Johnson Journals part 236

12/13/70 The annual RLWC Christmas party and Layna right into it. A big success. About 100 people including Lisa & Jill, who sang and Timmy & Jayme who ate. When party broke up at 7:30 we asked Wagnesses to stop in for a drink. They did — for 3. I am happy to report that I thoroly enjoyed the couple of hours they were here. Much of conversation was reminiscing about lake days but some good serious thoughts, too. As a teacher, Gerald concerned about youth. Who isn’t?

12/14/70 Harry called to say that “Bernie” had stayed over when the Kimballs left and wanted us to have lunch with them. We arrived at 11:30, the plan being to go out to eat. We had a drink and decided to stay right there. A fun 1 ½ hours followed. They, Harry & Bernie, are going to be “pen pals.” What do you know! Well, we are all for Harry getting what he can out of life but I think he should have pursued Maude Will a little harder. Who in hell asked you, Johnson? To see Irene MacKellar in hospital. I am sure that we got in just before the deadline. She was about to cross us off her list of friends, and I don’t blame her. All well now.

12/16/70 Decided to relive some old times by cutting a Christmas tree. A book could be written on the subject and I could contribute a chapter or two. So could Buck. At any rate, I went by Scorpion to Keyes Island and tramped around for a full hour, surrounded by evergreens and came out with a table model for us. None for Buck. We will buy that! Gene Monahan has been asking me to “sit” for a portrait for several years and today I broke down and went. It should be an interesting experience. It seemed to me that she did a lot of time talking but I am not paying her by the hour so shouldn’t squawk.

12/17/70 To Gene’s for sitting. It is fun to watch her nimble fingers. Also interesting to see old man Johnson emerge out of a piece of canvas. Harry out with note from Bernie. This is a case of love at first sight — and it looks like it could be mutual. Youth, youth, youth!

12/18/70 To Gene’s at 10 a.m. for another sitting. She got so wrapped up in what she was doing that she kept me there until 2 p.m. She would chatter incessantly for a while then go into periods (maybe 15 minutes) when she was absolutely quiet, then would exclaim “Isn’t this exciting!” It was for me once, when my chair tipped off the platform. Could have broken me in two. Had a chance to give our new snow blower a workout. Good. I found out today that it is almost as hard to find a good Xmas tree where they sell them in town as it is in the bush. Finally got what I think was a good one (for Buck) for $5.67.

12/19/70 Last night 3 couples on snowmobiles tried to go thru channel north of Curtice Island. One did not make it. In a rescue attempt by one of other machines, two people, Bob Woods and Mrs. Beitel were drowned. Buck in on dragging operations. A tragic deal for certain. Terry home for Christmas and looks great. Hope we can get a chance for a good visit. His dad came home from Korea 24 years ago. What a goddamn vicious circle. Layna had Jill and Lisa with her most of day. A couple of honeys for sure. Harry Davey has an African newspaper man staying with him for couple of weeks. Mike Kabugua. We went in at 7:30 to meet him. Very interesting. He made it clear that despite all of our material wealth, we were not a happy people. Not as happy as the poor mud hutted natives of Kenya. He didn’t get an argument there. he proudly showed pictures of his family and his city, Nairobi. He is here to get a cross section of American life. I hope we gave him a better picture than he got in Detroit and Chicago.

12/20/70 Bernice had open house at her place this p.m. Layna left at noon to be with her and get things organized. Felt sorry for myself all day. It is Byrne’s birthday. Layna called Pittsburgh, talked to Byrne first, then rest of family and back to Byrne. I was damned near numb after I heard her say, “Well, goodbye, Dear, Happy birthday.” She hung up! She did not ask me if I wanted to say a few words. Worse yet, as near as I knew, no one even asked how I was.

12/21/70 The radio said the record low for this date is -34o (-32o today) and the high was +34o. A spread of 68o. What a country! Helped Layna on a few odd jobs but as usual she carries the load of Xmas preparation. I have written most of cards and have been able to keep up. To town, bought a pair of snowmobile boots for Layna, a diary for myself and that was my shopping for the year. To Bernice’s in evening to say Merry Xmas and on to Buck’s.

12/22/70 We stuck around home until mail came at 12:30. Glad we did. The turkey came from Crawford Johnson. We have lost track of the number of times he has done this but quite a few for sure. He has been a good friend, more ways than one. Picked up Gene at 1:30 and off for Duluth soon after. A Merry Christmas greeting from the kids. At 7:30 their guests began coming — about 20 all told. Some we had met before. For years I have suspected Gene of exaggerating a little and tonight I confirmed these suspicions. This is not a criticism, just a comment.

