9/6/81 After lunch Jayme and Maggie and Baby dropped in. Much to talk about for young people- good listening for oldsters.
9/7/81 The Monahans and Shifskys off for home after lunch. Just as well. The 6 little kids were getting to grandma and grandpa. We had been invited to go to Cummings for dinner but almost called it off because of rough water. We, against my so-called better judgment, went anyway and had a good time with those fine people. I am glad we went.
9/8/81 Layna and I to see Dr. Walter. He said that Layna was doing well with her thyroid pills. He flushed out my ears- very painful, but my hearing improved immediately. He told me to keep taking pills, “Come back in two months.” Etta, Richard and Erin spent day in Fort. Home at midnight.
9/10/81 We took the Jenkinsons for a boat ride. Stopped in at Edwards’ cabin. Etta carried on the old family tradition of making big plans with not a chance of carrying them out.
9/11/81 A tearful farewell to Etta, Richard and Erin. They were on the road by 9:00. To Einarson for dinner party at 6:00. Bev and George Mylenchuck, Bruce and Lois Caldwell, Don and Layna plus 6 Einarsons. Frances and Joyce perfect hosts. She put on a giant spread. He kept the conversation going with adroit questions. All and all I can’t remember a better evening.
9/12/81 The three Monahan kids and sitter here all day. Good God, what a rowdy gang. When they say child abuse they must mean abuse from kids to parents.
9/13/81 Birthday party for Cliff at their place on Black Bay. Much food, drink, and talk, talk, talk. Cliff admits to 80 years and I am sure that no one there could top that. However, there were a number of 75 year ancients made it. A strong NW wind made boat landing hazardous but no problems.
9/14/81 Picked up the Raymans at noon. Surely they are our favorite guests, eager to be of some use. George and I had part of dock off and had made a decision as to how we could bring up the sag. Tomorrow will tell if we are on right track. Robin had talked to Charlie Kelly as to our estate planning. He (Kelly) was supposed to come to NWI and talk things over. I went after him and he said he would like to have Karen and Robin in on planning. He will be back. More planning then. We are babes in the woods in dealing with lawyers.
9/15/81 Layna’s birthday. Duck season opening in Canada. It means nothing to me anymore. Duck season that is. George and I hard at big dock all day. We knocked off in time to go to “Spot” for dinner. Monahans, Raymans and Johnsons. A good group. Back to K and R for dessert. Home in chilly, moonlit night. A good day.
9/16/81 Off for Dryden. Sunny but cool. Had picnic lunch on bank of Big Sawbill Lake. Rosie Fitch and I took a canoe trip into it in 1931. Memories, memories. On to Dryden. Saw 2 bear, one alive, one dead. To Grandma’s Pantry for fish dinner. A busy day.
9/17/81 A full day on dock. We worked in a straight line and much accomplished. I wish George Rayman was a little less persnickety. I get irritated and almost sound off but realize he is a real champion in most respects.
9/18/81 We swept the shavings off the dock to wind up a job well done. I criticized George’s attention to detail yesterday. Now I know that it would have taken me a week to do it, in my prime.
9/19/81 George and Velna were off for home at 1:30. Someone had stolen most of their gasoline. Also buggered door locks. NUTS! They had been here 5 full days, one of which we drove to Dryden. The rest of time on dock. A strange vacation but they seem to enjoy it.
9/21/81 Layna to town with list of things to do. I stayed at 265 and mowed lawn. The last time in 1981. In keeping with my newfound awkwardness, I fell into dining area with an armful of wood. More scared than hurt. Layna too. Had coffee with Jim and Barit. They seem to be glad that we will soon be neighbors again.
9/22/81 Went after Karen and kids at 5:00 and Gary and Sydney at 6:00. Supper, dessert, good talk. I hated the idea of going back to landing in dark. Layna sensed it and took them. I am getting worse each day.
9/23/81 Dare White called to say that they were at Bears Pass heading this way to arrive at 5:00. They hit it right on. Layna from town at 2:00 and prepared a feast. Bill strictly on the wagon, and a good thing. Dare drinking moderately, she holds her liquor quite well. We chewed the rag until 10 p.m. They then went to bed in the Wee Mando.
9/24/81 Blueberry pancakes for the White’s breakfast and they left for Bears Pass at 9:30. I think they enjoyed their visit, altho so short. Buck arrived at 12:15 with 18 women Republicans for meeting. Layna and I busy putting things away. Summer is gone. Helen Anderson called Layna to tell her how much the group enjoyed their outing and the way it was handled. A well-earned accolade (Harry’s word).
9/25/81 Buck came at 8:30, had breakfast. We had Starcraft out of water by 10:30. He works in a straight line. Not so his father. I was getting along fairly well on winterizing the boat when I ran into a snag oiling the lower unit.
9/26/81 Gerald Wagness picked me up at 9:30 and off for Border Lakes Ass’n meeting at Island View. The usual entertainment listening to Rudy Erickson tell how much money we had. I don’t know why we don’t spend some of it. The bright spot was talking to Arden Barnes. What a gal! Layna and I to Schumachers for dinner. Jon Talsness and Betty there. Very flattered when Jon said that Don and Layna gave touch of real class to the people on Rainy Lake!
9/28/81 Wind still pretty wild but we kept plugging along putting island away for winter. Layna packed boxes and bags. The guides room floor is covered. I drained plumbing in big cabin.
9/29/81 Despite the strong east wind pounding into our dock we decided to move. Buck came with pontoon boat. Also a cart to haul the stuff from house to boat. He had the company van at landing so cart came in play again. An unbeatable combination operated by an unbeatable man. We were unloaded at 265 by 10:00. Said Layna, “I got out of bed at 8:00- look what we accomplished.”
9/30/81 Karen drove into yard- about 10:00 a.m. Her eyes were red from crying. It took some doing for me to understand that Karen was talking about divorce. She outlined her relationship with Robin from the time she first met him until now. It all boiled down to the old problem- lack of communication. All I got out of it was a sense of frustration at my inability to help. My strongest emotion was pity. Poor K & R, poor little kids, poor grandma. I even feel sorry for myself. She had an appointment with lawyer, Rick Mollin, at 1:30. Layna called her after supper hoping to learn the outcome but found Karen very non-committal. Buck’s birthday. We joined Dale in buying him a Workmate bench. He will use it.
10/1/81 The “Today Show” said that Int’l Falls had 2 inches of snow. A slight exaggeration. However, it was cold and windy enough to keep us off the lake. The sun came out at 2:00 and away we went. Layna packed enough stuff so we had a good load to take home to 265.
10/2/81 When I arrived at island at 9:00 a.m. Buck was on the job. We pulled out Edward’s boat, also our Larson. Buck put the motors in the shop. I told him that he had done his best and he took off- with my gratitude. A busy day for old man Johnson. Greased the lower units of 6 motors, drained the plumbing, packed ice for deep freezer. Ran into the usual number of snags, which I took very calmly. I had need to lift the 15 HP motors and was amazed at how much they had gained in weight during the summer.
