side of the channel – we had to retrace our way back to the main road.

The island has a main road that goes all the way around – and many roads into neighborhoods!

They can be dead ends or through a maze of roads cut through to the other side.

So it is best to have the map.

There also is a 18 hole golf course here – we caught glimpses of it through the trees.

One of the many beach access with a place to park the golf cart!

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Diane and Sherry walking from the beach access to the beach and ocean.

TOURING BALD HEAD ISLAND BY GOLF CART – to be continued in the next PAPA’S WORLD BLOG!

Papa’s World – another beautiful sunrise and then a cool day of golf!

Waking up to this every morning – at the end of June – nine months of this – memories for a lifetime!
Golfing with our close friends at a golf course way out in the country of N.C.

We awoke to a beautiful sunrise – a bit chiily –

But the forecast called for low 50’s but Sunny!

It makes a big difference with hardly any wind!

As the Sun continues to rise – clouds form but are suppose to clear away!

I have come to accept here in S.C. – that the day changes dramatically

the higher the Sun gets in the sky!

So – you prepare for the day – getting a mental image in your mind

dress in layers – drink your coffee or tea

and know that the day – will turn out okay!

Another painted canvas by nature!

So it goes – sunrise – sunshine – cool but no wind – warmth.

A fine day to be alive and a fine day to golf with friends!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS

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Papa’s World – One final beach walk with friends!

Dottie Sherry Jim

They were leaving mid morning for their trip back to Va. Beach

where they have lived for a number of years.

Our other friends – who live 50 miles away

had gone home the night before

as appointments awaited them in the morning.

We have been getting together for the past 25 years

when we all moved away

having been friends prior to that for at least 10 years.

The beach – as it always has – called us to walk one final time!

Jimmy

For years and years we took beach vacations together

raising our families

Jim and I played softball together back in the late 70’s!

Now the little ones are all grown up

and have little ones and big ones of their own

Grand children – the years have passed

but the love of the sand and surf remains!

Beach life – Boggie Boards – Wave riding with tubes – Sipping a favorite brew

all things we loved to do – but I no longer ride the waves –

I still sip a brew – and I still walk the surf!

One last walk on the beach – just as we have done countless times before.

Life has been good to all of us

we still get along and get together

friendships last and last!

Papa Jimmy Sherry Dottie

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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

One final beach walk with friends!

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Papa's World -my memory lane – my soul – my life.

I am nearing the last part of my life

and I find it reasonable to just say no

to injustice – to unreal expectations

and yes

to to my integrity

my convictions

and my thoughts.

And I choose not become involved in a senseless argument

I select people who are like minded

I listen – I think –

and I make my intentions known

only when asked to do so.

I AM ME !

I am the one to the left

I am the one who thinks ahead

I am the one who organizes

I am the one who cares

I AM ME!

I am enjoying what time I have left

I am a planner

I look forward

and share my memories

I am much like a tree

I AM ME!

I see funny things

I smile with my thoughts

I shed private tears

I try to be good

I try to share

I TRY TO BE ME!

I AM ME !

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

my site

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – 1982 – 2019 Couldn’t do it with out you!

That day 37 years ago – I believe was a Friday –

A little white church in a little town in SWNY state.

Sherry & Tom 1982

That is the day we were married .

Good morning

This was the second marriage for both of us –

I had two sons and she had two daughters –

And in those 37 years –

they have become almost mine.

How I feel

Our life together has many twists and turns –

Moving on

and beginning a new life in another state.

The girls followed us twenty years ago –

and here we remain today.

Tom & Sherry

Today we celebrate that love –

as best friends.

As mates for life –

Now – as we reach those years of Autumn –

We are comforted by being one –

Sherry & Tom

Happy Anniversary to the one I love –

That little white church all those years ago –

Our vows were based on the rock foundation of the church –

And it remains that way today.

Tom and Sherry

1982 to 2019 Couldn’t do it without you – we found each other.

A TRIBUTE TO MY WIFE AND BEST FRIEND

I hope you enjoyed my little blog for the day

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