9/28/79 “Last night’s spectacular thunderstorm” was all of that. We discovered this morning that a bolt had struck a tall white pine less than 25 feet from our Happy Shack. It followed the ground about 15 feet where it apparently was grounded by the gas line. No wonder our cabin shook! A close call for sure, as much of a miracle as the airplane missing Karsnia’s house. Much putting away at NWI. There is a division of labor but Layna seems to keep the busiest. Our activity broken up for an hour or two by Kurt Lysne and Gertie Maki dropping in. He was full of big talk about an engineering job he was going to in Brazil. I wish I could tell if he is awfully smart or awfully full of bullshit. More than likely, he is both.
9/29/79 Buck here by 8:00. By 9:00 a.m. we had loaded boat, unloaded same into van, and unloaded van into house at #265. A good stroke of business - a good crew. I went to meeting of Border Lakes Ass’n. An interesting gathering. We voted to donate $5000 to Crane lake Ass’n to help fight federal legislation affecting them - and indirectly us. Jim Banks stopped for an hour or so. Good visit. Layna put away all the stuff we hauled from island. Layna, Sheila and I back to island for the night.
9/30/79 Buck’s 53rd birthday. I don’t need my few relatively minor aches and pains to tell me I am getting old. However, as I told Buck yesterday, “I may not be the man I once was but I am twice the man I was last spring!” With Sheila’s help we picked up another great load of stuff and back to 265. Robin and John Shifsky stopped in to report on events at Ober’s Island over weekend. There had been a clash of Indian and white man’s cultures over the use of Ober’s drum. Sounded interesting.
10/1/79 Buck at island by the time we arrived at 9:30. We had Starcraft out of water by 11:00. We worked in a straight line. I cleaned bottom of boat, winterized engine, then Layna came down and we covered it up. It looks like a Christmas package. Another load of stuff. One more should do it.
10/2/79 For years I have drained plumbing system entirely alone. This year Layna pitched in and did a good share of the inside work. We were finished by early afternoon. Another load of stuff, mostly from deep freeze. We are moved!
10/3/79 Dan Clark here at 3:30. We chewed rag for couple of hours before off for Island View for dinner. He is as full of hot air as ever - maybe more. Spoke of a $750,000 cotton crop. I didn’t feel ashamed when he picked up check. He stopped back at #265 for more talk, then off for ranch at 9:30. We didn’t go to inspect his island because of damnable weather.
10/5/79 Don Thomas came at 8:00 a.m. to check on squeak in furnace motor. A bearing shot (due to lack of oil) He replaced it (the motor) and it cost $75.14. There goes our SS raise. Wandered around NWI not feeling sad for having moved. It would not be fun in this damnable weather.
10/6/79 At 2:00 p.m. we went to a Shaklee meeting at Helen Routier’s. A glib team of salespersons gave a great pitch for The Shaklee products. Much of it seemed reasonable but I am over cautious in that kind of a deal. The last part of lecture was describing the financial setup and the gist was that with the proper amount of effort, one could get rich, or near rich, building a sales organization on one’s own. Now that I am home, I can think of many questions. Number one being “What does the Food and Drug Administration think of laymen peddling these cure-alls?”
10/7/79 The Moes here for dinner. Cliff all set to take off for Florida next Thursday. He is gradually cutting all ties with Minnesota and seems to have but few regrets. Dr. Walter gave him a clean bill of health. He said on leaving, “I have every reason in the world to believe that I’ll see you next summer.” I believe him.
10/8/79 Lisa came for visit in p.m. She stayed a couple of hours. Full of sensible talk. She has her feet on the ground. She is off for Little Falls to be with Jayme and Maggie next Thursday. We were pleased that she found that much time to spare for the old folks.
10/9/79 A busy day at #265. The fuel line from tank has been kinked for a number of years. Today I replaced it. Had some difficulty with flared fittings but ended up with a no leak job. We signed up for Shaklee products - due to good sales pitch by Helen Routier.
10/11/79 Buck, Dale & Lisa stopped in on way to Little Falls. They left their dog, Snuffer, with us. We will take care of him for a few days. I cut down big poplar back of shed.
10/12/79 Studied vitamin charts from Shaklee. Decided to take some pills. Wonder whet Dr. Walter would say. Read from Truer’s, Voyageurs Park. Not bad. Jim Banks and Jackie here for good visit in evening. We value that friendship. Got a helluva scare when we thought that Snuffer was sick. He pulled out of it after we had called veterinarian, what a relief!
10/13/79 Finished reading Robert Truer’s Voyageurs Park. According to him, the great majority of the natives were for the park. That ain’t the way we saw it - “and we were right there.”
10/14/79 Buck and Dale back from Little Falls. We were happy to be able to deliver a healthy dog. I said “Goodbye, little faker”. He wagged his tail. I think he knew what I meant.
10/15/79 Buck and I to island where we pulled out Larson boat. Only one Cadillac left. When Buck left, I winterized 3 motors & drained septic tank.
10/17/79 I split wood for a while but my heart not in it. Kept thinking about all those bass left to be caught. Called Buck who came after me at noon. I was fishing by 1:30. Kept at it for 2 ½ hours without a nibble. I took it very philosophically, making myself believe it was better to be out facing reality (it was a fine day) than to be home fantasizing over the fish I should be catching.
10/18/79 To Les Cleveland & Marie’s new apartment at noon. Very cozy. It didn’t slow down their arguments, however. On to Holiday Inn for lunch. Les is still trying (and succeeding) to show his appreciation for favors, real and imaginary, done by the Johnsons of Norway Island over a period of years. We think that he gave as much as he received. We miss him as a neighbor.
10/19/79 Vivian Sutch out for lunch and stayed until 5:30. Much “girl talk”. She says she will not accept the new Susan B. Anthony dollars because she heard that Sue was an atheist.
10/20/79 Buck is putting siding on his garage and wanted some planks for scaffolding. It was raining but we went to island after them anyway. Stopped at Williams’ new house - quite a development. Layna and I took long walk after lunch, stopping at Harry Oveson’s to ask him for supper. He came. A good meal, and visit, followed.
10/21/79 Lou Moe here at noon to help us (me) watch Viking beat Chicago 27-24. The 3 of us to Seegerts for short visit after game. Busy people. Rumors flying at BCC concerning layoffs of management personnel and Norman a bit worried. DAMN.
10/22/79 A drizzly day. We spent much of it sorting out written material in my bedroom drawers. Dug into a bunch of old Mando correspondence. Some fine fan letters gave me a lift. Much, much accumulation of less important stuff went in the fireplace.
10/23/79 Off for Irene MacKellar’s at 5:15. We were joined by Bill and Nonnie Reid - also Signe Green. A couple of drinks, a goose dinner and good talk before a roaring fire in fireplace. We stayed on after rest left. More good talk. Said I on leaving, “You are our favorite Canadian”. She thanked me with a big hug.
10/25/79 I was short of straw for septic tank. Took scythe out of retirement and cut enough hay near home to do job. Reminded me of haying at Buck Lake.
10/26/79 On road to Brainerd by 8:30 - arriving at 12:30. A warm welcome. Some wine, some food, a nap and off for tour of area. The Daveys are considering moving to a new apartment building and showed us the location. We like the present place better but no one asking our opinion.
