8/13/79 Cold and windy and all hands at NWI seemed content to loaf. We have Byrne, Carole, Brad & Sheila here. The latter two were quarrelsome kids and haven’t grown out of it. Will argue on any subject at the drop of a hat. I can well remember how peed off I used to get with them and still do. They picked a fight with Byrne over a card game and he walked out - in the cold. They kept chewing the rag and shut up only when I threatened to throw them out. Carole very calm, outwardly. A real champion.
8/14/79 Talked over replacing water heater in laundry with Byrne and he agreed to do wiring. The 4 of us to town where we bought a unit from Corrin. We were about to start on job when Layna decided to wash clothes. Did. Our work will last until tomorrow.
8/15/79 Byrne and I at water heater by 8:30. I worked on plumbing and he on wiring. By 2:00 p.m. we had all systems on “go” - even had disposed of old heater. Layna on jury duty all day. Home at 4:30 to say she did not have to go back until Tuesday. Byrne and Carole took us to Island View for dinner. Good! Home via Gold Shores. Much reminiscing about deer hunting in olden days. Brad left for Duluth and points south with Vivian Sutch. He’ll be back, he says.
8/16/79 Picked up Layna and Carole and off for Ray’s island for blueberries. Each couple filled a Texas gallon - not bad. My thoughts on the Rays much of time. Will they ever enjoy their little island again? We aren’t doing anything spectacular to entertain Byrne and Carole but they seem to be enjoying themselves. I know we like their company. Along those lines - Carole has raked much of the area around the main house. She keeps busy. Letter from George Williams. They are headed this way. I’m not thrilled. It would be nice to be alone a few days before more company.
8/16/79 Byrne and Carole invited to Buck and Dale’s so we weren’t concerned about going to “do” at Sheldons’. A good gathering, Walters, Ketolas, Jim Watson, John Sheldon, Sam White. Plenty to eat and drink. A storm threatened at dark so party broke up early.
8/18/79 Byrne and Carole off on first leg of trip home. Layna and I to town at 3:00 p.m. Dave Ramnes had gear loaded for trip to Trout Lake. Arlin and Harry in soon after. To Rainy Lake Airways and landed at Arlin’s cabin at 5:00. A deluxe “shack” for sure. Carpeted floors and all that goes with it. A few drinks, big meal, gin rummy and to bed by 11:00 p.m. This is our 5th annual outing with Arlin - 1) 1975 - Spawn Inlet. 2) 1976 Tupman, 3) 1977 - Turtle Lake. 4) 1978 - Red Gut (at Ramnes cabin). 5) 1979 - Trout Lake. All memorable occasions but this looks like the best of all.
8/19/79 A great experience for me to be on Trout Lake again. Spike, Frank Weldon, Carl, LaFave, Ernie Maki, Banister, Dick Young, Curly, Don Eisenach, Major Roberts - on and on. Amazed myself at how well I remembered land marks. My last contact with area in 1947 except for brief trip with Eisenach in 1963. Fishing fair, we got about 20 good walleyes.
8/20/79 All hands up at 6:00 a.m. Harry answered bell, altho his cold miserable. Fishing by 7:30 and it was excellent. Caught fish in several different places. We had a limit so could experiment. I was high man with a dozen fish. Back to cabin by 10:30. Called plane to meet us early because of Harry’s cold. Cleaned up cabin, ate breakfast, put gear away and boarded plane at 3:30. At Falls by 5:00. Said goodbye to Harry & Arlin. As in past 4 years the party (all of it) on Arlin. Said he, “Thanks for coming with me!” George and Maria here when I arrived. A great reunion.
8/21/79 Etta, Tara and Erin at dock at 9:00. They had driven straight thru from Memphis. Etta had chance to talk to us concerning her troubles and it is a sad story. She is in a bind. We don’t know exactly where we fit in her plans. George and I thrashed the waters near home and got one keeper jackfish and one walleye. He seems happy to be throwing a plug. Much talk about us spending much of winter in San Miguel.
8/22/79 Ted Hall here for breakfast and 1 ½ hour visit. George bought $20.00 worth of advertising in Chronicle. It was part of a promotion scheme for San Miguel. No central heating, no air conditioning! I am a bit skeptical, remembering how good my long johns felt at times while there. Also Johnny and Sue for short visit. All gone by 7:30 (after great feed by Layna). George & Maria, Don and Layna sat and listened to concert by Etta and Erin. Good!
8/23/79 Much talk, mostly by Williams about us renting house for 4 months next winter in San Miguel. They make is sound very attractive but we have reservations.
8/24/79 George and Maria left without getting a commitment from us regarding a stay in San Miguel. The thought of being dominated for 4 months by those smart (literally) people scares hell out of me. Alone with Etta, Erin and Sheila. Much talk (much listening by me) concerning Etta’s past, present and future. No great solutions presented but I think she was relieved to talk about it. Erin an absolute gem - smart, well behaved, beautiful. Says she, “I love you, Grandpa,” and I answer, “I’m glad,” and always get a reaction. I took Etta to Edwards cabin despite wind and rain. A nostalgic trip for her - not sure it did any good.
8/25/79 Everyone up by 7:00 and on way by 8:30. Goodbye, kids, good luck, you’ll need it. All three (Etta, Tara, Erin) have plenty of stuff. Maybe I shouldn’t worry. When Layna and I were alone we talked over Mexican situation. The upshot was that we called George and Maria and said we would take house in San Miguel starting early in January. Better start working on your Spanish, Johnson.
8/26/79 Our Happy Shack 15 years old and Layna still finding ways to change things around. I have to admit that it gets better and better.
8/27/79 Wrote letters to Sharon, Opal and the Rays in a.m. - after I caught a good walleye off reef. My correspondence has hit an all-time low this summer and all 3 letters on a sad note.
8/28/79 A rainy, misty, windy, cloudy day but we were reasonably active thru it all. Rowed after mail and had a stiff pull from sandbar to Curtice Dock. Fast sailing coming home. I have been reading Shogun for second time. The blood and guts got to me tonight and I quit. Am I more sensitive or just a little more squeamish?
8/29/79 Tom Froehlich has been cutting lawn at #265 all summer and it is pretty ragged. I took mower down and gave it a good trimming. Home at 3:00 to learn that the Sam Whites had been here. DAMN. Strong NW wind which didn’t slow down much in evening but we took off for their place anyway. A rather rough ride. It was worth it. Great people. He says he will retire in October. 60 years old. Apparently they have the wherewithal to do it - health, mental and financial. Hope they find a place on Rainy Lake.
8/30/79 Letter from George Ray. They are not coming although apparently Ardys’ arm not too bad. They are unwilling to aggravate it at Rainy Lake. Layna put on a great feed for the Sam Whites, the Newharts and Les Cleveland. They came at 5:00 and left at 9:00. Much good talk. A new experience when all hands pitched in to do dishes - led by Stephanie. Good people.
8/31/79 First real downpour in summer of ’79. Strong winds, gusty and from every direction - out in worst of it and bailed and retied boats. Rather exhilarating. I thot we would call off fishing trip but Froehlichs showed up at 1:30. Rain had stopped and wind down somewhat. We (Jim, Tom and I) ran all the way to Crowrock Bay where I caught 2 4# jax for the days total.. A big feed for 5 Froehlichs, Sheila, Johnsons. They sat at table until dark. Jim reminded me that we had been neighbors for 12 years. It has been all good.
