An early picture of me holding my niece and my little brother – both have passed away – in fact – all my close family except two nieces and two great nieces are gone that I grew up with.
A early picture in the ’50’s of my older brother Roger on the basketball team. He also has passed on.
My early childhood was spent in a little town in NWPA called Eldred.
Near the NYS border and just across the mountain from Bradford-
home of Kendall – Penns oil – Quaker State and the South Penn oil fields.
My older brother Roger and myself in The Villages shortly before he passed away.
Growing up here was like the movie “STAND BY ME”
I had friends like that – and road my bike everywhere!
Curfew for me was BE HOME BEFORE THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON”!
My brother in law Bill and my sister Donna – both gone but not forgotten. Bill was once interviewed by Larry King – he was a truck driver but also the Chief of Police and later Mayor – Mr. King found that to be a interesting story!
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
SHERRY AND PAPA!
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My step father John – my mother Mary and my brother in law Bill.
John was a decorated WWII hero – with the purple heart and numerous other medals.
He captured a castle and a Nazi officer out of uniform – there is a story in a military journal
that is in the WWII museum in Eldred Pa.that chronicles that event.
He took from that officer a automatic machine gun pistol – vintage WWI – that also resides in the museum
and is worth upwards in the thousands of dollars. They keep it locked away as it is so valuable.
He was wounded several times and went back into action.
Bill was a vet of the forgotten war – Korea – he seldom talked about it but while I was growing up –
he gave to me his sleeping bag that he used in the cold winters there.
I admire his stamina as all it was is a wool blanket inside a canvas liner!
I would get very cold while sleeping outside on the ground in it!
He was more to me than a brother in law – he was my friend and like a brother to me.
One time I was out with him on patrol in the cop car – he was the town cop –
We drove down across the tracks and out past the old pipe building –
he saw a woodchuck and said to me –
“Do I get him”? “Sure I said”!
He pulled out his gun and from the front seat shot that old woodchuck –
I almost went deaf from that gun going off!
I said ” JESUS CHRIST BILL” and then we both just burst out laughing!
Lesson – never fire a gun from inside a car – you can barely hear for like 10 minutes!
John and Mary ( my mother) holding pies that she made from scratch!
Mom was known all over the town and county and into NYS for her baking.
She would bake rolls – bread – pies and cakes. Sweet rolls and sticky buns.
There was not anything she could not knead and bake and all from memory!
She did not need a receipt – she just did it after almost 85 years of her life baking!
She baked as a child learning from her mother who passed at 85 years old.
Mom was next to the youngest of 11 kids and was almost 98 years old when she passed.
She supplied pies and cakes and rolls for a diner in town.
She was so kind and loving – warm and gentle – but she also was a strong women – way before her time – she believed in equal rights and taught me that – she would come up with these sayings that made me laugh – ” You are as useless as a two petered billy goat”
Or she would say ” You are as useless as teats on a boar hog”! She had me in stitches –
she also played the accordion my father the spoons and sang and my uncle jack the wash board.
They would do this at family picnics and if the beer was free – at social events.
When she was young – she traveled with my grandma in the logging camps of Pa.
Making breakfast – lunch and dinner as a way to make money in the depression.
My father passed away in 1969 after a long battle with cancer – leaving mom a widow and my younger brother just entering H.S. After about ten years she met John – and they remarried – both of them.
They were together until he passed away at age 81.
She called him “JOHNNY BOY” and he was so good to her – just what she needed after ten years losing my dad.
He could fix anything and construction was his forte.
His cars and trucks immaculate even though they were ten years old – showroom condition.
He fixed up and remodled the house which she had kept going all those years .
That same house today is still in the family after almost 78 years –
my great niece lives there today.
Mary ( Mom) and John ( her Johnny boy)
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Just another memory of my family gone but not forgotten.
If you are interested in good health and nutrition –
Family from WPA – far away but close to our hearts – MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
While they live far away – they are always near our hearts – love them and hope they come back down again!
