Sunset Pier

Papa’s World – Family – Friends and Memories!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Life is short- smile, laugh, and show kindness.

In 2020, after the Pandemic had been around for months and months-

We sold our house and moved into our two daughters’ houses.

Splitting time between the two.

The three youngest grandchildren are shown here with their mother, Tammy.

We helped out with the homeschooling as Bode went into first grade.

As we prepared for our own move in late September-

We were going to the NC and SC border region-

As a family, we went on a nature hike.

Into the Blue Ridge Mountains we hiked.

Bode was five – the twins, Taylor and Cassidy, were nine years old.

This was a special time for us –

We would move away from them for the first time since they were born.

A lot of emotion for everyone during this time.

Now we go back every couple of months, and they come down between times.

A GRATEFUL HEART THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE THESE BONDS!

A view of the Northeast of the end of Ocean Isle Beach from the Sunset Beach Pier.

Several times a week –

We travel the short distance to either beach.

They have instituted paid parking on both beaches –

May through October, sometime.

For the first time since we have been down here-

We purchased a parking pass from the pier in OIB.

Now – this is where we spend most of our time.

Before the paid parking, it was Sunset Beach –

Simply because it is easier for me to walk on –

Being a more level beach.

The rest of the year-

There is no paid parking except for times at the piers of both beaches.

And the paid parking is from 9am to 5pm.

This is our dream come true.

A DREAM COME TRUE FOR OUR LIFE IN OUR SENIOR YEARS!

LOL – humor makes for a good day ahead!

Sherry with our friends from AZ. –

Jo and Paul.

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background.

They hosted us when we went to the JP Conference in Phoenix-

Jo graduated from Otto-Eldred HS, as did I!

Paul graduated from Smethport HS, as did Sherry.

They spent time at our home in Brambleton,

And we took the Metro several days into the city!

We packed a lot into that time –

Seeing the whole city and walking almost all of it.

TOURING WASHINGTON, DC. WITH FRIENDS!

It is that time of year –

NFL football.

We have two teams that we follow.

Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills.

Sherry leans more toward the Bills –

And I lean more toward the Commanders.

However, we watch both if we can when they play!

WATCHING THE BILLS AND COMMANDERS!

Edging closer to 80 in our senior years!

Here in 2024, we celebrate year number 75!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

For over twenty-plus years –

AGING AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN IN OUR SENIOR YEARS!

Check out Sherry’s site: http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

If interested or want help –

Just contact her through the site,

Either by phone number or email.

Papa’s World – Good vibes – some Humor!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Footprints in the sand –

Waves gently washing ashore – Soon they will disappear –

Erasing all proof that I strolled here!

The history of humans –

Over time disappears –

Occasionally – to reappear –

And cause us to wonder –

What has been all these tens of thousands of years ago!

I may be a history buff –

Excited to view new discoveries.

A Good Vibe for today is I feel we have existed –

For hundreds of thousands of years as humans.

Today – I celebrate that existence.

GOOD VIBES and HUMOR!

Laughter with long-time friends is PRICELESS!

Smile – laugh and feel good!

You are looking at FORTY PLUS YEARS of friendship!

Wine – beer – music and golf!

Friendships are a priority in our life together.

GOOD VIBES – SOME HUMOR!

There is a place about one and one half mile walk south –

from the Sunset Beach Pier!

It is a memorial to two Hippie Souls –

Who over FORTY YEARS AGO-

Hauled tools – a post and a mailbox to the middle of the seashore that is protected.

here they erected a mailbox and put a journal inside.

While over the years –

the mailbox has been replaced –

It still is a destination for souls who walk and write their thoughts in the new journals.

There now are two park benches to sit on –

Plaques to commemorate the two hippies.

A driftwood tree with a plaque sits high on the dune behind the benches and mailbox.

You gaze back across the marsh and water to Little River, S.C. –

And in the distance is Cherry Grove- just a short walk from NMB!

