Chapter XI - All Things Must End (January 2023)

 CHAPTER XI

All Things Must End

(January 2023)

            The final weeks of our mission held our usual pattern of service. We continued our

working at the Temple and the USO. We attended the Christmas parties of the Chugach

Foothills and Arctic Valley wards. And held our last GetAir event.

            Throughout our mission, Doll suffered from a jaw problem. As part of her left jawbone

was disintegrating. To the point there was not much she chew or eat. She agonized over

whether to have surgery — and finally did so. Here she is, last Fall, on the day of her

surgery. Before recovery, as it were.

            Fortunately, she was treated by a top-notch “oral and craniofacial surgeon,” and by a

great therapist specializing in jaw recovery. And here are the happy results — a long-

dreamed trip to Texas Roadhouse.

            December arrived with its wintry scenes and snowfall records. And with the usual

burying of cars — many of them til spring.

            Christmas this year fell on Sunday. The Thursday before Christmas, we flew to Kodiak

and to our Family Flores — and stayed until the following Monday. Here are a few of the

scenes as I drove about the island. As we went for pizza. And as we enjoyed the holiday at

the Flores place.

            Before leaving our mission, I worked in three last ski trips to Alyeska.

            In December we received a heartwarming surprise. Ashley asked grandson Israel

(age 13) what he wanted for Christmas. And he said he wished to visit his grandparents

in Alaska. Imagine! This old Grandpa and Grandma almost cried.

            And so. The Thursday after Christmas — a few days after our trip to Kodiak —

Israel arrived. Handling the flight by himself very well.

            He stayed with us eight days, until Friday of the following week. (Which was also

the last Friday of our mission.)

            In Kodiak, Granddaughter Isla had been sick with a constant ooze of green boogers.

Which sickness Doll and I caught and carried home with us. We were up and down with

sore throats, boogery noses, phlegm, headaches and such. But still managed a happy

time with Iz.

            We brought him to the Temple for baptisms. Doll took him dogsledding in Willow.

Iz and I went glacier climbing, to the fish hatchery, cross country skiing, and for hikes

along the coast. We saw a dozen or so moose. (Israel took the moose picture below.)

And a goodly number of cars wrecked on the snow and ice.

            In the middle of one zero-degree night, we went out with Israel hoping to catch the

Northern Lights. It was a strange eery night. With long slow-burning meteors. And

queer glowings of light and cloud. But alas, nothing we would clearly identify as the

Aurora Borealis.

            And, of course, it wouldn’t have been a trip to Grandma Doll, without her cooking a

big turkey dinner and insuring that Iz did not want for food.

            But alas, as all good things must come to an end, so did the cherished from our

Grandson. As also did our cherished Alaska Mission itself. Over the next few days, we

had parting meals with fellow missionaries (below, Elder and Sister Anderson from

Manti, Sister Garner from Oregon, and Sister Courier from Alabama).

            And we said our goodbyes to so many we loved.

          Someone we didn’t say goodbye to was our Kodiak Flores Family. Learning that Ronny

was to leave for sea duty just as our mission was ending, Karin called and told us, “The kids

and I are flying home with you.”

            So. The last night of our mission, Karin and her four arrived from Kodiak. And by

0330 the next morning we were on our way to the Airport … with four small kids and a

million bags, including my guitar and ski equipment.

            Our travel with the kid wasn’t a thing of beauty. But we made it. Adam and his

truck met us in Salt Lake. As did the Honda van Karin had rented through Turo.

A few days later, Ashley and Hiram arrived with Wilford, Audrey and Maverick.

Next thing you know the house wall full of grandkids and cousins. And dogs. And there was a ton of us 

and our progeny crowded around the dinner table. And we were pretty much back to our normal abnormal 

life.

            A few days after we returned, I turned 65. And received my Medicare Card. Which

proves I’m very old.  Almost dead.