senior

Papa’s World – In my senior year-car accident!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

I was just 17 years old – my senior year in High School-

September of 1966!

The Friday before, I had played a football game –

My positions – left guard on offense and monster on defense-

(roving linebacker).

I had just eaten supper –

My mother had made homemade potato soup!

She was an excellent cook and baker!

I was going to drive toward the state line to meet up with my girlfriend-

And go someplace – I don’t remember where.

My ride was a SIMCA –

Imagine a squared-off Volkswagen!

Robin egg blue with a manual five-speed on the floor.

Getting it up to the speed limit was not easy!

The top speed was maybe 60 mph on the best days!

It was a square tin box on wheels!

Sitting in the driver’s seat, I almost could touch the passenger side door with my outstretched arm.

But – to me – it was easier than hitchhiking, which I had done numerous times-

Both during the day and at night!

I started the trip toward the NYS line, about four or five miles away, to where she lived.

On the outskirts of town by the Kendal Bridge-

A car coming toward me really fast went buzzing by!

I remember this because they were on the center line –

And in my mind, I still see the woman-

She was sitting with her feet up on the dashboard while her husband was driving!

I later found out they had gone through town and turned around by Burrs garage.

I still have my long-term memory and find that writing blogs is for me a training exercise –

In retaining that memory!

Eldred, Pa., in the 1900s – there is a tall white building in the upper center-

I lived just to the left, several houses back from that church.

Those hills were toward NYS –

And where would I have the accident!

I had run through all five gears and was doing 45 to 50 miles per hour.

There was a corner just before my girlfriend’s home –

And about 150 yards to her home.

I started to downshift –

And put my turn signal to turn left.

My intent was to turn left and park facing the opposite direction –

So when leaving, we would be heading back toward town.

I was in second gear –

And I had crossed the white line – no cars were coming towards me, and it was a good three-quarter mile straight away!

All of a sudden, from behind me came that car that had passed me going into town!

They came around that corner, and I was on the left lane, and it hit me –

The right fender of his car hit the door behind my seat!

That little car I drove had no seat belts.

His fender came through the door and hit the back of my seat.

The seat was pushed into the steering wheel-

Having no seat belts saved my life.

I was thrown across the gear shit – and my back was against tihe other passenger door.

My legs were still on the clutch and gas pedal

We went all the way across the lane –

Onto the berm and about 100 feet into the mailbox.

The windows exploded, and I was covered in glass.

I looked directly at them, and she still had her feet up on the dashboard.

My girlfriend’s mother came running across the road and opened the door that my back was against.

I somehow got my feet over the stick shift and out of the door.

I tried to stand, but my hips just sort of swayed sideways!

So I sat down in the seat and wondered –

“I passed that car- they were going really fast – they had gone through town –

and turned around and back – and somehow in the four miles caught me and –

slammed into me while I was in the other lane”?

They must have been going really fast!

The ambulance arrived, and I was taken to Olean General Hospital.

I could not stand or walk.

I had this pain in my lower belly –

They took X-rays –

My Pelvis was broken –

And the urethral tube from my bladder had been torn apart!

I was bleeding inside!

My thoughts after the accident.

They put a Catheter in –

Blood immediately filled the glass jug –

I was scared –

IV and blood were hooked up.

It ended up for 41 days!

I was put flat on a bed with traction under my hips-

Ropes along both legs and wrapped –

These ropes were attached to weights hanging from a contraption –

Rigged up over my bed.

I could be slightly elevated by the upper part of the bed.

I lay this way for 51 days!

I did not know if I would ever walk again.

I continued my studies for my senior year in that bed.

Being released in November.

I went home in a wheelchair.

During that time, I found out my girlfriend was pregnant.

We were married – I in a wheelchair.

My parents had a hospital bed put in the living room.

I slept there – she slept upstairs.

This is my eldest son, Troy, who was born after the accident in early January 1967.

Of all that happened, he became a bright star for me.

I was reclassified for the draft!

We were in the middle of “NAM”!

I could not walk, and no longer could I be drafted!

I was in a wheelchair for three months-

Then, on crutches, I had to learn to walk again.

Then, with a cane and I walked for graduation.

I am forever grateful for the support I had from loved ones.

All my school classmates who came to see me-

Some helped me in my lessons.

I graduated from H.S. – married with a son.

College was not an option,

but I was blessed in that neither was Vietnam!

Today I am fine –

But this memory lingers on as just like it were yesterday.

I can still see it in my mind.

Thank you for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Today, after 20 years –

AGING AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN.

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – ELLA’S SENIOR GAME DAY!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

This blog is about our granddaughter Ella – in her senior year at Randolph College!

She was so little when she first tied up her cleats that we called her “TINY”!

She was about four to five years old.

Her older sister had been playing since she was four years old.

During those early years – she suffered many injuries to her feet.

Turned ankles – small bones broken when she was stepped on by cleats.

But – while on crutches – she still attended the games and cheered them on.

After travel teams and graduating from H.S. –

she was recruited to Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va.

Her older sister played across town at the University of Lynchburg and was a player in her own right!

Ella became the first Freshman to start and play every minute of her games that Freshman year.

