Johnson Journals part 239

4/11/71 Easter Sunday. The sun shown on the Easter bonnets today but we were not to church to see them. Heathens! The kids back to Duluth at 3 p.m. Had a good chance to talk to Karen alone for an hour before lunch. Right now she is a dedicated teacher. Hope she can keep it that way.

4/14/71 Wayne Judy and I off for NW Bay by 7:30. The weather was perfect. His new snowmobile great. We talked constantly - Mexico, conservation, our sick friends, the “olden days”, retirement, the C of Commerce in Falls, and even got onto the Park. First time, and no blows struck. Home by 5:30.

4/15/71 Brian Bowes came as we were finishing eating. He asked if we would miss operating NWI next summer and I said “Not a damned bit!” It was not true. I will miss working with those guides & Timmy. Did my first stint at “public service” tonight. Attended a committee meeting of my new job on Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. Tony Rizzo, Pete Peterson and I. Rather interesting. Not great.

4/16/71 At 4:00 we took Mary Turrene’s hats to her. We had tea and a good visit. She is as vibrant at home as she is at school. On to Belangers with Harry & Bernie for a pre-party Old Fashioned. On to “Bigfork Hilton” where we joined by Henricksons, Eisnachs, Bruggemans, Kellners, Stones - 8 couples all told. The usual good time marked by a few memorable events. Harry & Bernie announced their wedding date - May 8. How about that for fast work.

4/17/71 Jayme and Timmy here for lunch and to tell us about their California trip. It must have been great. George Amidon dropped in. He is a bit “unhinged” from the loss of Irma - as well he might be. To Harry’s after supper for cards. Bernie still here. They look like a perfect pair. I have read back in my diaries concerning this deal and can see that it progressed a lot faster than I anticipated. I hope, and firmly believe, that this will work out.

4/18/71 After supper we ran out to see Seegerts. Not all well there. I am sure they are having grave doubts about the wisdom of trying to make something of Spring Lodge Resort. How do such good people get so damned involved. I would like to tell them “Forget it!” but can’t. Not a very good friend, I am afraid.

4/19/71 We have been concerned about Layna’s insurance for some time. Today I went to Eisnachs office and leaned that she is fairly well covered - a relief.

4/20/71 Norman Seegert and I to attend seminar on sewage disposal systems. I learned that by spending $1,000 or more we have a chance to update our system at #265. If we are required to follow new standards set for lake shore property, there is no way - at any price to make Norway Island comply.

4/21/71 Harry Davey’s turn to entertain investment club so Layna and I volunteered our help. She made lunch. I stayed and tended bar - also meeting! Learned that Gerald Wagness had sold out his share. Frank Fredrickson his replacement. Gerald apparently in dire need of the $2,405.75 equity he had in the organization.

4/22/71 Dale called to say Buck was on his way from island. We drove out to landing just in time to meet him. He had had the normal amount of trouble but made it OK. A good visit.

4/23/71 To Harry’s at 5:30 for a drink before going to Sportsman banquet at 6:30. The speaker was Bob Herbst, Commissioner of Natural Resources. He gave a gloomy report of what is taking place, not only in this country but thru out the world, by man polluting his environment. He told of the vandalism in the national parks. I wonder if the proponents of Voyageurs got the message. Finished reading Jack London’s Sea Wolf. I can see why he was so popular in the ‘20’s and ‘30’s but won’t sell now.

4/24/71 All my life I have known men who lived alone by choice. The Laplander and Charlie Kron at Buck lake. Old Jack Price and Petman at Silica. Harry Robinson, Freddie Ferrou, Al Anderson and Shorty Rasmussen to name a very few on Rainy Lake. Now I know one who doesn’t want to be alone 5 minutes - Harry Davey. He came for visit in a.m. and stayed for lunch. We made plans for tomorrow which should sustain him until then, altho he probably will drop in on someone else in the meantime. To Bernice’s for a song fest. Buck and Dale, the Ihrigs, Dorothy Halvorsen, Avis, Layna and I. It was good.

4/25/71 On road to Aitken by 8:00. To Kimball’s by 11:30. They have quite a layout on Ripple River. Not elaborate but very functional. We had coffee and off to their place on Gun Lake. Their cabin next to Bern’s. Still no pretension there. Very comfortable people to be with.

4/27/71 Layna bought paint for bathroom a year ago. I never could see why the bathroom should be the fanciest room in a home. Maybe anything looks better to me than the old “2 holers” we used for years. At any rate, our new paint job will make ours “adequate” in my thinking.

4/28/71 My left ear has been growing deafer by the day since we came home. I have even been reading the ads for hearing aids. Today I took my problem to Dr. Walter. He washed a chunk of wax out of it and I am back to normal. What a relief. He checked my prostate and said “It’s good. Come back in 3 months!” Had dinner with Harry at the “Chatterbox”. We finished plans for trip to Kimballs. HE IS NERVOUS!

4/29/71 Saw loon! To Holiday Inn with Lucille Bruggeman for lunch then to Buck’s island to tell him Banen on his way. Buck sworn in by Banen. It is official. He got the job. A bit unorthodox procedure by Banen. It should have gone thru Civil Service. Hope no repercussions.

4/30/71 We took off about 9:30. A “sentimental journey” in that we went by Buck Lake. Drove out to old place. It was built in 1914 - and looks it. The barn was built in 1918 and is holding up better. Full of memories - but I doubt of I will ever go back. On to Gun Lake by 1:30.

5/1/71 A cold, windy day, but fairly productive. We put Bern’s dock back in lake and put her boat in water. We then put in some good licks on Kimball’s dock. Good conversation off and on all day but best in evening before fireplace. Highly intelligent, cultured, capable & talented people. We were proud to be in the group - and we think, holding our own.

5/2/71 Jim and I took off for town about 9:30. He showed me some property along the Mississippi that he is developing. Beautiful. On to Aitken where he gave me the two books, The Market Hunter and The Spirit of the Wilderness. He autographed both. I was flattered. Off for home at 2:30, arriving at 5:30. Saw one deer. Harry invited us to Rainy Lake Lodge for dinner. I got a bit miffed at Layna when she insisted on paying. I still don’t follow her thinking.

5/3/71 To Moes for a drink at 4:00 p.m. Margaret there too - kind of subdued, I thot. The Moes full of talk about their Florida estate as well they might be. It must be vedy, vedy plush. Hard for us to visualize Cliff in that environment.

5/4/71 On road to Willard Lake with Rev. Virgil Anderson and Harry. A beautiful lake, comfortable 3 bedroom cabin, all built by him, fireplace and all. Some serious talk at dinner table. When professionals like that talk about our domestic and world problems, I realize how far removed I am from it all.

5/5/71 Layna had food & drinks for party pretty well arranged for when I got home. We hauled it down to Harry’s at 7:00. Gang began coming at 8:00. A total of 16 - all good friends. A complete cross section of life in this area. Some mighty clever presents.

5/6/71 We have known for some time - since last September, actually, that we could not justify owning two cars - at least like the two we had. We have been playing with the idea of getting rid of the station wagon but just couldn’t make the decision. Our insurance statement came yesterday and that did it. $194.00 a year! We shopped around and were a bit disappointed to learn that $1100 was the top price but we agreed to sell it to Sheridan. Layna proposed that we go to island - she beat me by about 10 seconds. We packed up a few things and took off.