7/12/71 They had me in operating room by 8:30. I had asked for a spinal - and got it. As was the case in Duluth in 1964, I was able to talk to staff all thru the proceeding.
7/13/71 What a goddamn miserable day. I ached like crazy. Layna in to see me and I know that I sent her away very depressed. I had a hard time hiding my thots which were of the blackest imaginable. I thought of my Dad who entered the Hibbing Hospital on one day and was carried out dead three days later. I am reasonably sure that I wasn’t afraid but I am also definitely sure that I had no thots of “getting religion”. Dr. Walter in at 8 p.m. and prescribed an enema - it took - and things look better.
7/14/71 Etta in and out all day and she is a joy. She has had trouble with her butt since her surgery so I called her my half-ass granddaughter. She left in a huff to return soon and say “I may be your half ass granddaughter but you are my smart ass grandfather!” Judys to see me in evening. Much to talk about, mostly about Wayne’s ailments. I wouldn’t want to trade places with him.
7/15/71 Dr. Walter’s day off and Dr. Talsness said I could go home tomorrow if I wanted. I don’t. The thot of crawling in and out of a boat makes me cringe. I will wait till I see Walter. Her spirits are good, following mine. Read Hornblower much of day. I couldn’t have picked a better book to take along.
7/16/71 Actually a rather uneventful day. My roommate, Orville Shortridge, taken to surgery and came back mighty woozy. A different man than the cocky individual who left. People coming and going. A couple of good bowel movements, a couple of hikes around the building talking to a few patients. A short visit from the Doctor. Time went fast, Hornblower helped.
7/17/71 Dr. Walter in at 9:30 to say I could go home. About 4 p.m. we decided to ask Les Cleveland over for steak. George and Ardys dropped in to check on me and were asked to stay. Both George and Les have great power for exaggeration. Good listening for a convalescent, altho at times my stitches pulled when I laughed.
7/18/71 I am not exactly ready to chop wood but am making steady progress. Timmy came to visit in p.m. Very good. All not well at Curtice Island. The cook keeps everyone stirred up. Tim has been hired to be his “aide”. That should shut him up some. Dale and girls came a little later and substantiated what Tim had told us. Ain’t it hell that people can’t get along? We have had reason to realize at different times that this part of Rainy Lake is not ours alone. Never felt it more than today when 6 houseboats tied up in a group on Keyes Island. We are not unduly resentful of these newcomers.
7/19/71 Jane came about 10:30 to invite us for dinner and asked us to run over and invite Rays. Nobody home but we left note, cruised by Dahlbergs to see two young men clearing brush. It is finally happening and will be an interesting development to watch.
7/20/71 To see Dr. Walter at 10:00 a.m. He appeared briefly at 10:45 and then had to respond to an emergency at hospital. He came back shortly before noon and took me first. He seemed amazed that I should show more concern over his well being than my own. Stitches out and everything OK - a little sore.
7/21/71 We were due to pick up Clarks at 6:30 so we could go to Island View for dinner. Eileen all set but Dan missing. He was picking berries! Showed up at 7:00 with great adventure tale of how he had dumped his full pail. Lake too rough for my side so we went by car. Many friends at Island View - all had read Kimball’s article and commented on it. Good. Met Allan Sheridan at Island View. He asked me if I had heard of big deal concerning Voyageurs Park at Kettle Falls on Aug. 7. Before he could go further I said “Allan, I was confirmed in Lutheran Church when I was 12 years old (actually I was 15) and haven’t been in one since (a little exaggeration). I have been praying for a 40 mph wind for the seventh of August ever since I heard about this deal. If I get it, I’ll join the first church I walk into.” I didn’t faze him. He asked me if I would take 4 people to Kettle Falls and I agreed to do it!
7/22/71 I went out on north point and made a few casts to relieve boredom of being a cripple. I was carrying a Daredevil in my left hand. A raven was trying to tell me something and I wasn’t too careful where I stepped. Lost my balance and instinctively grabbed a tree, driving Daredevil hook into palm of my hand. Dr. Talsness had it out about 1 ½ hours later. It doesn’t hurt much.
7/23/71 Brad here most of day and I enjoyed his company. Much fun when we “bombed” a wasp nest. We ran over to Allison Island to look for blueberries but altho we found a good patch, I was too pooped to pick. Karen called at 9:00 to say that she and the Shifskys were in Ranier - also her brother, Byrne! Layna went after them and immediately took Byrne to his place, before I had a chance to visit. Will see him soon. The Shifskys the finest kind of young people - so is their 9 month old David. Our Karen & Robin sure can pick their friends.
7/24/71 Robin called to say he would be at dock at 1 p.m. Layna to meet him. A strong south wind did not deter the Byrne Johnsons from coming over for a “cook out.” Glad it didn’t. A good chance to talk to Byrne while we waited for charcoal to get going. He is involved in some mighty technical problems which his old man understands not at all. The Johnson kids did a few of their usual aggravating tricks but all in all OK. Brad got a powerful squeeze in the arm when he attempted to get in the chow line ahead of his grandfather. Why can’t he behave before people like he does when we are alone?
7/25/71 What a helluva day to have company on the island, altho no one seemed unduly disturbed. A congenial group drank and ate and watched the rain showers build up in the west and then come roaring over NWI in waves. Still storming when they left at 4 p.m. - and continued well into the night.
7/27/71 37o - all time low. We decided to try for blueberries on Hapgoods Island. It was a good choice. We got 5 quarts in less than 2 hours. Byrne and family here about 1 p.m. and the rains came. Started to read Little Big Man brought over by Byrne. It looks good.
7/28/71 We found a small but good blueberry patch on Ober’s Teepee Island but it took a couple of hours to do it. We came home with 6 quarts of nice berries and me bushed - but not hurt. My wound coming good. Got the hospital bill. $491 for 5 days - cheaper to die. I hope Medicare is as good as it sounds.
7/29/71 I picked today for my post operative blue funk. Seems like I need one. Faced with a small job I couldn’t handle I got very dejected, telling myself I was no good - blah, blah. Succeeded in getting Layna feeling almost as bad until I told her to for Christ sake pay no attention to me - and I think she did! At any rate she went to town and I pulled out of it alone. What a damned fool I can make of myself at times! Stopped at Seegerts Spring Lodge and inspected their work - they have done lots of it, and more to come.
7/30/71 To see Dr. Walter at 10:30. A short wait and he said “how are you?”. I answered, “I think great, but want your expert opinion.” He checked my incision and said, “We agree, come back in a month!” The nurse had taken Layna’s blood pressure a week ago and he read results and said “She is fine, keep on the pills.” Great! We went over to Rays to cook up a fishing trip for tomorrow. When we are together we do a lot of reminiscing about Camp Kooch-i-ching, our folks, childhood, etc. A sign of old age for sure. Finished reading Little Big Man, certainly the best book I have read for years.
