Waiting

Lois spent the three-plus months waiting to go to Alaska missing her husband, worrying about their financial situation (mainly lack thereof), and taking care of the kids and their sick dog, Tiki.

Poor Tiki, every time they thought she was out of the woods, she ran right back in.  

They had very little money to live on ~ some in savings ~ but not enough to cover unexpected expenses like a broken television or extra trips to the vet.

Bill sent money when he got paid, but he knew it wasn’t enough. Lois made do with what little they had and her family helped out when they could. But it was a struggle on both ends.

Still dreaming big, Bill was very happy about having landed a union job moving furniture. His friend Charley landed a good job with the state, and Neil was working. Jerry was still looking, but there was so much talk about all the great job opportunities that they all had high hopes he'd find something very soon.

In his letter dated June 6, 1962, you may remember him writing that they were all having pretty good luck on the job front.

Or so he thought…