Dan's projects back home in Alabama

Next up on "Travels with Dan" is the return to his home in Alabama. I decided to stay on and help Dan with some projects. He was always building or fixing something, usually for others, and at this time he seemed to be desperate for things to get into. He even came right out and said that he needed to be doing something, that despite the constant pain he was in—alleviated only by regular strong pain meds—he couldn't just sit around and wonder how long he had left.

The biggest project under way was an extension and further enclosure of the porch at Jack and Shirley's, the neighbors just half a mile down the road. Previously they had a small screened-in porch and the roof of the house extended out beyond that to the "carport" (where they used to park the car under cover). Now though, Dan was extending the deck out through the carport area and eventually installing windows and enclosing it. Four of the window sets actually came from a building somewhere that was being torn down (or renovated or something) and someone (not sure if it was Jack or Dan or someone else) salvaged them for use. Another window, the middle set on the end of the house, was purchased new. The previously used ones weren't in perfect condition, but the price was right and Dan always could figure a way to make things fit and work.

First here is a pic of Jack and Shirley. When Dan would need a break, we'd just sit there on their old porch and chat. Shirley would do her word search puzzles there all the time as well. They're really nice people, very good to Donna and Dan and I know they'll be there for Donna now. After Jack & Shirley, of course, are some progressive pics of the work Dan did. Unfortunately the final shot is pretty much all Dan was able to do, he was not able to completely finish the job. On the other hand most people in Dan's condition would have probably been in bed 24/7 for weeks, not out building decks...

       

       


Another project Dan's cousin John's boat trailer. Dan was installing new axles and brake system (also a new tilt motor on the boat itself). The axles ended up being too long, so Dan being Dan he just cut a chunk (maybe 8" or so) out of the middle and welded the pieces back together. There were other issues as well when it came to mounting the new axles, things that didn't quite work out ideally, but Dan could always find ways around such issues. I don't think he got things quite perfect this time, but when you consider the circumstances he did a remarkable job. Again, not all the intended work got done, but the worst was over with. Below is a pic of the boat in Dan's shop (Dan's leaning on it) and one of cousin John assisting...

   


We also did some general reorganizing of Dan's shop: moving things about, installing a new set of shelves (for assorted tools, nails, bolts, nuts, screws, whatever), throwing out some old stuff that wasn't needed anymore, cleaning up the overhead loft area, etc. Some of the shifting of things was strictly to allow the boat to be fully backed into the shop for the work to be done. Dan's son Daryl installed some extra electrical outlets and lighting on "the other side" of the shop where previously there was none. Dan could do that sort of work in his sleep, but I'm sure it's the kind of thing he'd just never get around to because he was always doing things for others. At this time, I believe Dan was still hopeful of having more time than he in fact turned out to have after all.