Johnson Journals part 231

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.

9/10/70 Layna went to town and I stayed to tear down old water tank. It came down a lot easier than it went up. We, just the two of us, put it together alone about 15 years ago. A couple of times, when we had it almost finished, the whole damned thing collapsed. It is funny now - it wasn’t then. Met Harry and Maude Will at 5:00. Our invitation had been to Harry and “friend”. I was a bit relieved when Maude stepped out of car - not Sally.

9/11/70 Jim and I to Dahlbergs Island and cut 4 jackpines for a ramp in case we buy one of the Starcrafts. It was dead calm and clear. I said “Why waste a day like this on work. Let’s go fishing.” We, Layna, Joan, Jim and I off about ½ hour later. Joan had no license so Jim and I put in $4.25 apiece and got one. A surprised gal - and a deserving one.

9/13/70 Buck brought over a Mr. Bill Williams who seems interested in buying island. I wonder how many will act the same before it finally happens.

9/14/70 Harry talked about NWI setup. He says we can have all the business we can handle from ex guests but I told him no soap. We aren’t going back to that rat race. He said that repercussions may be such that ADM will reconsider. I did not tell him that we are not holding our breath. Jim, Willie and Brian gave me money to buy Layna flowers. Good. I went shopping myself and bought what I thot a beautiful and practical housecoat. Much fun with clerks in Stevensons over the deal.

9/15/70 Layna’s birthday. It started good when guests at breakfast sang a parody of “Let me Call You Sweetheart” in her honor. Same tearful farewells as we all knew this was for the last time. I invited Layna out to dinner and said “who else?” We ran thru our list of close friends and dropped them one by one till we came to Gina Erickson. We settled for her - and it was a great choice. We picked her up at 7 p.m. and she said “I feel like Cinderella!” She acted like it, too. A most appreciative guest. Ended day at Dale’s where we had cake with her and Timmy.

9/16/70 At 9:30 Jim still hadn’t shown up and I had cursed him and his red ancestors. I called him and he was on his way. Well, there was no sweat as it turned out. We left at 10:30 and by 1:00 we had one limit of 5 and by 3:30 we had 8 more. We came home. 12 mallards and a bluebill. A sunny, warm day and fun to be with Jim. We took turns shooting and did equally well. Jim hit big turtle with paddle - he sees everything.

9/18/70 To town by 10:30. Out to Sheridan where we talked car deal with Allen. The upshot was that we drove off with a 1970 Impala that had 3000 miles on it as a drivers trainer. It is on approval. To airport by 11:30 to pick up Ferguson, Dare and Erickson. Dare & Erickson here to close out our deal with ADM. Layna and I deeply concerned about what their attitude would be. Would they want full or even partial payment for ADM stuff on island? We got together with them in p.m. and from start it was apparent that they were not going to be too tough. They gave Layna the adding machine! Much talk without arriving at a great decision on boats. We want one but won’t know what the price is. Ronnie Jonson to come tomorrow for appraisal.

9/19/70 Picked up Ronnie Jonson at 4 p.m. so he could talk boat deal with ADM. Now that it is all over, I don’t know exactly how he out maneuvered the city slickers. All I know is that Terry Dare had told Brian that they wanted $3200 for the Starcrafts and Ronnie gave them (after a lot of penciling) a price of $1800. That’s it, and that is what we will pay. Great! As it looks now, they (ADM) will be moving very, very little of their stuff off our island.

9/20/70 Of the hundreds of great people from ADM that we have met over a period of years, we had to draw the jerk, Roy Erickson, to wind up our business. Ronnie Jonson called to say that the blue book price on the 33 hp Evinrude was $225 and the 1961 Johnson 10 hp was $49. He, Roy, said that it was too low and said we could have the two for $300, thus saving $24 for ADM. Christ, but I was burned! He also said they wanted the ice maker. I suppose there should be no quarrel there but it looks damned petty. When we got home from town I wrote a letter to John Daniels, knowing full well that it never would be mailed. I let off a lot of steam concerning Roy and felt better for having done it. The letter was not destroyed. Maybe some petty act on his part will put it in the mail. Ferguson madder than the Johnsons.

9/21/70 Can we afford to buy a new car on top of a new boat? We checked our assets and decided “Why not?” and went to Sheridan’s and completed deal for drivers training car that we had home on approval since last Friday. A $3150 deal. $1,150 for old car & $2000 cash. Our two guests froze out and blown off lake. Why don’t they go home?

9/24/70 Last day of last party - ever - for NWI. My present feeling is one of deep relief. Maybe by next spring it will all be different. John Ferguson pulled a dandy when he told Layna that Dwayne Andreas had not been told about ADM leaving NWI. Now ain’t that something? We packed and shipped with John all the ADM dishes, plus the fishing tackle. Not all there, however. I kept enough out for the Johnsons and the guides. Even tho I stay retired for 35 more years, I cannot possibly use up the fishing equipment I now have. Boise Cascade and ADM have been very, very good to me - not all of it with their consent.

9/25/70 Buck came over just as Layna and Joan all set to go to Hibbing. He invited us to his annual closing up party. Layna in a helluva quandary as Bernice was waiting to go with her. She finally decided, with much help from me, to call trip off until tomorrow. Lady Bernice not too happy about it. Bernice called to say Layna should fire Joan (Dick had called her) so she could be home with her family. It is 20 years since we had the 40th birthday party at same place for Layna. I looked at the women of Dale’s generation and could only hope that the next 20 years would treat them as well as the last 20 did Layna. Home at 2:30. A very large day.

9/26/70 Took Layna to landing. She is off for Hibbing to see Ina who is very ill. Jim and I to town for material to crate ice maker. Came home and finished the damned thing. It is so strong that if ADM called to say that we could have the machine, I would turn them down because I would not know how to get it out of crate. Hope it causes endless trouble in Decatur. I am all alone on island tonight - and rather enjoy it. Don’t know how long I could stand myself but am willing to give it a try.

9/27/70 Had left my glasses at Buck’s so ran over in morning. Had a good visit and made arrangements for him to pick up ice maker tomorrow. I’ll be glad to see the last of that deal. Much to my surprise, Jim showed up at noon. He likes it here. In one of his rare general comments he said “Some people were glad to see this summer end, but not me.” At 6 p.m. Layna called from house. She had just arrived from Hibbing to learn that someone had pried open kitchen window and had searched house rather thoroly. I went in, we called the sheriff and altho we looked carefully could find nothing missing other than about $25.00 worth of coins. It sure gives me a chill to think of what could have been taken. We stayed at house all night.