The Johnson Journals, Chapter 193

• Don attends Daveys and Father Upson’s annual duck feed

• Don visits MacKellar in hospital

• Don celebrates Christmas with a house full of people

12/7/67 Met Wayne at 8 a.m., picked up Lardy Larson, and to NW Bay by 9:15. Ice too poor to drive on so walked about a mile out to crappie hole. It was slow going. Six crappies, two walleye, two jax and many small perch. A good day, however. We talked steady on many subjects. Lardy happy in retirement. No Park talk! Home at 4:30. Layna had everything ready for Daveys and Father Upson's annual duck feed. It was the best ever. They came at 5:45. Fine food, fine drink, fine conversation from fine people - a “minor ecstasy.”

12/8/67 To see Vern Reuter about new insurance. It looks like a good deal but why in hell didn't we hear about it before we spent $370 with Mutual of Omaha? To visit Owen in p.m. He gave me the grand tour of the new pulpwood handling devices on the river bank. Carl Bergstrom there and I said “This is a far cry from when you and I pulled wood off your truck by hand,” and it was.

12/9/67 To the “Conrad Hilton on the Bigfork” with Daveys. Party put on by Henricksons. Budrises, Nims, Eisenachs, Ed Andersons, Amicks there. A great time had by all. Left early because Daveys wanted to. I could have stayed much longer. Maybe it was a good thing that they dragged me away.

12/10/67 Layna and I to see MacKellar at 7:30 p.m. He is a ghost of what he was a year ago but ten times the man he was four months ago. He was in the hospital exactly eight weeks. He was in fine spirits and we had a great visit. Most of what he told was on the humorous side. I am glad that he can look back at the experience and laugh. Several years ago, when Dr. Johnson wanted to put him on a diet, he said “Nothing doing, why should I lose weight so it will be easier for you S.O.B.s to carry me off to the cemetery!”. Well, he wouldn't be a great load now, having lost more than 50 pounds. I think that both Layna and I were a bit flattered that of all his friends, Canadian and American, we were the ones that they asked over on his first night home.

12/11/67 Wrote Xmas cards, then more Xmas cards. We are making headway. Studied Spanish, then more Spanish. I am making headway - but oh, how slowly! To Spanish class - no Layna. She has decided that she is too far behind. She will probably pass me when we get to Mexico. A fun evening and considerable accomplished. Each week I expect a major break thru, which still is in the future - if ever.

12/12/67 Buck and I to Camp Kooch-i-ching to put skis on plane. We worked in a straight line and by noon the job was done. It snowed hard all day, about six inches total, but temperature in the high twenties and we suffered but little. Home to study Spanish and write cards.

12/13/67 To Rotary with Harry. This time as a guest, not as a performer. I enjoyed it. It feels good to get with a group of men who obviously like me as I like them. Program a film on Scout Jamboree in Idaho. An international affair and I came away hoping that those kids, when they become men, will do a better job of running world affairs than their fathers are doing.

12/14/67 Fred Scoggins called this a.m. to say he was giving a farewell party for Bob Binger and Dalton Tanner. Went at 5 p.m. and it was quite a “do”. About 65 men there, many of them business people whom of course I knew. George Amidon the only active Boise Cascadian in the group. WCCO radio to carry a program on National Park at 8:30 and as reception poor in town, Harry and I drove out to listen on car radio at Tilson Creek. Same old story. Both sides given time to present their case. If speaker on your side you cheered him and booed the opposition, and this worked both ways. Safe to say that not a damned soul in Minnesota changed their mind.

12/15/67 To town to shop. Stopped to say a “Hello, Merry Xmas, and goodbye” to Wayne and Opal. They are taking off for Texas tomorrow. Still good friends despite the goddamn Park deal. Home to trim tree, put up lights, write cards, etc. Christmas comes but once a year.

12/16/67 Layna hard at preparations for today's party at eight a.m. She got some stumbling help from me but did most of it herself. She was ready when first guests came at 3:30. Houskas, Eisenachs, Shuppens, Daveys. All four couples had dinner commitments so they ate and drank sparingly. The usual wise cracks, however. Shuppens last to go - about 6:30 when Wagnesses and Henricksons arrived. This was different. They were out to relax, especially Gerald and Elmer. The three men sat in the kitchen and the hot air flew in great shape. Much joking but much serious talk, too. BCC, the Park, Gerald's debts. An interesting evening. They left about 9:30, full of good food, good booze, and I hope good memories.

12/17/67 Highway a sheet of ice. Timmy came about 10:30 and spent most of day with us - quite a lad. Layna and I took Lisa and Jill to RLWC Christmas party. Ann Swenson in charge and I'll be darned if she didn't get them to sing a song. I was M.C. for the whole deal and it worked out fine. I rather enjoyed it. About 60 people all told and I think most has a good time. Not enough of that kind of entertainment any more.

12/18/67 Wrote Xmas cards, wrapped packages. That part of Xmas about over. To see John Erickson. His knees giving him hell but he seemed in fair spirits. Got off on several tangents in telling about “olden days” but 84 years olds aren't the only ones who do that. I am glad I went. Layna and I to Spanish class Xmas party. A good time had by all. Layna has attended only three classes but did very well on Spanish game. She should have studied harder!

12/20/67 Snowing hard when we awoke. A few things needed at the island so I walked over. Home at 1 p.m. Byrne's birthday and we called him. All well there.

12/21/67 Vern Oveson plowed again today. He looks pooped. To Houska's for dinner. Shuppens, Skwaroks there, too. A fun evening.