1/1/71 Volume XXVI This will be a new experience for me. No Mando, no NWI, no Coast Guard. We will have to completely revise our way of living in 1971. We have the means (mental & material) to make it a great experience. Hope it works out.
1/2/71 Vivian Sutch out at 2 p.m. and stayed until 6:00. A good friend. Much to talk about - mostly about Mexico. She is teaching Spanish at New Prague and very enthusiastic. At 8:30 we went to Bill Martin’s. By 9:30 the house was full of Canadian friends. Louiseaus, Caldwells, Steinky, Bill’s brother-in-law and Gerry Armstrongs and Alvin Armstrongs. Party broke up about 2 a.m. but some of us just couldn’t say goodbye. The two Armstrongs, Johnsons and Martins sat and sang, drank and talked until 4:00. What a great bond exists between me and my old crew - surely one of the most valued possessions I have. Layna very, very patient with me, knowing how I feel. No fuss from her as I stayed on and on. What did you say about valued possessions, Johnson?
1/3/71 Buck brought Terry here at 8:30 and Layna went with them to Sutch’s. As usual, I choked up when I said goodbye to him but he seemed very calm. I wonder what goes thru that head. Harry and Bernie here at 10:00 a.m. for breakfast. They left at 12:10. I told Layna, “Now I am sure I like her,” and she agreed. Watched (partly) Dallas beat San Francisco and Baltimore beat Oakland to get themselves in Super Bowl. Also finished The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Wow - what a book!
1/4/71 Somewhat back to normal today. Layna and I sat down and made a definite effort to determine what our expenses would be in 1971. It is hard to determine our income because so much depends on Coast Guard but it looks as tho we are well enough off - far beyond our fondest dreams 10 years ago.
1/5/71 I mildly cursed Jim Banks when I got up at 7:30 to learn it was -12o. His snow shoes were in our shed for two years and he took them to the island last fall. Machine started well enough and I rather enjoyed the ride to the island. I picked up snow shoes, put out rat poison and off for home. At one time I felt a sharp pain in my cheek but did not realize how badly it was frozen until I got home. It hurts! Ted Hall here and stayed to talk for about 2 hours. Very interesting. Reminds us of Ober.
1/6/71 Layna made a couple of dresses for Lisa & Jill. We delivered them. A couple of real appreciative kids.
1/7/71 I wrote to Judy McIntyre. Jim Kimball put me in touch with her. She is making a study of loons and I told her what little I knew about them. Also volunteered my services. This could amount to something really meaningful. I am looking forward to next summer. A long letter from Etta - to me personally. She thanked me for what I told her concerning religion and a few other problems. She will make out OK. She also wrote to Layna - all girl talk. A great kid for sure.
1/8/71 To Bernice’s for a songfest. It was a doozy. Buck, Dale, the Ihrigs, Avis, Dorothy Halvorsen for a starter, Joan too. We were joined by Karen & Robin and Laird and Kathy. We sang & sang - until 1 p.m. A Dutch lunch and home by 2:30. Bernice has just discovered that her house is a great place to entertain - and we are all for it!
1/9/71 Layna prepared a turkey feast for kids and it developed into quite a fiesta. Harry & Maude Will and then Lou and a client, Bernie Holt. The meal set at 4:30 and our guests did not leave until 10:30. A 6 hour session. After gang left, Layna and I (against my will) dug into the mountain of dirty dishes. We finished at 12:30 - Pooped. Cigarette smoke - Bah!
1/11/71 20o below. To Ranier to pick up a few groceries and ended up by taking Bernie Holt (Lou Moe’s client) back to Holiday Inn. Had a good chance to talk about Canadian - American relations along border. He has worked from east to west and says the resentment is felt the full length. Well, we have a new uprising in our area. Frank Bohman’s competition in Canada is threatening to put him out of business. Now the Falls mayor, Banen, is proposing retaliation. I am glad we are out of business. We would be squirming now. Layna had the Shuffs and McIntyres out for dinner. They came at 5:30 and stayed until 10:00. 99% of conversation about Mexico - all good. They are leaving next Friday.
1/12/71 Bill Lessard called to see if I would be interested in acting the Sheriffs commission. Why not? From what I have been reading lately there are a lot of “public servants” dumber than me. Finished reading The Crossing about Washington crossing the Delaware. Good. Started Ernest Gann’s The Antagonists. Looks good. Reading is fun!
1/13/71 About 7 inches of new snow today and when Buck brought our new machine to clean it out, the damned thing had a loose pulley. We called Gene Rasmussen who came and got it. Back on job at 7 p.m. and I cleaned driveway. A good outfit - when it works.
1/14/71 After lunch I took off on snowmobile and ran back thru big swamp. Met Jim DiOnne in a dozen places. I wonder how he would have felt about the snowmobile. Probably would have started shooting by now.
1/15/71 The state sent us a form to fill out for our personal property tax on NWI. It was several pages. I put it in an envelope and wrote “Out of business”. Another plus for quitting ADM. By spring I should be able to work up a case where I am really happy! Filled out the form sent by personnel of Coast Guard for retirement. I am greatly concerned over an insurance clause. Called Banen who wasn’t too sure either. Now I can worry until I hear from headquarters.
1/17/71 Layna and I to see WUSA. First movie in a long time - and the way I feel now, the last for a longer time. It had a GP rating but had plenty of sex and violence in it. The movie makers must believe that we Americans thrive on shock and dish it out in big doses. Crap!
1/19/71 Layna picked up Gina and they went to Bernice’s for coffee, leaving me alone. I brought tape recorder out of basement and scratched away at the idea of taping some of the high spots of my life. I suppose I will be like Ober -I’ll take it all with me.
1/20/71 On to investors club. My second visit and a great event for me. Fourteen members with about 12 ideas - all different. The most astounding fact, other than their differences of opinion, is the manner in which they voice them. Gentlemen all - very calm. They are losing money but proud that some others are losing more. Ed Barnes not happy about that philosophy but rest seemed to think it OK. Me, I’m glad I am not in (I have been invited). They have about $3000 apiece in which would be the price for me to join - a damned expensive plaything, says I.
1/21/71 Ever since freeze up, we have been talking about going to Bears Pass to visit the Davidsons. Today we made it, and I am glad. All four in reasonably good shape. We had coffee at Spike’s, then Wally came and took us to their place on his snowmobile. A big deal for a man who had several strokes the past year. A good visit there. We got stuck good on trail from Spike’s to highway. Had to put on chains. Like olden days. No one panicked and we made it OK.
1/22/71 To Bernice’s for our second sing song festival. Our party dwindled down to all “family” except for Dorothy Halvorsen. A good time - good people! George Williams located me at Bernice’s. He is in town after hearing about Fred Scoggins’ death.
1/23/71 Picked up George Williams at Rex Hotel at 9:00 a.m. Brought him home where we had a good chance to talk - mostly about Scoggins, then Mexico. He is really hepped about San Miguel de Allende. We will go there, more than likely. To Nancy’s wedding at 7:30. Little Pammy stole the show. A real doll. A reception in the church and on to Harry’s. A house full there.
1/25/71 On Nov. 3, last year, I got the shock of my life when Dennis Nelson of the Social Security office told me that in his opinion there was a good chance that Layna had not been self-employed all these years. We have acted in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. What if thru some technicality we have to go back 10 years and review this whole situation! To Spanish class. Only 7 there but a lively group. Layna gave Mary Turrene a Mexican bowl as a parting gift. I am sure she appreciated it. I am sorry we are thru. We have just reached the point where I am beginning to learn something.
