Springfield

Papa’s World – Life at Fountain Side Lane.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

In June of 1999 –

Sherry and I transferred within the company –

To Northern Va. – to the Alexandria section –

just outside Washington, D.C.

We had two months of company-paid living –

in a block of condos.

We used this time for our new jobs –

hers in Dulles next to the airport –

and mine in Springfield at our Alexandria SSC.

We came from the country to city life!

In our spare time, we hired a realtor –

and started our search for a home.

We wanted a place that was halfway to work for both of us.

FAIRFAX, VA.!

What we found was a townhome in the Fountain Side Lane –

Three miles to George Mason University –

two miles to the NRA – building!

STICKER SHOCK – this town home was about 1600 SF.

On three levels – three bedrooms –

and two and one-half baths.

But was centrally located to both our jobs.

It would take me one-half hour to get to work –

and she is about twenty minutes!

It was a nice neighborhood –

walkable to a large town square with stores –

shopping and restaurants.

During our time there-

we rode our bikes on trails in a forest behind the house.

This whole area would become a planned TOWN CENTER –

With dozens of stores and bars and grills-

even a Ruth’s Chris Steak House!

We watched it being built –

and eventually the first WEGMENS in the NVA. area.

It was during this time her sister Debbie –

seen here in the middle-

Relocated from Wisconsin –

and stayed with us for a short time-

until she found a place in the Manassas area.

Her other sister Bonnie remains in NWPA in Mount Jewett.

We experienced two traumatic life-changing events-

while living here.

First was 911 – this happened while we worked in the area –

The plane that hit the Pentagon –

flew right over the parking lot where I worked –

And Sherry was right next to the Dulles airport

One plane took off from there,

and all these large tanks were holding fuel right next to her store.

For days the sound of silence ensued.

No planes –

we traveled to see the Pentagon –

and have a picture of the destruction.

This went on for days –

as no planes –

but the high military jets leaving their presence known-

in the trail of white contrails in the sky!

The next event was the DC. SNIPERS!

We were exactly in the middle of all the killings!

It was all around us –

and not knowing from moment to moment who would be next!

We lived in TERROR!

Always be watchful at the beginning-

of a WHITE VAN!

Rumors – going to work at 5am.

Stopping to get gas –

and crouching down behind the car door –

in the light from the overhead lights.

Here is Maddy –

about five years old –

and just a baby when we moved to the area.

I carried her in my arms –

while walking the streets during the quiet period after 911!

Looking at the jet planes so high in the sky.

Our home here –

we lived in it for three and one-half years.

Tammy moved in with us as she came from Rochester to be near us.

Later Debby and Mike moved down from the Syracuse area with Maddy!

It was here that both sets of parents came to visit –

before they passed away.

We have many fond memories of this first home in Fairfax, Va.

Soon – more family members made their way to this area of NVA.

While here –

we watched a new development –

just behind our house going up –

We liked the new townhomes made out of brick.

S o – we decided to sell –

and buy our first new to-be-built home – a block away!

RIDGETOP COMMONS – a 2500 SF. Town Home!

We would be moving up the hill!

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

Coming in another blog – RIDGETOP COMMONS!

Papa’s World – On 9-11 – I was just a few miles from the Pentagon!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It was April or early May in 1999 –

I was in my office at the American-Olean-Dal-Tile Co. –

Olean, N.Y. The phone rang –

and the operator said I had an outside call – please hold while I connect you.

It was Christine from store number 159 – Alexandria, Va.

One of the largest revenue stores in the country.

She offered me a job –

knowing that Sherry had been offered and was about to accept a manager job –

in Dulles, Va.

We talked about money and what I would be doing!

Then I told her I would accept under one critical condition to me!

I would TRANSFER within the company bringing all my services –

time and vacation with me AND-

I wanted no responsibility in management – ( she would later try to get me to rescind)

I would give her over 100% effort –

but I wanted to retire in the next 15 years

and just work eight hours a day!

I would be an employee whom she did not have to coach to do the job –

I would lead by example-

but would issue no orders to anyone.

Within two months we sold our home in Portville, N.Y.,

and were living in the middle of –

OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA –

Sherry was the manager of 222 in Dulles – right across from the airport –

and I was just outside D.C. in Springfield, Va. near the Pentagon.

I had gone to work for SSC 159 – Alexandria –

one of the biggest revenue centers in the country –

For American-Olean-Dal-Tile Companys.

I had just turned 50 years old in 1999 –

before we left for Va. and the Washington, D.C. area.

It was a whole new world for both of us –

Sherry was her own boss and took that store from

just under One million dollars in sales to between six and seven million dollars in sales.

Garnering President’s award along the way-

and recognition for her style and energy –

and customer relations –

building sales to one of the fastest-growing SSCs in the country.

ME – I was very happy –

learning a whole new system geared to fulfill customers’ orders –

I was given the hours of 5AM to 2PM.

Opening the store – and getting the orders from a truckload that came in overnight –

for customers who showed up at 7:30 AM. to pick up!

By myself – I unloaded 12 to 14 truckloads a week –

broke them down and put them away.

I learned the computer –

and received each item I checked in and the location after I put it away.

This was for a store that grew from 12 million a year in sales to 17 million in sales in the first two years I was there!

That is a lot of tile to check in and take care of.

I was working in my area when the first plane hit the Twin Towers –

we had a TV in the main counter area.

We gathered around the front desk to watch.

It was 9-11

2001 and I was in the Alexandria – 159 SSC just outside Washington, D.C.

I do not know how long we were standing there in disbelief –

But – A large Shadow crossed over the parking lot outside –

and some customers and employees came inside=

and said a large plane had flown over the building and parking lot –

very low to the ground!

And then a newsbreak and alert –

A PLANE HAD JUST FLOWN INTO THE PENTAGON – just a mere few miles from us.

Tramatised – we all stared at the TV.

We were under attack and then the fourth plane went down in Pa.

We were told to go home and we closed down the store

I made the 45-minute drive back to Fairfax where we had bought a townhouse.

I know where I was on 9-11 -2001 –

I also know where I was the day JFK was assassinated –

and we also experienced the DC SNIPER for weeks –

and I have vivid images of that time –

We were right in the middle of all the shootings.

I remember in the days after the Twin Towers –

and the Pentagon and the field in Pa.

It was very eerie going outside and walking –

no planes in the air except for the military jets leaving their presence in trails across the sky!

But these happenings will be another blog –

For today – my 9-11 occurred right outside D.C.

I shall take that memory with me to the grave.

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

PAPA’S WORLD – ON 9-11, I WAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE PENTAGON!