8/14/73 Judys had invited us to Footprint Lake this week but we decided we were too involved in other things. Damn but I hate to break an engagement with those good people. Has a good visit with them. I think they understand our problems. Mowed grass at #265. Heavy rainfall has kept it green and growing. Jane’s birthday and we went over for supper. Her neighbors, Cummings and Grinsells there. Etta and rest of kids had gone all out. Decorated cabin, put on a real feed. Cummings brought wine. A gala occasion.
8/15/73 Last summer the Jernberg boys talked about making a raft but we were able to put them off. This year Jim is reading Tom Sawyer to them and the pressure is really on. Today we hauled old telephone pole from mainland and scrounged another cedar from Dahlbergs. We, mostly me, put together a craft 4 X 8 and it carried both boys beautifully. They are having fun. Bert and Ann Jernberg arrived about 2:30. Good people, no trouble. I think they enjoy it here. Nixon talked to world via TV at 8:00. We were fishing. It was a beautiful evening, more so knowing I didn’t have to listen to Jim’s caustic comments concerning our president’s speech.
8/16/73 After Nixon’s Watergate speech last night (while Sally, Jim and I were fishing) Bert and Ann could see him trembling with nervousness. Layna said he appeared perfectly calm. It is all in the eye of the beholder. To Buck & Dale’s for family gathering at 3 p.m. Dean Minters there, Bernice, Williams, Jane & kids, Jernbergs, Jr. & Sr. A fun deal. Much ping pong, pool, cards. Not much drinking. We are surrounded by good people.
8/17/73 Rowed over for mail. Made round trip in 40 minutes - a record. To Boyds at 4:30. Sat on porch for hour or two drinking and talking. It was fun to be with people sympathetic with Nixon.
8/18/73 Robin and I cut down (and up) the birch tree that has threatened to fall over second cabin for some time. George Amidon called to see if we could take care of Congressman John Blatnik for a few days. Enjoyed telling him that we couldn’t. Our grandchildren to Koochiching last grand council, which reminds us that summer has about gone - where? Maybe in retrospect next winter we will decide it was a good one. Right now I feel it would have been better has we been alone more. Jane gave us a blow by blow account of her father’s bout with cancer. I can only hope that I a meet a sudden death if for only one reason. To keep them (Jane) from cutting me up in small pieces.
8/19/73 I took Robin to landing about 9:30. He said he wanted to visit Gene a little, which was understandable. Karen rode in with the Jernbergs when they went to church at noon. I then learned that Karen and Robin were planning a trial separation! It was a shocker, but not a complete surprise. On July 23 I wrote “It bothers us that our baby is troubled.” Many factors involved but it seems to be primarily a conflict of interests. Karen feels that she has a rewarding career ahead of her. Robin apparently would like nothing better than to return to this area and settle down. Who is to judge? Not this old man. My thoughts heavy as I let my mind dwell on the misery these two fine people will cause one another before they either make a complete break - or patch this up. As I sit and write, I realize that subconsciously I am feeling sorry for myself. I hate to lose Robin.
8/21/73 We met Judys at 10:00 as per agreement. Off for Footprint Lake under cloudy skies. All in a holiday mood. Stopped for lunch at Hope Lake and on to Robin’s Nest by 1:00 p.m. A jewel of an island. All hands out fishing by 2:30 and caught 3 WE before supper. A great day. It is fun to be the entertainees instead of the entertainers. Dominos.
8/22/73 Wayne and Opal anxious to try Jackfish Lake for fish. We were out for the ride so it made no difference. It was a good decision. We had 11 small WE by noon. Back to Robin’s Nest by 2:30. Another great day. Dominos.