Back in NVA – the little ones as I call them – MORMOR and PAPA we are to them – they always want us to come home! It was hard leaving them as they were with us constantly – but so far the three little ones have been down twice for a week to two weeks being with us – memories – fun times and “WHAT ARE WE DOING NEXT”?
Before there was Bode – now they are mostly grown up or about to be teenagers – memories – memories – not forgotten – loving
life.
Back just north of Winchester, Va. the oldest now – two in college – one in H.S. where has the time gone?
Two oldest played soccer in college – one her senior year this year – one a sophomore – the youngest a sophomore in H.S.
PAPA and SHERRY – family means a lot to us – memories of times gone past and memories of times to come!
CHRISTMAS DAY at our home – our first we have been here to celebrate – soon the young ones will come – MEMORIES!
CHRISTMAS – FAMILY – MEMORIES!
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We traveled back to NVA to have Thanksgiving with the Myers family – as we will not see them for Christmas.
We stopped and saw the Krohn family on our way north and spent a night and day with them as they will come down after Christmas for a few days and be with us.
Our three oldest granddaughters – Sarah – Maddy and Ella in the sunroom – working on some crafts and laughing!
Debby – Mike and Sherry getting the dinner ready. It was the best-tasting turkey I have had in a long time and the stuffing was even better!
The three granddaughters set the table – the Tower Garden in the background – growing year around indoors!
Chef Mike prepared the turkey and then cut it up! I do not know what he stuffed it with – but it was really juicy!
Ella – home from Randolph College – Sarah – A Sophomore in H.S. and Maddy – A Senior at The University of Lynchburg.
Debby lighting candles at the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Time for giving family thanks.
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PAPA’S WORLD – THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY AT LAKE HOLIDAY, VA. THE MYERS FAMILY!
One is the oldest granddaughter while the second is the youngest granddaughter with her twin sister.
One is in her third year at University of Lynchburg – Enviromental Engineering major.
One is in the fifth grade – so caring she calls or zooms her grandmother almost every day.
One starts at the attack front position for the ranked lady soccer hornets soccer team.
And had played in 13 games as a freshmen – started her Sophomore year and again as a junior.
One moved to sit beside her older cousin at the soccer game.
Both are dear to our hearts!
Cassidy with MARLEY – the newest addition to her family!
Always smiling – always caring – always protective of her brother – just who she is. Cassidy
Maddy – a junior at the University of Lynchburg – Environmental Engineering – playing soccer and carrying above a 3.80 GPA! Next to Papa in the picture.
Number 13 – left front attacker – crossing a dribble with her left foot to get around a defender. On a top 25 team in the Division III national polls.
Granddaughters – oldest to youngest – youngest admires the oldest – both exceptional to us –
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Many times when her father was alive – we would go on vacation with them –
then when he passed away – we continued taking GIGI with us where ever we went.
The grandchildren all loved their GIGI – and today – the grandkids call Sherry – MORMOR – Swede for MOTHERS – MOTHER
You see GIGI ( Barb) was Swede through and through – her mother was born in Sweden.
In Mount Jewett where they lived – was an early Swedish settlement from immigrants.
The men in 1886 built a replicant of an eight-sided Swedish church – and the one in Sweden still stands as does the one called Mount Nebo in Mount Jewett – in NWPA!
Every year in that little town in NWPA – a Swedish festival is held.
Both Barb and Bill at one time were the king and queen of that festival.
GIGI – holding Taylor – Maddy holding Cassidy – Sarah and Ella
Memories of GIGI for the grandkids was she was always laughing – smiling – red cheeks –
Holding her hand as they walked or climbing up and sitting beside her.
Learning how to sing a song in Swedish and singing it to her.
Those are memories not lost – but retained in our minds.
GIGI is ever there watching over us.
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – where memories come alive and live on.
I have always been a history buff – ancient history – but also family history.
My sister and brother were fifteen and ten years older than me.
So when I came along I had missed the family fishing trips to Canada each year.
And my sister became the family photo taker and camera buff.
All the family history was passed down to my sister’s daughter and then suddenly she passed away.
Unknown to me – a friend of their family cleaned out everything and threw it away.
