Twenty Six and half years ago I started work for WSDOT in Wenatchee. It really was a blessing; as we had just bought a house, our oldest daughter would be a senior in High School, and Jan had just started her job- so transferring to Kent would have changed our lives greatly. Prior to that I worked for WUTC and was actually RIF'd,(reduction in force) and had commuted to Kent for one month. DOT has been good to me and I have worked with some great friends. My first winter was spent on Stevens pass working nights plowing snow and was required to stay at camp for our scheduled work week. I love the variety of work we perform and our goal of keeping the roads open for you.
In 2004 I transferred to the Striping Crew full time in the summers, and continued to work in maintenance in the winters. I worked on striping crew until 2 years ago when I transferred back to maintenance. I made this video in 2016 when I worked that winter in Leavenworth. One of the blessings is the beautiful country we would work in every day and the variety in our region.
Today is my last scheduled day for work. I look forward to what God has for me in this next chapter of my life.
I realize I posted my retirement video a couple weeks ago and this video was from a few years ago- tonight I sit looking back- I am retired. I am a blessed Man. Thank you to all with your advice and best wishes. Thank you to those who bought us lunch, desserts, and treats. Thank you to those who put up with me- both the traveling public and co-workers. Thanks to the support staff at work who make us look good- the mechanics, our big bosses and office staff. I think the two greatest things we now have are the tommy gates on pickups to pickup deer and the overhead signs on pickups to inform and direct traffic- well the new robo flaggers are pretty neat too- we just started using them last year. I remember going from 3 foot warning signs to 4 foot and I remember having just one or no warning vehicle behind us to now 3 or 4 at times- not sure if that is good or bad. I remember flagging for so many accidents- far too many were fatalities and caused by drinking or drugs. The saddest was 3 including a 5 years old boy buried by a rock slide on 97A and then several weeks later on that same highway a two vehicle accident where 10 or 11 people would die from a head on just few miles north on that same highway. I am thankful for the help we get from wsp and other police and fire districts. I am thankful for the emphasis on safety at all times even though we have seen some dumb things by motorists. I am also thankful for good health and a good marriage and a God who has directed my steps and has a plan for the next part of my life. Perhaps the best advice I received was to enjoy life before you are too old and cannot- I am doing that right now.....
Some friends bought this dinner for us to celebrate our first dinner retired. We had the Martenelli's saved for this special occasion. Thank You!
Winter shift changeover this weekend for all except for me- Hopefully we can arrange another get together with friends, family, and co-workers in April when we are back from a short vacation.
This is my final checkout at work-(click on arrow)
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