Johnson Journals Part 230

8/28/70 Sally and Jim broke camp this a.m. and it was with mixed emotions that I watched them. Altho Jim said “We, and our tent, took everything Rainy Lake could throw at us,” I knew that any day now they could be blown or washed out (or both). An amazing amount of stuff moved and stored in their station wagon. Jim his normal nervous self when faced by this kind of problem, Sally the reverse. A well balanced team. I think that they all, including the 3 kids, hated to leave.

8/29/70 A fun day for Layna and me. At 9:30 we took off for crappie “research” with Jim and Timmy. Had a short visit with Spike, who is fairly well, and on to Crowrock Bay. I caught one the first 5 minutes but it took until noon to get 6 more. Much kidding in all directions altho most of it aimed at Tim who had no trouble sending it back.

8/30/70 Jim due to be back at 9:00 so we could put targets up on our new #35 day marker. I woke up at 8:00 to hear the wind howling out of the north. At 9 a.m. sharp there came Jim! We talked it over and decided that the next chance to go was far away so took off. It went well. Job done by 2:30. On for coffee with Dick & Joan and back to island by 4:00. Saw Paul Bartholomew for a few minutes out on lake, apparently badly shaken at his loss of Virginia. Newharts stopped in about 7 p.m. A short visit and an invitation to go to their place next week. Good people.

8/31/70 Our premonition concerning ADM resolved themselves today. It was funny. We picked up mail - no letter from ADM. We reread contract which stated clearly that the lease was to be considered renewed unless one of parties notified other in writing of desire to cancel before Sept. 1. For the past two weeks, as we reviewed what might happen next summer - Jim gone, maybe Willie and Brian. Bernice doubtful (and harder to get along with each year), Sue going for sure, Joan too. That leaves Timmy to build a new crew around. We considered seriously calling it off ourselves. It was with mixed emotions that I considered facing 1971. When Layna picked up the paper out dropped a registered letter notice - from Decatur! It could mean only one thing, and it did. The letter very friendly but to the point. Just too damned hard to run our outfit from Decatur. I am relieved. For 41 years I have looked forward to spending some time with Layna alone on our own place. It looks like we will make it next summer. We have seen enough of life to know it could be a paradise - or plain hell. Time will tell.

9/1/70 We met Lois Almquist Grossman, her husband and 4 kids at #265 at 11 a.m. we chewed rag for an hour exchanging information concerning the Dahlberg clans. We then took them via houseboat to Norway Island for the $2.00 tour. Then loaded them in Larson and on to Dahlbergs Island. Full of memories for Lois and us. Her family apparently enjoyed it as much as we. Back for houseboat and took a short cruise of area. Back to #265 for a couple of drinks and much more talk and then to Island View for dinner. Back to 265 where we showed movies taken in the 40’s when we were at Dahlbergs. We agreed they were a great family. The kind the newspapers overlook in favor of the hippies.

9/2/70 (Written Sept 3). A good thing that I did not write this yesterday, without a cooling off period. We had decided not to tell crew of our ADM deal as yet. We thot we had good reasons. Terry Dare called while Layna was in town and I out of house. Bernice answered phone, did not call me, and got full scoop out of Terry. To say we were peed off would be the understatement of all time. I don’t know why we are on the defensive concerning this deal but Bernice brings out the worst in us. As I told Layna, we hitched our wagon to three wrong stars - Sprague, Faegre and now John Daniels. Well, it was great while it lasted in all three cases. We have no regrets. What a helluva shock this would have been about 3 years ago.

9/3/70 Utter and Knutson got us alone and it was very evident from their talk that they are more shocked at recent developments than we are. Utter had tears in his voice - actually. We stopped at Dale’s and told her. She was very calm about it all. We told her we had waited 41 years to retire to a spot like NWI and the prospect looked good.

9/4/70 Karen, Robin and the Dick Nelsons arrived at house too late to come out to Snowball Island to camp. Layna met them. We are looking forward to having them as neighbors for the next few days.

9/5/70 Not much accomplished by me on NWI. Layna said “I know I should be doing something but can’t decide what it is.” Me too. Head too full to activate hands. I must be thinking “There is nothing I should do today that I can’t do next summer,” We are definitely let down and know we are facing a period of readjustment. Right now I am not worried about it - in fact looking forward to it. Were invited to Snowball Island for dinner. Brought our own floating bar and a good time was had by all. Dick cooked steaks on grill. Good food, good people. Will do more of this - and other pleasant things - next year!

9/6/70 Home for a hurried breakfast at 11 a.m. and off for airport. Ferguson waiting for us. We had a good chance to talk NWI deal He is very concerned over fact that if they drop something as good as this, how about the Sabreliner? Life is full of worries for most people and ours have had a minimum, according to most standards. Layna host to our full crew at Island View, Bernice, Sue, Joan, Willie, Timmy, Jim, Brian, Vi & Norman Seegert. A great gang and I will miss them more than any single aspect of retirement.

9/7/70 What a hell roaring electrical storm we had during night! I could plainly see the tent on Snowball Island where the Nelsons & Monahans were camping. The lightening illuminated the sky like daylight. At 9 a.m. it was all over and our campers came for breakfast. Stopped at Hugh Monahans for a short visit. Good. Back for lunch at 2:30 and a hurry up packing deal before rains came again. A good shower on way to landing. We have thoroly enjoyed the visit with our kids and their friends. I can’t conceive of a mind such as Dick Nelson’s having such a strong rapport with God. It must prove that there is something wrong with my thinking - but what?

9/8/70 Layna on a quick trip to town but home in time to take off for Newharts’ at 4:45. We had a great visit. A few drinks, a grand tour of their island, good food, good conversation. We have much in common. Rainy Lake (they have been here since 1946), Mexico, retirement, many friends in common. As they took us to dock at 10:00 p.m. I said, so they could hear, “Layna, I’ll bet we have talked too much again.” It is a concern I have with me much of time. I hate garrulous old (or young) people and would not want to be classed as one. Be careful, Johnson!

9/9/70 Brian loaded 60 shells for my .308. I will never live to fire that many at game but maybe I’ll do a little plinking now that I’m so flush - so cheap. Buck came over for a rare visit. He has had a rough summer and I am sure he enjoyed talking it over with the old folks. I am sure he is not concerned over our retirement and he shouldn’t be.