4/4/74 Layna to Republican Women’s meeting. A dying cause in this DFL community for many years. Watergate must have delivered the coup de grace. I don’t know why anyone has any thought or hope of keeping it alive. Maybe the overall plan says that the flower will bloom again, but it won’t be in our lifetime in Koochiching County. I looked in my 1950 diary to check on backward spring and ended up by reading the whole book! That was one helluva year and I am glad that I have it in writing. Best part was resume on last 2 pages where I decided we came thru it in fine shape.
4/5/74 To Ranier in a.m. to attend public meeting sponsored by Rainy Lake Residents Association. The topic was the sewer and water project for area from Ranier to Crystal Beach. Buck was chairman and did a damn good job. A Mike Morgan from Arrowhead R & D outlined what had to be done and then fielded questions very ably. I think everyone there learned something - for sure I did. News media full of reports on tornadoes in US. Terrible, about 300 killed. Millions, even billions in property damage. We live in a reasonably safe area. Cold at times, and even wet, but not too violent.
4/6/74 Another birthday and it followed the pattern set many years ago - great! Sheila and Tara, bless their little hearts, called in a.m. Harry and I went fishing on Rainy River, got skunked, but home in time to catch call from Brad. Good. To party at Bernice’s - our singing group, Ihrigs, Lois Beyers, Buck & Dale, Dick & Joan, good people all - and we had fun. Highlight of evening when Carol and Ted called from LA. Thoughtful kids. Home at 2:00 a.m. Sleepy but extremely happy. A beautifully written note from Sally. She and Karen sent material for shirt. Our diet shot to hell!
4/8/74 Made a small step to hedge against inflation by renewing a $4000 certificate that had been paying 6% to one paying 7 ¼%. Inflation rate was 10% last year so we are still falling behind, but not so much.
4/9/74 The Lynches stopped in with new baby. It has gained ½ pound so now is up to about 6# A cute little mite. Well, so are its parents and little brother, Shawn. We value their friendship and wish them well in their venture.
4/10/74 Wrote to Sally to thank her for her birthday note. It was 7:30 a.m. and I sat at the bar, alone. Damned if I didn’t choke up when I came right out and told her how much she has meant to me. Vivian Sutch here at 7:30 and stayed until 10:30. We know her well by now and it is all good. She seems like our own.
4/11/74 Layna due to entertain RLWC this evening. Mary Hilke picked me up at 12:15 and off for Katie Carlson where we interviewed her for the Historical Society. Katie made us a waffle lunch, salad & sausages with cherry pie for dessert. Goodbye, Weight Watchers. We spent almost 2 hours with recorder going. Many, many memories revived for me. All in all a very interesting and satisfying experience.
4/12/74 Chewed rag with Karen and Robin for a while in a.m. No startling disclosures. They went for lunch at Hannah Rosenberg’s. Home about 3:00. There is a certain uneasiness in their relationship that is hard to define. Now that I have written that I realize it is so small that were this written in pencil, I would erase it.
4/13/74 We had our Easter dinner today. Turkey and all the trimmings. Gene and Karen Magnussen joined us. Good. Karen M. is leaving for Alaska via railroad to Vancouver. Oh, for the confidence of youth.
4/14/74 Karen, Robin, Layna and I walked to Ranier at 10:00 a.m. to have breakfast at Gene Monahan’s. Ted Hall joined us later. Karen Magnussens still there. An interesting group. Most left at noon but Ted stayed to chew fat until 2:00 p.m. He reminds us of Ober. Fascinating at times. To Daveys in evening for 3 games of 500. Took time away from card game at 9:00 p.m. to watch TV special “You are too Fat.” After a full hour of viewing, I decided that our ailment is very minor to many, many others. Learned of some drastic methods to combat problem. We are not kidding ourselves when we say we haven’t - nor will ever, reached that stage where such action is necessary.
4/15/74 Finished writing RR Reflections and began typing it. Maybe not the best I have done but it came the easiest. Maybe the subject, Camp Koochiching was dearest to my heart. While we were in town the fire truck took off east and we learned at 3:00 p.m. that it had gone to Buck’s! A frightening experience all around but not too much damage done. Layna made turkey soup and a cake and we went out. They were all calmed down considerably and mighty grateful to have a roof over their heads. Timmy came over after supper to take a shower and stayed long enough to beat me 4 games of ping pong. Also talked enough to confirm what we have always known - he is a highly intelligent young man.
4/16/74 Harry stopped in about 11:00 a.m. to pick up my Rainy River Reflections. I also gave him a Hardy reel for his birthday. He was pleased with both, according to his reactions.
4/17/74 Layna to “quilting bee” at Makinens. I walked to Ranier, visited with George Finstad and Gina and walked home, should do more of this - visiting & walking. We have heated house entirely by fire place. it is pretty chilly in morning but no problem during day.
4/18/74 To island after lunch. Left car at Gwanatchewan landing and took off on foot. Traveling near perfect. So was the weather. Made a cup of cocoa and drank it in the sun on main dock. Thought of life and death and decided I had two good reasons for not wanting to die. I hate to leave Layna and family - and Norway Island. I won’t get anything better in the “sweet by and by.”
4/20/74 David Austin called at 8:00 a.m. and asked if we would like $2.00 tour of his new log cabin. We went. Very spectacular. A far cry from the log cabins built by the Johnsons in 1945. To town to attend the Insulite celebration of its 60th anniversary - along with thousands (literally) of townspeople. It must have been very gratifying to the men who worked so hard to made it a success. My Rainy River Reflection came out in last night’s paper and the best part of the Insulite deal was the number of people who complimented me on it. A great ego builder, which doesn’t hurt an old man just so he doesn’t take it too seriously and start to write the great American novel. To the Myrl Brooks for dinner with the Judys at 6:00. Outstanding people all, and a privilege to know them. Learned that there is a very good chance that Voyageurs won’t take over Gold Shores. Johnny Bartkowski must be fit to be tied. No sympathy from here - or many other places either, I’ll bet.
4/22/74 Wrote letters and enclosed copies of my Camp Koochiching story to Byrne’s kids, John Holden and George Ray. I must think it is pretty good to spread it around like that. Watched National Geographic special on TV, “Our National Parks” - Great!
4/24/74 I tell myself that I have been reasonably careful with my eating but the best I have done is to lose 10# in 7 weeks. A slow process but we will stay with it for a bit.
4/25/74 Dr. Bill MacPherson stopped in for an interesting hour, then Frankie Johnson and Harry Oveson. The good weather is bringing them out of the woodwork. To Northernaire where we met the new owners and made a reservation for Clarks boat. A good visit. Lee Kulevar there and we went home with him. What a layout! Buck got into some squeaky ice coming back from his island.
4/26/74 After supper we went out to see what this beautiful sunshine day had done to the ice at Buck’s dock. Plenty. It won’t be long if this weather holds. Les Cleveland here at noon. He is getting stir crazy. Says he can stand it in town one more week.
4/27/74 George and Velna Rayman arrived about 1:30 p.m. Great to see them. Took them on a grand tour east of here. Highlight was seeing David Austin’s new log house. George showed slides of Mexican trip. He is a first rate photographer and we enjoyed his work. Good people to be with.
4/28/74 Drove out to Curtice dock and could see that there was small hope of going anywhere by boat. We took off for Canada by car instead. To Bears Pass, taking many side roads and stopping to take pictures. The finest kind of company. Interesting and interested. Back to #265 where George set up grill in front porch and cooked delicious steaks. What a guy! Saw pictures of Rainy Lake. I think they got the fever and will be back next summer. Hope so.