Everything was gone except the few pictures I had and my brother had.
I decided that what happened there would not happen for me and my family.
So – by being encouraged by my wife Sherry – we set up this blog – where all the family history and pictures can be in one place for all to see and read.
Sherry and Papa ( Tom)
She has encouraged me to write it down along with pictures for future generations to look back on.
Our family before Bode
I have two sons from a previous marriage – Troy and Shawn who still live back in NWPA.
Shawn runs an energy company contracting out to the state and large power companies.
Running state audits and working through state grants to insulate senior citizens’ homes from the harsh winters.
He covers the entire western part of Pa.
Troy – built homes from the ground up – anything you wanted he could do.
After years of doing this ( he was in high demand) Shawn talked him into coming to work for him –
His business has grown to almost seven days a week.
Troy runs the insulation and energy side while Shawn concentrates on the Audit side.
Troy is learning that side and taking tests and courses to also step in and help.
I am very proud of both these boys and trying to talk them into taking a break and coming down for a visit.
Shawn and Trisha ( our daughter-in-law)
Winterizing homes in Eastern USA for the elderly has become big business – conserving energy
on the power grid for major corporations in order to provide heat and electricity –
He has tapped into a business that for him is seven days a week.
He constantly is looking to hire people and train as auditors.
Troy started working for him a couple years ago.
If anyone is looking for a career out there – contact me – fitztdf@aol.com and I will put you in contact with him – he travels the whole western part of Pa. North to South.
Shawn ( young one ) and Troy – my sons back in NWPA!
For them I write – post pictures and give them memories that I still have in my head.
Ryan – our oldest grandson
Ryan lives in Tenn. and we have stayed in touch with him – he manages a hotel
and recently opened a bar – restaurant business with two other partners.
We attended his wedding a few years ago in Nashville, Tenn.
He has visited us once a few years ago – he served his country
and is like his father(Shawn) making his own way in the business world.
Dylan Shawns youngest son
He just spent four years in the service and is now out – living with his mother or in that area.
He reminds me so much of Shawn.
While we do not often get to see either one – both are in our memories and hearts.
Hoping they can come and stay with us in the future.
Bode – the youngest grandchild from Tammy – is the only boy with five granddaughters.
He is all boy – cars – trucks – bikes – and always without shoes and socks – even in winter! LOL
Bode’s parents and sisters and their puppy Marley.
Debby and Mike and their three daughters – Ella – Sarah and Maddy
This is my “WHY” for writing this blog – my memories put forth in words and pictures for all these grandkids and our children to read in the future.
Life in pictures in words – memories – past – present and future to come.
I want to thank my wife who is the driving force behind this blog.
SMILES – LAUGHTER – PEACE – HARMONY and POSITIVE THOUGHTS!
That is WHAT PAPA’S WORLD is all about.
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From that little one to an adult and a junior in college. Maddy was the first and now there are six.
TAYLOR and Papa.
Cassidy – TAYLOR – Bode
TAYLOR – today – who is going to be taller than all the rest – no longer my LITTLE ONE!
ELLA ( tiny) and Maddy
ELLA ( tiny) now a Freshman at Randolph College
We called her the nickname from her father – she always had a soccer ball or basketball in her hands.
Today – she is the starting midfielder for the college – playing almost every minute of the games.
Tiny now is taller than Sherry who is 5′ 9″.
CASSIDY and Taylor
CASSIDY – the caring little mother to Bode.
Today she is the smaller of the twins – with the biggest heart – always protecting Bode when not arguing with him! LOL, They should have been the twins they are so much alike!
She is the one who counts the days down to when she can see us – who zoom calls every week.
A little fireball with the biggest heart of them all.
SARAH and Ella
SARAH – Bode – Cassidy – Taylor and Ella.
Today – Sarah is almost as tall as Ella who is 5’10” – the fashion girl who wants to go to NYC!
The twins adore her and whenever we get together – they are three peas in a pod.
She is only a Freshman in H.S. – already was a contender for prom queen.