12/23/70 Karen, Layna & I to Target Store shopping. The gals took off when we entered leaving me for a full hour alone. I made a grand tour, taking in practically the whole store. I spent $.99 for a set of metal calendars to put on my wrist watch. Layna held herself pretty much in check too. It seems strange to come back to their house and have no big project staring us in the face. All I could find to do was to hang a towel rack. The place looks good — and is beginning to reflect the personalities of its owners. It was fun sitting around in the evening making decorations for the tree. We (me, too) strung popcorn and cranberries and made paper chains. The tree is all done.

12/24/70 In evening we sat around talking and made 6 stockings to hang on the fireplace mantle. The gals had brought home a piece of material to hang over the fireplace. Robin hung it and it was soon covered by a wreath and many Christmas cards. Very artistic. I like this home.

12/25/70 Christmas Day — and a big one. After opening presents all of us except Layna for a walk along the beach. A fantastic journey! The waves of last week’s storm had piled ice 10 — 12 feet high in places. All along this wall there were tunnels, ditches, ridges and grotesque shapes of all kinds. Altho the lake was calm, the surf swept in under the ice and we could hear it gurgling and sighing underneath. The Jernbergs, Sally, Jim, their kids and Burt and all, all here at 2:30. A great reunion. Many cooks, much help and a grand feast followed. Jernbergs left about 6:00. The rest of us to see You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. What an experience! Possibly the best stage play we have ever seen — not excepting The Music Man. Home for much talk — and to bed. Wow!

12/26/70 We took off about 10 a.m. Three cars. Robin and Karen, Gene and Laird, Don and Layna. Sally and Jim here about 2:30. We all made it altho Jim a bit jittery. Not Layna. Layna took kids out to Buck’s for snowmobiling while Jim, Robin, Laird and I watched Baltimore eliminate Cincinnati in AFL playoffs. Then saw Dallas do the same to Detroit. Much talk about big game tomorrow.

12/27/70 Jim’s car refused to start when they were all set to go. Divine intervention I assume. I got up and started ours and they took off showing that the Lord provides. Robin and Laird here to watch Vikings — San Francisco game. All of us, (Jim, too) great fans. A helluva long afternoon for us watching us lose 17 — 14. No more football. Well, I’ll recover. On to Buck’s for a big supper and home about 7:30. Harry came out with his black friend, Mike. A very interesting 3 hours followed. Mike took a few well directed shots at organized religion. Sally and Jim did not take it too personal. They invited him to their home in St. Paul.

12/28/70 Jim’s car refused to start. Among other things, the throttle was stuck. We fooled around for some time with no success. I finally proposed that we heat carburetor with blow torch. “Is it absolutely safe?” asked Jim. “Nothing is” I answered. We called Buck who put blowtorch on and it started. A great weariness, coupled with a bit of remorse, came over me as they left. Maybe our Christmas, altho a very happy one, was dragged out too long.

12/29/70 Today I made it official. I put my resignation at the Coast Guard in writing and sent it to Mr. Banen. Now I can start wondering just how much my retirement will be. Dave & Jill Austin here for a short visit. Great kids. The real hope for the future. National Park Bill passed! NUTS.

12/30/70 Took my longest snowmobile ride of season. Went around east end of Dahlbergs and on to Secrists where I had coffee. By Bald Rock, Jackfish Bay and home. Fun. Much current in lake. Dark spots in all the narrows. To Shuppens for dinner at 5 p.m. Les Cleveland and his mother there. What a pair those two are! The conversation went like this -30% Margaret, 30% Marie, 30% Les, 4% Layna, 4% Don, 2% Mike. It was great to hear Les tell about his European trip but I could live well without hearing much from the other two. A fun evening nevertheless.

12/31/70 Cliff and Lou here for supper. Very impromptu, but good. Much talk about National Park. We all agree that we won’t feel repercussions for some time. They left at 6 p.m. so we could get ready to go to Ovesons. A fun deal there. About 10 couples — some new to us. We ate, drank, danced and played games. The old folks left at 2:30. Rest still going strong. Vern has fixed up his basement. A masterful job. So endeth another year. Some radical changes seen in our lives in 1970 but the outlook is favorable.