Johnson Journals part 393

6/10/81 Harry and I gave fish one more chance to get caught by us. They didn’t do it. We decided to go home via Buck Lake. My folks built the cabin there in 1914. I, at the age of 8 years, walked the 3 ½ miles to the Hietels farm where school was held. We moved back to Hibbing at Christmas. No snow and I walked behind the horse drawn buckboard the full 25 miles. We moved back in 1918 and I attended a new school 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. Those were the formative years of my life. I owe much to that period. Incidentally, the clearing that we made by brute strength is overgrown, and the house and barn in disrepair.

6/11/81 To island in a.m. Power off which prompted a call to REA. Repair made by late p.m. We pumped out boats and back to 265 before noon. Wrote letter to Burrocks. Dick due for heart surgery next week. How insignificant my sore leg, yes, even the Parkinsons, in comparison with what they are going through.

6/12/81 We paid $1800 to ADM for the 1970 Starcraft. Gene Rasmussen told us today that it is still worth about $3000. A new one about $10,000. He didn’t want to buy it!

6/13/81 Bill Boyd and Dougal here for supper. Robin too. Dougal an interesting 11 year old. Asks sensible questions. A walking encyclopedia of baseball past and present. Dean Minter stopped for information on fishing. I could not give him any first hand stuff. Don’t have any.

6/14/81 At Dr. Walters suggestion we went to Bald Rock and talked to Ericksons concerning Camp Koochiching buying their place. No go. One of the factors was a deal they had with Chris Oien. They will take care of him as long as he needs them. I am not sure that the doctor (or camp people) fully understand such conduct.

6/15/81 Clear skies most of day and we dug in flower gardens. About done. No “profusion of bloom” anticipated, but it will be adequate.

6/16/81 Layna to town. I stopped off at #265 to mow lawn. It was overgrown because of wet weather and it developed into quite a project. Our sewer line plugged. A bottle of Plumbers Helper eased it a little but I anticipate serious trouble.

6/17/81 A terrific wind, up to 55 MPH and much to worry about concerning island. We went out to landing and found 16’ Cadillac leaping wildly on windy side of dock. We somehow got it pulled around to lee side but gave up all thoughts of going to island. Bern Minter invited us out for dinner. Sue there. She is one of our favorite people- Johnny too. He was home in Billings with a bum back. Learned later that Buck and Tim had come from Curtice Island to dock in worst part of hurricane in houseboat on one engine. Frightening.

6/19/81 Tim came to help and we had septic tank cover clear by noon. I called Rud’s pumping service and they came at 3:00. The tank was a heavy mass right to bottom. Intake plugged too. It hadn’t been pumped for at least 6 years – and showed it.

6/20/81 About 3:30 Layna stepped on a marble on stairs and twisted her ankle when she fell. A painful deal. She tried to ignore it but it kept getting worse. We put an ice pack on it at bed time. She put in a restless night.

6/21/81 Robin came out at 9:00 a.m. and brought bandage for Layna’s ankle. He wrapped it up and it felt good enough to let her go with us to Ober’s Island for breakfast. We didn’t stay long. Layna limping around, not complaining. Sally called to say that she and Nancy were coming here on Saturday. Happy Father’s Day. No word from our sons, but our adopted son, George Rayman called and talked 20 minutes.

6/22/81 With Tim’s brawny help, we launched the Starcraft. A couple of tense moments when it looked like we might tear the outdrive off but no damage done. Another good discussion with Tim. He is well informed. Layna’s ankle showed some improvement. Had a great thrill when a full grown otter almost ran over me near lower dock.

6/23/81 Picked up Mary Kay at 9:00. She helped Layna most of day, when she wasn’t taking care of little Danny. I tell myself that the Johnson offspring show signs of good breeding. Layna’s ankle much better.

6/24/81 Picked up new battery for Starcraft. $40. Plus picked up the little Monahans at 4:30. Robin made us decide to stay at #265. The kids acting their age- whatever that means. Saw otter at lower dock. A real thrill.

6/25/81 To island before noon. Anxious to try new battery in Starcraft. It took off with a minimum of trouble. Went to Ray’s- what a reunion! A friendship since 1929. Very precious. Had one drink. Just at dark a boat pulled into our dock. Artie Lee- SOBER! We served coffee. He stayed 2 hours. A most interesting visit. After he left we hugged each other. It was like a prodigal son coming home.

6/26/81 Flat calm, clear and warm. An unusual day for this so-called summer. The kids still with us and I do believe we are earning a certain amount of respect. Maybe because, “we are bigger.” I worked on Starcraft much of day. Some improvements, but oh how slowly I move! In and out of boat many, many times, each trip a potential dunking. K & R at dock at 5:00 p.m. A picnic on the island then took the whole family back. We are alone? How can I tell them that they are overdoing the baby-sitting act? Carol Schumacher came to get ice in their I-O. Hans came from town in their outboard. He pulled into our dock and his mother said, “Go straight home, your father wants to see you.” Said Hans, “Is he going to lecture?” “No,” said Carol. Said Hans, “If he’s going to lecture I’m not going home!”

6/27/81 I met Sally and Nancy at noon. They brighten a dreary day. Despite rain I picked up K & R and kids about 4:00 p.m. A big feed and all hands slept on NWI. Made a list of activities that I formerly enjoyed. I can look myself right on and say “the old man ain’t what he used to be.”

[note paper tucked in back of journal reads: ]

square dancing

letter writing

fishing (almost) winter too

rowing (almost)

sex

canoeing

duck hunting

deer hunting

story telling

reading (almost)

Spanish- Mexico

driving car

good health

good memory

cards (almost)

friends (died)

photography

Mando Houseboat

6/28/81 I begged off going to Ober’s island for breakfast. K & R, their 3 kids, Layna and Sally went leaving Nancy and me on island. We got along fine. She is a good kid but confused. Rays here at 4:00 p.m. What friends they are- 53 years of it.

6/29/81 Layna, Sally and I to Rays’ for dinner. No one, even our good cooks can understand how Ardys can turn out such meals with her limited facility. George and I sat on his “shooting rock” for about an hour. We have much to talk about.

6/30/81 Sally was weeding the flower gardens when I got up at 7:30. She and Nancy left with Layna after lunch. Letter from Eleanor Burrock. Dick is recovering from heart surgery and doing well. She thanked us for our prayers, which led me to think- as Father Upson said, “the Lord quite often is attentive to an unfamiliar voice.”

7/1/81 To landing at 5:30 to pick up Dave and Helen Ramnes and then to Musket Inn where we were guests of Daily Journal, the reward for Layna predicting the ice out date. I was amazed at the amount of work that the Lynches have put in that place- a real treat. Left there about 8:00 and on to Curtice Island where buck, Terry and Sig were holding fort. The Ramneses were duly impressed.

7/2/81 The highway between Fort Frances and Dryden was opened last year. We have been looking for someone to share the trip with us, and today we made it with George and Ardys Ray. I wish we could go around the world with those two. We furnished car, and the Rays the lunch. We came out ahead! We took Rays back to their boat and waited for Johnny Jernberg who arrived at 9:30. We were at NWI at 10:15. No sooner had we pulled into dock before Hans and Mike showed up. What a trio.