Johnson Journals part 300

3/7/75 After a tearful farewell, we took off for Duluth. We had a good chance to evaluate our friends’ setup and agreed that they had much going for them. Not positive that Harry will be able to adapt as well as Bern. We pulled into Duluth at 3:30. Karen, Robin and Little Chris doing fine. Cheri Swanson there. She and Karen old friends - and we can see why. Laird for dinner. He is taking Coast Guard exams and looked a bit pooped.

3/8/75 Off for home by 10:30. Good traveling and home by 6:30. A good trip. Much reading to catch up on.

3/9/75 A lazy morning. At 2:30 we went to Black Bay to see the fishing derby put on by the friends of Frank Bohman in his behalf. A mob, maybe 2000 people there. A huge success. Buck and Dale active in preparations and execution. The old folks kicked in their $4.00, and that was all.

3/10/75 To town at 11:00 and young Dr. Orwich removed the last of the stitches from my thumb. Stopped in to see Wayne for a few minutes. He is doing OK according to his standards. Rev. Anderson called to outline what I should give in the way of a “message” to his group next Wednesday. My heart is not in it, altho I have hopes of warming up to it later.

3/11/75 Harry Oveson back from a winter in the west and southwest. I visited him for an hour. He gave me an elaborate description of the Mt. Kitt observatory near Tucson. All very much over my head. We will get more of same when he comes for dinner Friday night. What a brain!

3/12/75 Spent most of day pacing up and down trying to work up a talk for tonight’s presentation at Virgil Anderson’s church. One would think I was preparing to address congress. We had no idea what we were getting into. A bit alarmed when we arrived at church to see parking lot almost full. Downright panic when we saw church more than half full of people. We almost got the hell out of there when we learned it was to be a regular Lenten service and we were billed to give sermon! I balked at offer to speak from pulpit, knowing full well that lightening might strike at any minute. Layna and I sat in front pew. Anderson gave a glowing introduction and we swung into action. I called on Layna, when about ½ way thru, and she told of Mexican wedding - loud and clear. I sure was proud. It was finally over and we got a big hand, which I thot unusual in a church. A social session shortly after in basement and many, many people came to thank us and tell us how well we had done. All in all a very gratifying experience. Home to read from Bible, not because I caught religion, but to check up on things the Pastor had said. He will never land me!

3/13/75 We have known for some time, years actually, that the basement is a poor place for our books. We have been kicking around various ideas as to what was best and today decided to go all out and build a wall sized shelf in my bedroom. Ordered lumber, at $.50 a square foot! Les Cleveland came out for a visit in p.m. As always good company. He, like us, is eagerly awaiting breakup.

3/14/75 The lumber for my book case came this morning. $33.00 worth. It would be better to cut my hand again than spoil one of those boards with a wrong cut. Harry Oveson for dinner. A fine way to spend an evening talking with this interesting man.

3/15/75 I steamed up the Scorpion, ran down Birch Point Road and off we went to island. Going pretty good for snowmobile. Not so good for us when we had to crawl up to island on all fours because of drifted snow. Hard getting around. We decided not to move up yet.

3/16/75 The buck I shot last fall on Deer Island has been hanging in shed for about 4 months. Pulled him into basement last night. Still frozen this a.m. and I had helluva time getting hide off. At one point, had I had the power, I would have breathed life into him and let him go. Now he is skinned, cut up, wrapped and in freezer. It would take a lot of money to get him from me now.

3/17/75 Took after bookcase project in earnest this a.m. Ted Hall came out for lunch. He stayed 2 ½ hours. Time well spent with this interesting man. The Finstad, Erickson, Bloom relationship got plenty of copy - none of it malicious. I wonder if Don and Layna get that kind of scrutiny when he is with others - Gene Monahan, for instance. I finished book case by supper. It needs painting. To Coast Guard Auxiliary meeting. We are doing this because of Buck.

3/18/75 At 5:00 I went after Jill and Lisa. We were joined later by Dave and Helen Ramnes and their two kids, Jim & Denise. A good evening followed. Talk, ping pong, good food and finally pictures of Rainy Lake. I think they enjoyed it. I know we did.

3/19/75 I painted in my bedroom until time to take off with Judy, fishing. To Hope Lake for change. We tried a couple of places and all we caught was a mess of very small perch. Just before dark we got 3 good jax - in 4# class. Rain started about 4:00 p.m. but we stayed with it. My old buddy is blind - but tough. All in all a good day, both of us wondering “How many more do we get together?” Wayne always talks about “the next one.” Layna picked me up at 8:30. She is nice to come home to.

3/20/75 Harry Davey called to say they were at Holiday Inn and wanted us to come in for dinner at 5:00. A glad reunion. Good talk and at 6:00 we were joined by Nancy and Tom & Pammy. Down for dinner. The kids left early and we took off for the Ramnes’ house. A fun time. We are getting to know these fine people and they impress us. Helen a ball of fire (a very small one) and says some mighty clever things. Dave and Jim hold their own. Denise rather quiet.

3/21/75 We finished painting my bedroom; closets, bookshelves, trim, the works. It looks good. Even hauled a few books out of basement.

3/22/75 At 9:00 p.m. we picked up Brad and friend, Pat Smith. They plan on taking a camping trip. Their first idea was to go to Edwards Island but settled for Dahlbergs. We will do what we can to get them started. Pat rather quiet but high class. He says he has had some experience in winter camping. They may need it.

3/23/75 Brad and Pat all gung-ho about getting started on their camping trip. I drove them to Atsokan dock and loaded gear on toboggan and off for NWI. We had lunch in shop, they picked up a few supplies and off for narrow place on Dahlberg’s Island. “See you Thursday,” they said. Wonder if they will tough it out that long. At 5:00 the Judys picked Layna and me up and off to the Myrl Brooks home. A very pleasant evening followed. He is not happy with Irv Anderson - and says so.

3/24/75 We missed the January blizzard because we were in Mexico but got in on a dandy today. Heavy snow and wind up to 35 mph. Temperatures around 10o. Buck called about 10:30 to ask about Brad and Pat. At 2:00, Brad called to say that Buck had picked them up with snowmobile and they were at his house. We went after them. Brad seemed most happy to have a roof over his head, but Pat acted as tho he was being cheated out of a camping trip.

3/25/75 Our boys decided they wanted to get back to their camp. We gave them some additional clothes, a piece of canvas and away they went. Now what? Layna and I to Coast Guard Auxiliary meeting. Again it was interesting and informative with Buck doing teaching.