8/23/73 We needed 10 WE for a limit so back to Jackfish. About a 25 minute run. Fish larger than yesterday, all in weeds, and we had no trouble getting 10 keepers. Back to Robin’s Nest by 2 p.m. and off for home by 3:00. As always, we are impressed by the efficiency of these people. From the time we left the Falls until we were back in their garage, everything completely organized. No hitches, nothing lost or misplaced. Everything on schedule. I like our free and easy style a lot better, and a good thing! Byrne and Karen up from Duluth at midnight. Byrne’s family here to take him home. He is up for a family conference to decide as to their future in E.I. Six strong minds to made a decision. I am glad we aren’t part of it. Karen to bed in first cabin. She returned in night gown and barefooted to our house soon after. She was in a sorry state of mind. Her marriage shaky. She is trying to see thing objectively, as are we. She and Robin have decided to try a trial separation. I have misgivings.
8/24/73 The Byrne Johnsons here in p.m. and Byrne and Brad stayed while rest on to town. A good chance to talk with Byrne. All not well in his family, either. They are not unanimous in their thinking. He talked much of his job and as usual I understood little of it.
8/25/73 Much “girl talk” on island today, between Layna and her two daughters. Jim and Don not included. No details released but atmosphere cleared considerably. Layna, with her usual good sense worked out a deal that I faced with a little misgiving. She arranged for us and our 4 children to get out for dinner at Thunderbird. It worked - and good. We sat at a table, had two drinks, and much chatter before our meal. In bar room for 1 after dinner drink and much more good talk. We are a great family and I never felt closer to them than tonight. Karen and Byrne both facing crises in their lives. So goes it. George Smith drowned in Red Gut while lifting a net. The kind of ending I mentioned August 18.
8/26/73 Byrne and Jane came over about 9:00 p.m. Much general conversation until Jernbergs and Johnsons to bed. We had learned that Byrne & family to move to Chicago and stay with E.I. Not sure it was a unanimous decision.
8/27/73 Jane took Byrne to airport despite heavy fog at 5:30. She was sleeping on our davenport when I got up at 6:45.
8/28/73 The annual Johnson & Jernberg picnic - fishing trip, and it was hot! 90o The fishing wasn’t. I caught 2 good WE and no one else had a nibble, altho they were on the bottom plenty. Home for short nap and then Jernbergs busy packing for leaving tomorrow. Sally kept saying that we would be happy to see them go - not true. All in all it has been a good month with them. Jane and kids stopped just at dark. They had spent day with “Uncle” Welly and Aunt Anna Smith. After they left, Sally, Jim, Layna and I had good talk about NWI. We took it from many angles and ended up in almost 100% agreement. Good people all, why shouldn’t we agree?
8/29/73 I spent a good share of this day between NWI and the landing. 5 trips in all. It took two to get Jernbergs on road by 10:15. Not too much confusion, they were well organized. Stopped for coffee at Clevelands. Back to landing at 3:00 and changed spark plugs in Jane’s old Ford. I think I understand Jane putting up with a klunk like that (the plugs were terrible) but with Byrne, it is a different story, beyond my comprehension.
8/30/73 Etta and Sheila’s birthday. Jane & Etta to town for last minute shopping but Layna stayed home to prepare birthday dinner. The Cummings family here at 7:00 p.m. loaded with goodies and gifts. Good people. They have filled a positive need for their (Byrne & Jane’s) family. A chicken dinner topped off by birthday cake furnished by Cummings and presents opening. Fun! I showed slides of Mexico. A good audience. Party broke up at midnight. Johnsons stayed here.
8/31/73 Alarm rang at 6:15 and we rolled Johnson kids out. The usual confusion but somehow they were at landing - all packed and ready for road at 8:15. Not bad. Tara forgot her coat, we had to make last minute repairs to Etta’s coat, Muffin fell in lake, Sheila lost her billfold (again) - all minor. I thot it was a pretty fair blast off. Again they left and I was unable to learn just what the objective of the E.I. is. Probably I don’t try hard enough. Chuck Skrief and Margaret Ketola here at 11:00. They stayed for lunch and it was a most enjoyable visit for all four of us, I am sure.