She is her own self – funny – outgoing – and just might have been a very good soccer player like her sisters.
Cassidy BODE Taylor
Taylor BODE Cassidy
So much like Cassidy that they should have been the twins – yet – he is growing –
and someday I think will be taller than Taylor who he is built just like at seven years old.
Full of energy – always on the go – wear no socks or shoes most of the time.
Or a jacket or gloves!
Out of the six grandchildren – the only boy.
Bode Ella Cassidy Taylor Maddy and Sarah
Here today at Christmas day for presents – memories from the past to the present.
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They called – a zoom call – the night before they left – we are going to surprise you tomorrow!
We had asked them to come down after they had stopped overnight back in August when they were passing through
for Marcus’s family vacation.
It was his mother and father and brother and sister and families.
We visited them at their beach house in Surfside – South Myrtle Beach.
So – this made us very happy to have four days with them this time!
Sherry and Tammy – she is the youngest daughter
I took Marcus and Bode golfing – while the girls went shopping with MorMor ( Swede for mothers mother)
This would be me with no birdies!
Although his birthday would be after they returned home – we celebrated while they were here!
Taylor – MorMor ( what they call her) and Cassidy singing happy birthday to Bode!
Taylor and Bode – they both are going to be really tall – taking after Sherry who is 5’9″.
It was a special four days – playing golf – shopping -walking two beaches – showing them Clarks in Little River –
Calabash shopping – and having cake and presents for Bode’s coming birthday.
Four days is not enough – and plans for Spring break are in the making.
Christmas – for 10 or more days – we will travel back to NVA and spend time with them and our other daughter and her husband and the older granddaughters.
Looking forward to our next gathering as a family.
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MORMOR and BODE – PAPA’S WORLD
WHERE FAMILY MEETS OUR FRIENDS – FRIENDS MEET OUR FAMILY
Our granddaughter – number 13 – she deked this player out and went right past her!
She is now a Junior at the Unversiy of Lynchburg in Va. Starting the last two years – and only one loss this season – currently sole possession of first place in their conference.
Papa – Maddy Myers – Sherry
This young lady not only starts and plays most of the entire games – but is a ALL ACADEMIC –
Into hiking – sunrises – and her major is Enviromental Engineering.
And coming down the soccer pipe line – is the youngest and only boy – BODE!
Will soon turn eight and already golfs with his dad – is all boy – bikes – running –
always looks at trucks – barefooted while outside – cold weather and all.
Loves and adores his older cousin Ella who as a Freshmen at Randolph College –
starts at midfield and plays most of the whole games.
I believe Bode will be the same!
FAMILY
Beyond those protected trees is our backyard and our home!
This drainage ditch is at the end of the cul de sac –
and allows the runoff to make its way to a very large second pond in the development.
We have seen a gator in each pond!
And we found some unknown tracks in this ditch going back and forth.
I told Sherry not to get too close to the high grass as we also have snakes around here.
Just down the street – two houses – two pictures were taken in the road –
A small gator was on its way to a third pond up the road and a large copperhead was also there.
Not at the same time – but N.C, has them both where we live.
I have also seen a very large black snake – which are good as they kill the copperheads!
All part of living in the South near the marsh and beaches!
Cassidy and Marley on football game day!
At least three times a week – she either calls her MorMor or zooms!
Sherry is MorMor – Swedish for Mothers- Mother!
She is very close to her and is the one who does not want us to leave
or asks when we are coming again.
She is sweet – but also very determined and head strong.
Marley is the new puppy – a GoldenDoodle –
who judging by her legs and feet – is going to be very large!
She is loving – likes to run and pull her leash – Taylor – Cassidy’s sister –
is the one who handles her the best.
She nips and chases both Bode and Cassidy!
Our front porch in October – Low 80’s to high 70’s in the daytime
low 70’s at night – beautiful weather – slight warm breezes – why we moved here!
Front porch sitting early morning with my coffee on this glider!
Protected from the sun and rain when it blows the other way.
I told Sherry – we had to have a front porch and this is one of the models
along with a office room – that was available!
The office was her wish list!
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