THE KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX IS HISTORIC AND THE JOURNALS ARE PRESERVED!

Over four decades’ worth of writing!

If you want a GOOD VIBE – consider the walk – in the surf –

and sit and write and gaze out to sea!

We have done it serval times and each time a wanting to come back exists.

MY GOOD VIBE FOR TODAY!

As the sun rises in the East on Ocean Isle Beach –

another day dawns.

We are blessed to be here to see this –

Our dream of living our dream is now here.

One day at a time and living life to the fullest while aging as healthy as we can.

Being a SENIOR – it happens but we choose to live it and smile- BE HAPPY!

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – A look at life in pictures!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

They say a picture expresses a thousand words!

The “WHY” we moved to OIB – close to the border of N.C. and S.C.

In the distance in the upper right-hand corner –

Sits a very tall building –

That my friends is the only tall building on these two barrier islands!

That is Ocean Isle Beach and this beach is seen from the pier –

It’s Sunset Beach!

We choose this area after nine months in North Myrtle Beach.

Which is 16 miles or a 30-minute drive South for us.

Going North on route 17 –

Is Wilmington, N.C.About a 40-minute drive.

These beaches are minutes from our home on the mainland side of the ICW!

While we are not on the beaches every day –

We can and do go when we want to.

Can it be cold here?

Yes – but most days are clear skies and bright sunshine.

Only once have I seen ice and it was gone by mid-morning.

I have not seen the snow accumulation – once saw flurries for a ten-minute time frame!

This Beach – we like to walk as it is flatter than OIB.

Making it easier to walk for me.

Both have piers and great entrances to the beach.

There soon will be paid parking I assume on both beaches –

But you can park at the piers for $10.00 all day!

I understand there might be parking passes for residents – one per household!

Living here – is a dream come true for both of us!

Can a picture say a thousand words?

I BELIEVE IT CAN!

Our oldest granddaughter – MADDY – on her graduation day from the University of Lynchburg!

She now has been out of college life for almost two years!

She has an environmental science degree and is employed by a countrywide Environmental firm.

She works in both the office and fieldwork.

When asked what she prefers –

Her answer is fieldwork!

She loves the outdoors –

often hiking mountain trails with her sister – ELLA-

A picture can say a thousand words!

I personally believe in a strong military presence both here and abroad.

The might of this country is in freedom –

That freedom is protected by our men and women in the service.

May all be blessed –

I stand with the military.

A picture tells a thousand words.

We have many people we consider friends.

I have also seen many who I don’t consider friends.

I unfollow many who have negative comments on my page.

Life is short enough without those comments –

I have no time for that –

I focus on positive thoughts – memories –

And write these blogs to enforce that in my pictures and words.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

My hope is that this brings a good vibe to your day!

Many thanks for reading my blogs!

PAPA’S WORLD-

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog


Papa’s World – HELENNA – friends helping!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Linda – and her husband –

a high school classmate from Mount Jewett –

where Sherry lived!

They live about five miles from the airport –

being used by private Helicopters-

coordinated to fly into areas –

that are shut off or hard to reach!

She and her husband have been buying items –

to be flown in-

and we have been covering the cost for them.

With their help –

we have managed to get the supplies-

closer than the trucks can.

Sometimes it takes connections –

Connections from childhood to adults –

Both now living in NC.-

although hours apart –

to bring comfort to those in need.

God and faith –

work in ways that you would never think of!

We found out the truck is back –

and will continue to shop and deliver there!

Our friends in Hickory will continue to do the same.

Close to $3000.00-

has come in from donations –

We will continue as long as donations keep coming in –

and after that –

will do what we can –

with what we have.-

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD:

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Helenna – continued!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

The overcast gray skies did not put a damper on the crowds of people –

who came bearing donations for the Hurrican Helenna victims –

in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

We are in Sunset Beach across from the parking lot and pier.

