5/20/73 After lunch we all went out to Tamarack Farm near Stillwater where a talented young potter had a great variety of pottery for sale. After about an hour’s shopping we came away with 3 big bags of loot. We cleaned up and off for Faegre’s arriving at 4:00 p.m. Much to talk about, mostly about Mando days. At 5:00 the old man showed up. 84 years old. Still driving his new Cadillac, altho Bob says he is a menace on the highway. He has slipped considerably since I last saw him. Who hasn’t? A couple of drinks on deck overlooking lake followed by a good dinner. Talk, talk, talk. We left at 8:20. No trouble finding home. We lay and talked far into the night. I think we are as conditioned for whatever may come as we could possibly be.
5/21/73 At 3:00 we took off for the hospital. I was admitted to the “Minimal Care” section. Very informal. People sitting around in a big living room comparing aches and pains. Dean Minter to see me for almost two hours. A highly intelligent young man. I was glad to have him help me pass the time. My new roommate, John Howard, Indian, talks a lot. He told me he had been in this room for 15 days and had 3 different roommates - all terminal cases. Very cheering. I forgot all that when given a sleeping pill.
5/22/73 A good night’s sleep but awakened at 6 a.m. X-rayed, blood tests, urine, temperature. Also had whole upper part of body shaved. Now what? At 11:30 they gave me a hypo and wheeled me down to surgery. I was out about 1 ½ hours. Only pain a damned sore throat. Layna, Sally & Jim to see me in evening. I am sure that Sally feels that her prayers had a lot to do in bringing me thru and I am not one to deny it - altho I never uttered one of my own. When I came out of the anesthesia I first saw Dr. Schmidt standing on my left. He said, “you have company.” I looked to my left and dimly made out Dr. and Mrs. Walter. I said “Happy Birthday, Doctor!” Learned later that he and Dr. Schmidt both called Layna to say I was OK. Good people.
5/23/73 At 10:30 Dr. Schmidt came to say I could go home. He stayed to chat with me for about 20 minutes. Thus endeth my stay at NW Hospital. All in all not too bad an experience. I am relieved as to my condition altho it seems I spent a lot of money and considerable pain and worry to come to that conclusion. To Sally’s for lunch and off for home by 12:30. Pulled into Daveys at 6:00. What a reunion. On to see Judys’ for few minutes. Same welcome there. We have good friends. Buck met us at landing and hauled us home. We have good kids, too!
5/24/73 It was great to be home with Layna on our little island. She put in a full day’s work - washing clothes, etc. and I puttered around enough to know I am getting stronger. A very pleasant day. Karen wrote a Mother’s day letter to Layna (a little late) It was a true classic. She included the old man, too. We agreed that we wouldn’t trade one letter like that for both of Moes’ Florida condominiums.
5/25/73 To see Dr. Talsness at 11:00. A cold, wet, windy trip across lake. No wait at clinic. He closed door and we had a 15 minute chat. I told him “You had me scared fartless.” He answered “You weren’t the only one!” He refused to give me a clean bill of health but plenty assurances that there wasn’t much wrong with me. The Lynches came about 3:30. Stayed to tell us of their problems, parking, liquor license, guides, cruiser, lack of guest. It reminded us of 1945 and we are happy all of that is behind us. After supper, Jim Banks came. He was on his way to Fort Frances. A good chat for an hour and as he left he put $30 on table. He is paid up in full!
5/26/73 The past many days of inactivity have paid their toll on my legs. They tire easily. I keep plugging along and altho I don’t accomplish much, I feel my strength coming back. Layna made a full meal to take over to Lynches. We asked Les to go along. Gave him the $2.00 tour of Buck’s operation and I am sure he was impressed. On to Lynches. He had seen the place at its worst so has to be impressed by what had been accomplished there. Avis Herbert joined us. A good meal, good people. Layna’s efforts appreciated. Home at 3:30. An hour’s nap and raring to go. Hooked up ice maker, hooked up sink in fish house, raked a little and worked on walk from dock. Layna planted window boxes. Summer is here. Peggy Lynch spent almost 2 hours on our phone trying to locate a guide. No luck. They have their work cut out for them in trying to make a go of Red Crest [Musket Inn].
5/27/73 We both put in a full day - for us- on island. I finished up my “wheelbarrow ramp” off dock. I have thot about doing it for years but always had in mind to do it with rocks. Now I used planks, they might outlast me. As Layna was starting supper, a beautiful new boat pulled into dock. It was the Brooks, her mother and daughter, Corrine. They came up for a drink and short visit. The best kind of company. First walleye feed of summer, furnished by Jim Banks. Just as good as I remember them.
5/28/73 About 3 p.m. we got tired of our raking & digging and took off for Secrists at Camp Koochiching. We marvel at the changes made at Red Crest and by Buck at Backus Island, but nothing can stir us like the evolution of Camp. In 1929, 44 years ago, it was a group of tents surrounding a dining hall made of shiplap and put up in 4 days. The only sanitation facility was “Rome”, a 7 holer near the so-called ball field. The only running water was in the kitchen. It was supplied by a 500 gallon tank on the roof. It was pumped full each morning by hand. Gasoline lanterns not only furnished the light, they periodically threatened to burn the place down. I could go on and on. Now they have the equivalent of a modern city - with all its problems of management.
5/30/73 To town, first time since last Friday - not bad. Much talk about my health. Gina Erickson cried when she told about fearing cancer in my lung. Mrs. Richmond said George Esslinger told her that I had picked up a fungus in Mexico! Well, it all shows concern and I should be grateful. The Newharts came about 7:30 and stayed till 9:00. Much talk of Mexico. We are invited to dinner Friday. Good.
5/31/73 Buck got me excited by saying Curtice had caught 6 crappies in Commissioners bay. I cleared boat, picked up minnows, Layna made lunch and we were off at 4:30. Buck had told me how to find reef but before we could locate it we picked up 10 good walleyes. Found reef and Layna got 2 good crappies. I cleaned whole mess and Layna wrapped same. At the present price of meat, I have become a meat fisherman! No nap today and I am really tired but extremely happy.
6/1/73 To see Dr. Talsness at 11:00. No waiting. He had received a report from Dr. Schmidt which indicated I had a form of fungus in my lungs but it was too early for a definite identification. Another 3 weeks and they will know what treatment, if any, necessary. Got hospital bill. $933.00 worth. God bless Medicare. At 4:45 Les Cleveland picked us up and off for Newharts’. The usual good food, good drinks, good talk. Much interesting and informative talk about Italy and Sicily.
6/2/73 Wayne Judy called at 9:00 saying he would like to get in on some of that good Commissioners Bay fishing. A very pleasant day with Wayne. As always, we keep up a steady chatter - some of it rather profound, none of it malicious. The admiration I have had for him since I met him in 1946 (seriously) keeps growing.
6/4/73 At 11:30 phone buzzed. It was the Clarks. “Please meet us at landing at 12:00.” DAMN! Despite wild wind, we got them moved - 2 dogs and 2 cats included. No use to go into details, there were lots of them. Layna, as a final gesture, fried walleyes for supper. Now that it is over, I have a feeling we did some good for our fellow man, and it was appreciated.
6/5/73 I was due to pick up Judys at 4:00. Judys on time. A good visit with old friends. Peetsie (now Sharon) helped pull logs across ice in 1945. She was impressed with place as were her two kids. Took them back at 8:30.
