4/29/74 I knew very well that neither George nor I would be happy if we didn’t make some kind of a run to island. Put boat in at Buck’s dock but stymied by ice at end of Stop Island. Ran on to Bald Rock and landed on Deer Island. Walked to Camp Koochiching and had coffee and good visit with Secrists. I think George enjoyed it. So did I, even tho we didn’t get to NWI. Looked at our Mexican pictures. Not as good technically as George’s, but covered a wider range of subjects. In p.m. we took ride to Rainy and Big Fork rivers. Saw where vandals had burned picnic table. Wish we hadn’t.
4/30/74 Took off from Falls at 9:00 in Raymans’ Chrysler - 55 mph in car that can cruise twice that fast. Stopped at Cloquet River and gave the Monahan proposed new home site a good going over. It is full of possibilities and we can see how Robin can be so enthusiastic about it. On to Sally & Jim’s by 4:30. Bid a fond farewell to Raymans. I think they enjoyed the visit as much as we enjoyed having them. All well with the Jernbergs. Sally’s kitchen superb - and she is justly proud. A good visit all around.
5/1/74 Layna and Sally full of “woman talk” and they proceeded with small interference from me. They are much alike, with a great deal in common. They don’t need the opinion of a mere man. I don’t contribute much. Sally took us to Lunds market where we saw practically every food known to man - at fabulous prices. What an affluent society which we are a poor part of!
5/2/74 Sally and Jim took us to bus depot at 1:45. Their plans for next summer as yet indefinite. Well, hopefully we will be at island when they decide to come. 30o when we arrived at Rex Hotel. Took cab home. Nothing had been disturbed. A good trip all in all. Wayne Judy called to say he had had a couple of bad spells while we were away and now was practically blind. What a damned pity!
5/3/74 Visited with Judys. They are both discouraged as well they might be. Wayne scheduled for surgery next week and worried that second operation won’t be lasting as was case with first. For short visit at Daveys. Harry has sold paper! This will change their life style - and probable have an effect on us.
5/4/74 After lunch we took off for island. Left Curtice dock and found no ice problem all the way home. Big lake covered as far as we could see. Stayed on island long enough to make coffee - made grand tour (no damage during winter) and off for #265.
5/5/74 Strong NE wind, cold (30o) and I had reason to be concerned over ice damaging dock at NWI. Decided there was nothing to do but worry. Heard that Lois & Marie’s dock wiped out. Bob Phillips’, too. Decided I had to know what was going on at island. Harry and I went. What a relief to round Schumachers’ point and see dock standing! To Daveys, then took off for ride on Canadian side. Went to Reef Point and saw Mando houseboat. A sad, sad sight. “No racket lasts forever, Johnson,” so have no regrets. On to Swell Bay where we looked at many, many cabins built in last few years. We all may change but not as fast as landscape of Rainy Lake in past 25 years.
5/6/74 To see Dr. Talsness in p.m. He took X-ray of chest, checked my prostate and said “All good, come back in a year.” Layna had checkup by Dr. Walter. He cut down on her blood pressure pills which seemed like a good indication. Lardy called to say that Wayne had called him from Madison saying that no surgery in sight for 2 months. He is being sent home. What a damned pity. Erle and Harriet Thompson out for a visit. Showed pictures. A good evening. They are conservative with their money - no - damned tight!
5/7/74 Received call from Green Mortuary. Owen Miggins died last night and family wants me as a pall bearer. Now wasn’t that a shock! He was full of plans for the future (including a visit to NWI) when I saw him just a month ago. While I worked at pulp yard these books were filled with allusions to Miggins. A closed chapter now.
5/9/74 Layna to Fort Frances and got information concerning her trip west with girls. Looks like they are really going. She was picked up at 6:30 for RLWC annual banquet. I decided to go to island. Did what I do best, fart around with a small boat on Rainy Lake. Ended up in slough on Dahlberg Island where a number of jackfish were spawning. Tried to get one with pike pole but no go. Fun trying.
5/10/74 To Owen Miggins funeral - pallbearers Fred Boeckh, Tom Savard, George Matthew, Roy Janson, Ed Christie. Two bearded young Lutheran ministers took turns talking on and on doing their best to comfort family and friends and only succeeded in making it worse. As we carried the casket out of the church door the rain, which had threatened for three days, really came down. Maybe God was trying to tell us something. Back to church where lunch was served for mourners. There were many of them.
5/13/74 To see the Judys in p.m. For the first time in our presence did Wayne come right out and say that he was discouraged. Well, a man of less firm stuff would have said it long ago - even years ago. We were there about an hour and I think he was in a better mood when we left. Peetsie due to come up for a month, which should help.
5/14/74 It has been raining off and on (almost steady) since Friday. I went to landing today and bailed Cadillac out. It was almost full. Harry and Bern brought their Gun Lake crappies out and Layna prepared a Weight Watchers feed. The weather has been lousy - cold and rainy. Many complaints on all hands. We don’t say much, but it is getting us down.
5/15/74 No rain but a cool 30o when we got up. Decided it was a good day for logging so gave new saw (and me) a workout. Both performed well as can be seen by new pile of wood in back yard. Cleaned up all branches and burned same. Timmy brought the two girls over for a Vancouver conference. They sound excited. Had a good chance to visit with Timmy for more than an hour. A good boy - and smart, too!
5/16/74 Lou Moe stopped in for drink. They came home last night from 6 weeks in Florida. A great time, and differing from most people, not sure they are glad to be back. To Supervisors meeting at Island View. A steak feed, Roy Manley guest of honor. A couple of long, poor speeches and off for home by 8:00 with Mike Shuppen.
5/17/74 To visit Buck’s island. Dale showed us around. Our son is a great workman - and versatile. A beautiful job on table and barbecue grill. To Lynches where we saw more evidence of good work but can’t overcome feeling of futility that hovers over whole setup. How can they make it go? Buck pulled in from buoy job. Done!
5/18/74 To island before noon. Got right at plumbing and by 3:00 I had water running in all buildings except big cabin. No breaks! Almost afraid to hook up big cabin. It has been going too good to last. Stayed first night on island.
5/22/74 Had short visit with Buck while I was waiting for Layna at landing. He has had a helluva rough month trying to get place (and Coast Guard) ready. I know what he is up against from my own experience of years gone by and can truly sympathize. Hit 160# today, very, very gratifying.
5/23/74 Decided to work on getting some semblance of order in shop. Got side tracked when I tried to start old Homelite saw. Finally got it going, gave it a good cleaning and then tried it on 16” log. It cut it like cheese!
5/24/74 To town at 9:30. Shopped. At 11:00 we went to visit the Judys. Peetsie there, looking great. All three getting set to go to Happy Shack. It doesn’t take much imagination to visualize what is going through those 3 minds. A year ago now I was in Northwestern Hospital after surgery (twice). I came home weak as a kitten, and worried. We had help from Buck and boys to move. Now we are doing it alone, and I feel great! To Randy Kirk’s wedding in Fort Frances at 7:00. Invited to house with immediate family. Much good talk - fine people, all.
5/25/74 With Robin’s good help, I launched Starcraft. It went fine. Picked up around beach than on to Les Cleveland’s for a drink. Robin & Karen in canoe, Layna and I in rowboat. We saved 39 drops of gas, which is our contribution to the energy crisis. More than most people.
