1/1/72 Vol. XXVII. I will keep at these little books if for only one reason, they are a means of much needed self-discipline. There are other factors involved too - and besides, I enjoy it. Harry and Bern stopped for me at 12 noon. We had a good lunch and on to inspect the Kingsbury home being built by Tom & Nancy. Quite an undertaking. Reminded me of our house in 1953 - only much, much bigger. On to Hugh Monahans for open house at 2:30. Ober there. I have deliberately stayed away from him since first hearing of his senility. Good judgment. Today I learned how far he had slipped. I talked to him for at least 15 minutes and altho he was obviously striving mightily to push aside the cobwebs that cluttered his once active mind, he was wholly unsuccessful. He never did recognize me.
1/2/72 Layna and I to island on Scorpion. Her first trip of the winter. All well there, no tracks since I was there last. Always a relief. We stopped at Buck’s on way home for coffee.
1/3/72 Layna and I both agree that we are overweight. A subject that has come up often in these pages. I am sure that Karen’s Kaustic Koments had much to do with our sudden awareness. We are on some kind of a diet. I am not very enthusiastic. Finished the last of the drawers for Gene’s cabinet and delivered same. I am sure that she is most appreciative. I was happy to do it, maybe trying to reciprocate for the portrait she did of me last year. Started to walk home and Harry Oveson picked me up. A highly intelligent, and opinionated man. I enjoy his conversation.
1/4/72 Wrote “thank you” notes to Crawford and Hall Templeton. Not quite so easy. Crawford has sent us a turkey for at least 15 years - maybe more. I thought that it was over when we made no arrangements last summer to take him fishing. Maybe his secretary forgot to take us off his mailing list. Long letter from Byrne - and good. He gave us a detailed description of their whole setup and altho I plainly see it is not for us, I can understand why it would appeal to them. [Byrne and his family had become part of the volunteer staff of the Ecumenical Institute in Pittsburgh.]
1/5/72 Charlie Skrief is doing research on a book about Backus & Oberholtzer that he is about to write. He has been at it for about a year. Today he came at 2 p.m. and “interviewed” us for couple of hours. It was a very enjoyable visit. To Sheriffs Commission meeting at Community building. 51 young men applied for and took tests for a job in the department. I read all the applications - and some were doozys. All in all an interesting experience. Finished first volume of the Ring Series by T.R.R. Tolkein. An amazing book.
1/6/72 To research lab where Jay Hart, at Norman Seegerts suggestion, showed me some samples of new product for siding. I ordered some. A big job for us next spring coming up. Out to Oberholtzer’s for dinner at 5:30. This time I feel positive that he knew us. We had quite an extensive conversation. He kept repeating “You were my best friends for many years and I did not know you at that party!” Ain’t old age hell? Ah-li cooked a good fish supper which Ober kept apologizing for. She took it all in her stride - but they have given Hilke notice. They want out.
1/7/72 To Bill Kirk’s 60th birthday party. Armstrongs, Martins, Wickstroms (Ken), Verner Hafdahls, Earl Kirks. All agree that Boise Cascade is working hell out of their supervisors. Kirk wondering if he will be able to stand the pace into retirement. Well, if anyone can, he can. I can look back thru these books since about 1948 and find where he showed his ability, spring and fall, in moving the Mando.
1/8/72 Still feeling the cold “miseries.” We were up and down all day with not enough pep to accomplish much worthwhile. Layna dragged out several hundred snap shots that we went over - and threw away a fair percentage. Some good ones left, however.
1/9/72 Harry called to say that Bern in hospital with gall bladder attack. He is worried, as well he should be. At about 3:30, George Amidons and Elsie Harridge stopped in. They had walked to his place on Stop Island. They seem happy together. Another good match!
1/10/72 How long are these damned colds going to last? Today a new symptom. I got sleepy. I could not read more than about 15 minutes and I would drop the book. Buck brought the snow blower in a.m. and I had hope of cleaning out driveway. I was in no shape for the job. Called Jayme who came and did it in jig time. He went home for supper but came back about 9 p.m. with some cough syrup. We had a good chat. He is off for the western mountains in the spring. We will all miss him. A god kid.
1/11/72 Charlie Skrief here in p.m. He brought a number of pictures with which he will illustrate his book. Very interesting. As it looks now, he will move into 265 when we move out and stay until we get back. That will be one worry off our minds.
1/12/72 Layna brought our savings records from safety deposit box. We did some hard figuring and came up with the fact that we are considerably ahead financially from where we were 6 months ago. We can leave for Mexico with no qualms about money.
1/13/72 Layna to RLWC, me to Sheriff’s civil service commission. We gave oral examinations to 10 of the 20 young men who passed last Jan. 5 exams. A surprisingly articulate group.
1/14/72 42 below - 10 mph wind - 70 chill factor. A bitter cold day, one to be thankful that nothing demanded that we get outside. I made a quick run for the mail box and that was the extent of our outdoor activity. I am glad. Many memories of 1936 when we had to get out and face it. Well, we were tougher then. Some big talk about Mexico. Even almost decided to go to Yucatan!
1/15/72 33 below - calm. Still mighty cold but wind went down. Even the snowmobilers have stopped running by. Read from Tolkein and his Hobbits. Fascinating.
1/16/72 The long awaited day of the great Super Bowl finally arrived. 60,000,000 Americans glued to TV to watch Dallas outclass Miami 24 - 3. As usual, I was pulling for the underdog so got myself in a position to feel badly about the outcome.
1/17/72 Off for Leech Lake by 10:30. Stopped for lunch in Bemidji and on to Mattioli [Don’s Hibbing High School classmate] by 1:15. A great reunion. It was talk, talk, talk far into the night. They travel much but use a different approach than we do. They camp in a van, furnished inside by Matte. All the necessities but few of the comforts of home. We are sure we like our motels much better and so far can’t see why they are so much more expensive.
1/18/72 Up at 8:00, had a good breakfast, and chewed fat until 11:00, then on our way. Many subjects touched upon, Hibbing, families, Mexico, careers, travel, nature, ecology, Indians and on and on. We came away knowing that our old friends were confirmed environmentalists who probably would shut down the Boise mill tomorrow if it would help to clean up Rainy River.
1/19/72 I, along with 5 others, was picked by Marie Knutson to be host for Sig Olson Day in library. Went. A good turnout met the great man, drank coffee, talked Voyageurs Park and went home. Oberholtzer there, I am sure his farewell public appearance. He did not do too badly. To “seminar” at night to hear Olson and Dickerman [of the Wilderness Society] tell us how goddamn lucky we were to have a park and what we can do to make it a great one. At coffee later, I got a nose bleed and decided that I was allergic to bullshit.
1/21/72 I jumped into the income tax job with both feet today. By 4 p.m. I had finished a rough draft of Federal. We will pay so much less than last year that I am afraid Nixon will have to make another state of the union speech. Mattioli gave me Custer Died for Your Sins by an Indian - Vine Deloria. The most thot provoking book I have read in years. I am just getting into it. A very articulate, tho bitter man.
