New phase of life--Retirement

Don retired from Pollard Wireline on Jan. 6 2012, Freddie Pollard hosted a very nice retirement party at his home.

On Jan 13th we signed the papers on the sale of our home with a move out date of Jan 17th.. On Jan 14th Don went into the hospital when his hand swole up and looked like a large club, couldn't even tell he had fingers. The hand was causing him extreme pain. I spent the night of the 14th at the hospital and woke up the next morning and said to myself (not wanting to cause Don any more worry or stress) "What do I do know? I have a house and garage to empty out, load our belongings into a storage trailer, move the trailer after I get the truck started in 27 below weather and hooked up." I finally decided to call on some long time good friends, the Browns, who graciously said how soon do you need us to be there and what do you need to do and don't worry you will stay with us until you are able to move forward with your plans. The Browns arrived at the house and he said "Let's pack everything and move it to my garage and when Don is released from hospital he can sort, organize and pack the trailer the way he wants it." So that is exactly what we did. Then we picked Don up from the hospital at noon on the 17th about noon and he gave Mr. Brown verbal help and advise to get the truck going and the trailer hooked up to move it all to the Browns home and garage, as Don's hand was still not functioning and still  swole up. WOW we made it and was out of the house and turned over the keys on time.
So then we were at the Browns home and Mr Brown went to work for days getting the truck, trailer and our belongings ready to go with Don telling him what he wanted. We stayed with the Browns, Don being treated by doctors and trying to get the swelling and pain in the hand under control.

On February 3rd with doctor finally saying Don must have suffered the most severe case of tendosynovitis he had ever seen, the swelling mostly gone, most of the pain gone the hand is usable again but will have to build back up the strength, we decided it was time to begin our travels.

So on February 4th we said goodbye to the Browns and thanked them for all their help and hospitality and departed Sterling, Alaska for our journey to the lower 48 states.