Here are the three granddaughters-

Sarah on the left – Ella and Maddy on the right.

She no longer was “TINY”!

Growing into a 5′ 9″ power-playing midfielder!

She became a captain in her Sophomore year –

And met her sister at midfield when Maddy was a senior!

That year they played against each other on the pitch.

She played every game and almost every minute.

Ella and her close friends through the years from the team

Then – after the season was over and in the Spring of her Sophomore year-

The unthinkable happens – in their round-up practice –

She inadvertently stepped on the ball and pain shot up and down her leg!

Her oldest friends from H.S.

She was in so much pain she couldn’t sleep.

Then was when a very long process began –

Doctors – Xrays – PT – MRI – endless doctor visits – traveling to Hospitals –

It was devastating to her – crutches –

And no one had answers.

She still was captain in her Junior year –

But her time was limited.

The pain soon became normal –

Ice packs on her knee even though there was no tear.

Her family and friends stood by her –

A PT she knew in Lynchburg started deep massages on her leg and it helped.

Now it is her senior year – and another freak step –

this time her knee.

She was determined to go forward –

playing time came less and less and the pain more so than ever.

Here she is on her SENIOR day – knee wrapped but she played.

She is a trooper.

Her first two years showed so much promise – but the last two were memories she hoped to forget.

Ella – standing after the game – her knee wrapped in ice.

Her cheering section could be heard the entire game.

The season is over –

She will graduate with two degrees!

What could have been – wasn’t to be –

but this young lady taught us all a lesson.

STRIVE TO MEET YOUR GOALS – PLAY TO ACHIEVE THEM –

and when the odds are against you –

know that you gave all and in the minds of those who love you –

YOU SUCEEDED!

#10 – SENIOR ELLA MYERS – RANDOLPH COLLEGE, VA.

PAPA’S WORLD – ELLA’S SENIOR GAME DAY!

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway. blog

Papa’s World – SARAH – granddaughter – young years!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

She is now 18 years old – but when little – always expressed “FASHION”!

She was always dressing up – wanted makeup –

Modeled her outfits –

and today she remains the same!

That smile – her eyes – her laugh-

and sense of humor –

her ambition to get ahead –

and her work habits!

She loves life –

she is a homebody –

She is so much like her mother!

The little girl who made me smile-

The little girl who made me laugh-

The little girl who helps without being told-

THAT IS SARAH!

From a little cheerleader –

She is an artist –

She is so witty-

SHE IS SARAH!

SARAH – YOUNG – THROUGH THE YEARS –

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – attending school in Eldred Pa. – little community in the Alleghany mountains!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
One thing I learned

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

My yearbook the year we graduated – June – 1967

Papa’s World – the day they grow up – graduate – 18 yrs.

/ Tom / 4 Comments

Soon – that word – meaning like just around the corner – is about to happen!

Our little grand daughter Maddy – with her “PIGGY” – which went everywhere she went. Just outside Sherry’ s parents home.

She now is 18 and about to graduate and start a brand new journey at The University of Lynchburg, Va. And signed a letter of intent to play soccer.

Maddy sitting next to her sister Ella at Raquet Lake N.Y.

She has grown into a beautiful young lady – who maintains a 4.10 GPA. Playing soccer at a high level.

Here she is with her two other sisters and her twin cousins. With GIGI who sadly passed away last November – Sherry’s mother.

Through the years – when she was almost as small as the soccer ball – she played – co-ed and then onto two travel teams. One in Winchester Va. and then – to better herself- she traveled 60 miles each way three times a week to practice with the Loudoun RED soccer team.

Forever young in my mind.

The years have swiftly marched by – all the games in and out of state have passed – memorable only in so many pictures taken. Now – she is about to take the final walk on stage – graduate and then go on.

Her drawing years ago of her ” PIGGY” as she called it – so innocent on a swing – memory of sweet youth.

The memory of the little girl – always smiling – always so small – everyone else was so much bigger until the growth spurt of the last few years. Today – she is almost as tall as her grandmother Sherry who is 5 ‘ 9″ !

She has grown into her role as starting midfielder the last four years.

Three sisters – the start of college – leaving the home – and two behind.

The years have gone by so fast – the other two will be left behind at home – but her presence will always be felt – her favorite “PIGGY” on top of the stuffed animals – her MANATEE blanket on the wall. The trampoline will only feel the bounce of the younger two. The sound of the soccer ball will be down to one – her memory will remain – but her journey begins.

Her determination – all conference – signed letter of intent- to play college soccer

Today I blog not a end or an old story – but the beginning of a new book – a new chapter and a new page about to open up – the little one has gone into memory – but the image still lingers in my mind – PACA – is what she called me – I think because she couldn’t quite say PAPA – but she made my World – and I look forward to the travel to watch once again. The memory shall always be with me – the little foot striking the big soccer ball -and then the smile and off she would go.

SMILE A SMILE FOR ME MY LITTLE MADDY

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did writing it – my tribute to the little one – the soccer ball almost as big as she is.

#homeagain #HGD #JP #just

Papa’s World – the day they grow up and turn 18 .