Johnson Journals part 379

Our first scare when we found gas station closed. The next one open. All well.

A small scare when Sally discovered she had lost her glasses. We went back, less than a mile, and she found them in room. Sally and Layna took turns at driving. Sally a joy! So is Layna!

Paid $1.30 a gallon for gas! Self-service. Stopped at Northfield to see Tim. He said that Mary Kay had had an 8 ½# boy. She was weak from flu so at parents’ home. Baby fine.

To see Opal Judy. She was in wheel chair in hall. She says she is getting numb over much of her body. Very frightening.

3/6/80 Arrived at K & R at 5:00 - nobody home. They came before 6:00. A warm welcome. Much to talk about. We are almost home.

3/7/80 On road by 10:00 a.m. No snow on highway. Stopped at Orr for gas ($1.26 per gallon) and lunch ($7.00) and on home. Everything working at #265. To Falls and bought bonds for Froehlich kids. A token of our appreciation. Called Dale. Buck up lake. All well there. Started to read mail.

3/8/80 To see Ice Follies put on by local talent. Linda Froelich in it. A great show. Rather cold in arena. Reminded me of Casa Rolfe in San Miguel.

3/9/80 To see Buck and Dale in a.m. Much to talk about. They have put in a good winter. Only side trip a jaunt to see their new grandson, returning via Jayme and Maggie’s. Buck busy at island. He showed us some furniture he has made for there. Clever man! Home for lunch and siesta. Hard to break habit. Not sure that I want to. Buck and Dale’s dog, Snuffer, killed during winter - replaced by a pup, Tyke.

3/10/80 By reading obituaries, I learn that we lost a number of friends while gone. Celia Peterson, Esther Houska, Paul Kinports, Ray Brunette, Tom Helling, Old Man Jaffray – (on his 80th birthday on the Mando said “I haven’t an enemy in the world. I’ve outlived them.”)

3/11/80 Bern here for supper. She talked steady about her trip out west. I seriously doubt if she knows we went to Mexico.

3/12/80 Spent much of day reviewing our finances and bringing account book up to date. Each year we gain monetarily but our purchasing power drops due to inflation. We went to see Kramer vs. Kramer. A fine acting performance all around. We ate a $1.25 container of popcorn!

3/13/80 Crow. Got pictures back from Mexican trip. Better than average. Layna to RLWC meeting at RRJr. College. I went to George Stoiber’s lecture there on Wilderness Experience. Not spectacular but worthwhile.

3/17/80 Sheila called about 2:00 p.m. I was sitting at bar and when I got up to answer phone, I got tangled in stool and fell heavily on floor. Half stunned. Layna talked to Sheila. She plans to return to Duluth in April. Lou Moe spending a week on job in Ranier. Layna invited her for enchilada feed. Gene Monahan, too. Gene talked about Ober’s estate. Damn near a horror story.

3/18/80 Layna to Republican meeting at 8:30. I decided to give income tax a good go and did. I see hope for finishing it in one more session. To Buck’s for short stay. He has another pile of 10 cords of ash to work on - doing well.

3/19/80 Kali Thompson called to say that her mother had had a heart attack in Oklahoma City. We are worried.

3/20/80 Put tax forms in envelope. DONE! Lou Moe out for dinner. Much recapping of Gene Monahan’s story of last Monday. She agreed that it was a helluva mess - and not much hope for improvement.

3/21/80 Felt we could celebrate a little on income tax so to Island View for supper. Paid $30.00 for one drink and shrimp, but it was excellent. Saw posting of guide fees for 1980. $95 for two people, $105 for three and $120 for four. It brought to memory my guiding at NWI in 1945. $10.00 a day for me and outfit and I rowed most of time. Stopped at Seegerts. A mass layoff at Insulite coming up and altho Norman thinks he will survive, it is a bit scary. The threat of gas shortage next summer and its consequences on resort business another worry.

3/23/80 Lisa picked me up as I was out walking in a.m. She brought me home and a good visit followed. A fine young lady. Terry and Sig came about 4:00 p.m. Much to talk about. They are staying in Gene Monahan’s house. When they left at 5:45 we took off for Bern’s house where we had been invited for supper. A good meal and good talk. I enjoyed it.

3/24/80 The license plate bracket on the car broke off some time ago. It warmed up today so I got at it. Drilled new holes and it is back in place. A good job - I needed it as I have not been very handy with my hands lately. Wrote a note to Harriet Thompson who is recuperating from a heart attack in Oklahoma. Hard to know what to say. Buck here for coffee. He is still involved in Coast Guard Auxiliary. We have dropped out. My left leg shaking quite badly. Have an appointment with Dr. Walter tomorrow.

3/25/80 To see Dr. Walter about my trembling. My fears well founded. He said that I was in early stages of a form of Parkinsons disease. Thot it could be the result of a virus picked up many years ago (1910-20). He assured me that he could prescribe pills to arrest it. I am not alarmed - neither is Layna.

3/26/80 Started to take pills for my “shakes” this a.m. I checked my reflexes throughout the day and told myself I could detect a definite improvement! Psychologists must have a name for that kind of thinking.

3/27/80 The snow on the roof is about 2 feet deep. Today we had a thaw and the melted snow water backed up and it began to drip near windows in kitchen. I borrowed Froehlichs’ ladder and got up on roof and cleared ice. Not bad for an old man. I sure was careful!

3/29/80 Finally steamed up the power table saw and made frame to go around the picture of Sheila in the canoe. Looks darn good. Should do more of same.

3/30/80 In 1942 we went on a hunting expedition to Spawn Inlet area and on into Trout Lake. I wasn’t keeping a diary in those days but kept a day to day account in a note book. Today I found a 1942 diary that I had a few notations in. I copied the account of the hunt into the book. It gives an idea of a typical Johnson/Harrison operation back in those days.

3/31/80 Made picture frame for our 1969 gathering of the clan. Took time out to look at each of the 22 people and compare them with what they are now - some changes. Well, nothing stands still for 11 years.

4/1/80 Primary elections in Wisconsin and Iowa. Reagan and Carter heavy winners. What a Goddamn pity if we should have to vote for either one of those lightweights in November.

4/2/80 Stopped at hospital to visit Ted Hall. His ulcer kicking up - and knowing of his troubles with the Chronicle and Ober’s estate, I can see why. When I got home Vivian was there. She is still of the opinion that Christ is looking over her shoulder and monitoring every movement.

4/3/80 To see Dr. Walter who said I was doing fine. He told me to take charge of the dosage I should take in order to balance my “tremors”.

4/4/80 K and R pulled in about 7:30 - before we had a chance to start worrying. Bobby racing around on his own two legs. Still can’t talk but makes his wants known in other ways.

4/5/80 To town with Robin. He has made plans to build 3 lamps. The 3 boards cost $15.00. I thought it unreasonable until I bought one quart of paint for backroom at $6.00. Robin, with some help from me, made good progress on the lamps. He knocked off when people started to come. Shuppens, Les, Buck, Dale, Terry, Sig, Ruth McLinn, Bern, the 4 Froehlichs - all had wine, cake, coffee. The phone was busy too. Calls from Jim Banks, Byrne, Jane, Sally - all my kids accounted for. Great!