Johnson Journals part 269

Uruapan. “We were enchanted by this beautiful spot and made reservations for four days.”

“Off to Edwardo Luis Park. Possibly the most beautiful place we have ever seen here, not even excepting San Jose Purina.”

“A dozen or so Mexican caballeros offered their horses for the 2 kilometer trip into the valley but Layna’s butt still sore from 1956 trip in Montana. We decided to walk.”

Manzanillo. “ It was like coming home.”

“Had a good chance to talk to Maria Kirsch, mostly about Shuffs, McIntyres, Hanover, Ketolas.”

“This might not be the jet set but it isn’t exactly Piper Cub, either.”

“ My God, what a development. Watch out Acapulco, you have some real competition in Manzanillo.”

La Manzanillo. “A primitive little place, holding its breath for the completion of the Puerto Villarta road. What a boom is coming - maybe next year.”

Mazatlan. “A couple, our age, moved in next door. Goddamn such gabbers, may their tongues burn in hell. Lord, keep me from becoming a bore like that.”

Los Mochis. “Found an English version of Time magazine in biggest book store ever - anywhere. The cover story was on Dr. Good, Joanne Finstad’s husband.

Cuidad Obregon. “Had the best meal ever - shrimp Costo del Oro.”

Nogales, NM. “Called Sally. All well. Called Karen. Same.”

Tucson, AZ. Visited Dan & Eileen Clark and their ranches.

Big Bend National park. “Met old store keeper who knew Myrl Brooks.”

Fort Stockton, TX. “Stayed at De Luxe Motel. Not so deluxe.”

Oklahoma City, OK. Visited grandson Brad. “He was very sensible, not the smart Alec of former years.”

St. Paul, MN. “Arrived at Jernbergs at 1:30. A great reunion. Much to talk about.”

4/2/73 A lazy day with Sally. She has a big project in mind to build cupboards in basement. I volunteered to prefab it at our house but no acceptance. I wonder if it will be done.

4/3/73 Called Karen at school and could tell that she would be really disappointed if we didn’t stop. We agreed to. Sally suggested we run in to Minneapolis and see IDS new building. Did. 51 stories of grandeur. Glad our money isn’t in it. Home for lunch and took off for Duluth about 12:15. Had dinner with K & R and 4 Swendsen’s kids. About 7:15 Layna said “Let’s go home.” We were on the road shortly after. Arrived in Falls at 10:30. All well in house. Great to be home!

4/4/73 Sure good to be home. We unpacked car, quite a job, and out to Buck’s by about 10:00. Great to see them. Had a good gabfest for couple of hours. They have had a good winter.

4/5/73 Our phone still unhooked in a.m. so I went in to tell Judy I didn’t want to trust ice and go fishing. No need. He was scared, too. Stayed for a good visit - two months of chatter built up. After lunch we went over to thank Froehlich for taking such good care of our place. “No trouble” said Jim. They are great neighbors. Buck up lake but Jayme, Timmy, Dale, Jill and Lisa here in evening. Much to hear from Jayme. He drove 10,000 miles on his trip - no trouble. Dale a very proud mother. She has given her life to her family and when she looks at them she has no regrets. What a gal! Byrne called to wish me Happy Birthday. We had a good talk. He sounded happy.

4/6/73 Happy Birthday! Buck called from island to give birthday greetings. Good! To Milroy to get my loose plate tightened and now I fear it will be another daily visit. He talked much but did little. We shall see. Layna has been working on finances, paying bills, etc. and today went to bank. We had more money coming in while we were gone than we spent, which means we are more sound that the government. Daveys came about 5:00, bringing me a Pendelton shirt. We had a couple of Margaritas and off to Thunderbird where they invited the Hauglands to join us in a birthday dinner. Everyone happy!

4/7/73 Timmy and Jayme here in morning to play ping pong. What a pair. They are - and will be making our old age easier. To town to look at projectors. Our old Bell & Howell, taken from Mando, not doing too well. We came home the proud owner of an Eastman Carousel, and $150 poorer. Well, it is only pesos! Dr. Milroy stopped in - for only a minute - and it lasted 2 hours. Good, however. Much talk about Carl, as usual. As he left, Harry Oveson came over. He stayed for supper. What a brain! TV, astronomy, photography, old clocks, geology - he knows it. He must sense how dumb I am along these lines but I am sure he likes us. We are good listeners! He left early and we set up our new projector. Looked at slides until 10:30. We have a good outfit - and some damned good pictures. Fred Williams called me from Kenora to say that Boise Cascade wanted me to come up and run a Mando type fishing operation for about 3 months next summer. Gee it was fun to turn him down. Again the old song “You Didn’t Want me When You Had Me So Why Do You Want Me Now?” ran thru my mind. I thanked him, and that was that.

4/8/73 Harry and I decided to delay our fishing trip until it warmed up a bit. At noon, it was 30o in the shade but pleasant in sun. We took off for Bigfork. The wind was pretty cold. We fished about 2 hours. Harry caught a small jack. I was skunked. We went up to heated farmhouse and had one drink and a lot of good talk. We understand each other. Home to Daveys’ to learn that Layna had stopped at Col. Sanders and bought a chicken feed for all hands. Good.

4/9/73 Milroy played with my plate for 5 minutes and said “Come back Wednesday.” I gained a day. Took car in to have a little work done and had coffee with Tom Kellner and Allen Sheridan. Tom seems beat to many of his friends but he was cheerful enough with me - even made a tentative date to get together at their house. On to Carlson’s where we visited with Katy, Chris and Ole. I can understand Spanish better than the English spoken by the Oien boys. I think we reserved dock space for Clark’s boat.

4/10/73 Jayme here to pick up slide trays to go with projector we gave him. He has his work cut out to fill all them. Harry Oveson over for birthday cake (his) and tea. Good. My skin creeps and crawls and gets goose pimply. I am coming down with some kind of creeping crud.

4/11/73 The creeping crud that came on me yesterday got creepier and crudier all day. My skin, and into my body by about ½ inch so sensitive I was miserable. Slept much of day and feel rotten tonight. Layna a bit under weather too. Wrote letters to Browns and Carol. finished reading Frank King’s book Missabe Road. Full of nostalgia for anyone raised on iron range. [Frank had worked as an Industrial Engineer with Byrne at the DM&IR Railroad in Duluth.]

4/12/73 Dennis Clark (our new tenant) came along. He said he wanted some outdoor activity so we went out for couple of hours and finished cutting brush between here and Porter’s. Felt pooped after he left but much of my skin soreness gone - replaced by muscle ache, which is a better one.

4/13/73 Birthday party. Jayme came at 10:00 to help rake the yard. He did practically the whole thing while I cut dead trees, cut brush, raked road, etc. I was really pooped by 5:30. The Daveys came and we had a drink and I perked up. They were followed by the Belangers, Stew Sheldon and the Elmer Henricksons. Good people all. A few drinks and at 7:30 Layna put a feast on the table, aided by the other gals. Much good talk. Everyone but Stew gone at 10:30. He stood around another ½ hour as tho he hated to say goodbye. A great day!

4/14/73 Drove out to Sha-Sha to look at ice situation. Black Bay open but main lake full. Stopped to say hello to Brooks and almost didn’t get away. They were interested to get greetings from people at Big Bend. Rushed home so we could take off for Judys’. Warren Shuff there with new wife. Charming. On to Spot where we found that place jammed - many people we knew. Back to Shuffs’ in steady downpour of much needed rain. He showed Mexican slides for about an hour. Excellent.