Pier owners have organized this effort –

as they are native to areas of damage and destruction!

A semi-tractor trailer was empty –

when we dropped off our donations.

There were other trailers there –

two of them were filled and left shortly-

the day before four vehicles –

loaded had departed and made deliveries!

Volunteers unloaded and stacked pallets for loading.

Dozens of people helped.

Our friends Jim and Claudia donated 20 black plastic crates –

making it easier and much welcomed to pack the semi-full of pallets!

Two trailers on the left are packed and ready to go-

the semi on the right was empty –

when we arrived!

They had just started to load this –

when we arrived with our totes!

Our totes –

filled and labeled on top with contents inside.

On the other side of the semi –

a tailor waits – almost filled!

Gray skies – a trailer waits to move into the loading area!

We unloaded and left –

within hours the semi was full!

Sherry and I want to express our admiration –

thanks and people’s willingness to help!

They trusted us to donate money –

time and items –

An extra shout-out to Jim and Claudia –

who drove to Sam’s Club-

to purchase four cases of small propane canisters.

And to Pat and Linda –

who Sherry knew from back in Mount Jewett –

who now lives in Hickory, N.C.

They agreed to purchase items –

which we reimbursed for –

and take them five miles to the airport where the Helicopters –

making coordinated delivers into unreachable areas-

This getting supplies to those in need!

All the trailers and semi-truck were filled-

plus what was filled the previous day-

left within hours of us unloading.

As of this writing –

DONATIONS – MONEY: $2580.00

ITEMS PURCHASED: $1797.65

The Sunset Beach Pier has stopped for now –

waiting for the supplies to be used up in the field.

When they commence again in a few days-

We will begin once again purchasing supplies:

Money left to purchase: $782.35

Thanks to all who gave – we remain so humbled.

PAPA’S WORLD:

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway. blog

Papa’s World – Collecting food for WNC – flood victims.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Sherry and I started collecting money through posts –

we had to buy items and take them to a

spot on the Sunset Pier in trucks and trailers –

This was in response to a post made by the owners of the Pier –

Who happened to be from the area in WNC MOUNTAINS –

And wanted to help the region –

Collecting water – food – health items clothes and blankets!

We spent over 100.00 dollars of our own money –

But – then after our posts –

other donations started coming in.

Close to $1000.00 and still coming!

Folks who donated staying –

and separating items to be packed onto the trailer and UHAUL!

Sherry is in the top middle!

Our neighbors Patrisha Donna and Pete are friends.

We ran into other friends and neighbors who also donated.

Soon – neighbors were dropping off boxes and bags for us to take over.

These were the first of FOUR TRUCKS and TRAILERS –

They collected for less than Two Days –

and filled them up!

On Wednesday of that week –

arrangements were made by the owners of the pier –

To park a friend’s Semi-tractor trailer-

to park across the street –

and the donations to continue!

Slowly the people came –

and then more and more –

Two more trucks were added –

in less than 48 hours – all four were filled.

A second site was announced –

this one at OIB – a parking lot near the park and museum.

This trailer had a weight limit of 1600 lbs.

The water was transferred to the UHAUL –

The owner of this trailer was a man named Danny –

A retired police officer who lives in Calabash and rides a motorcycle!

Papa and Sherry – we made four trips to the stores –

With the money donated –

we were able to go to the Food Lion twice –

the Dollar Tree once –

Plus neighbors dropping off supplies to our home.

We went to the home of a couple-

who had just purchased it in July –

They had spent this weekend of the storm there-

They were going back to the mountains-

and needed water –

and food to help their neighbors.

We dropped off three cases of water and a large box of food.

On this day –

after we made our fourth delivery –

We went back home with $25.00 left.

I posted the results –

and vowed to continue if donations came in.

That night we went to bed with $375.oo in the account!

The next day –

we will continue –

and go forward –

As long as the donations continue –

we will deliver –

and continue donating ourselves.

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog