1/1/82 Volume XXXVII 20o below. The annual decision - do I keep my diaries going or do I junk the whole works. See January 1. 1981. Layna put on a Mexican feed for the following - Karen, Robin and 3 kids, Gene Monahan, 2 Wunderlich girls, Tara, Don and Layna. All ate like true Mexicans. Robin left about 2 p.m., taking the doll house with him.
1/2/82 Layna took Tara to bus at 8:00. We did nothing spectacular to entertain her on her two weeks’ stay but the time went swiftly. A well-adjusted kid. It has been interesting to watch her develop. Sarah here all day. No problems when she was alone. But when we sat down to at supper with Karen, Chris got mad because Layna dished up his food in wrong rotation. Aw hell, why do I mention it?
1/3/82 Did a little outdoor work. Shoveled snow around house, made a couple of paths - even tried snowshoes to discover my days of breaking trail are over. To Gerry Armstrongs for annual holiday bash. Bill Martin there too. I love those guys.
1/4/82 I am beginning to hate the guy who runs the snow plow. I shovel out the mail box only to have it recovered. Today, Jim felt sorry for me the second time it happened and brought his plow over. Saved my life!
1/5/82 My mind gets fuzzier day by day. This was very evident today when I started work on the beds for the 3 little Monahans. I absolutely could not visualize how they would look, therefore couldn’t get started. Layna came to my rescue and we made fair progress. The total job calls for 3 beds complete with 2 drawers apiece. I fear for my sanity. Dr. MacPherson pounded on the back door. He had been skiing. A good visit followed.
1/6/82 Buck stopped in for a visit in p.m. We talked about generalities at first but got into serious problems when we got on the island. What a good head! Maybe because he reminds me of me 20 years ago. Layna full of good sense - at all times.
1/7/82 I made some slow progress on Monahan kids’ beds. Ran into a couple of dead ends - called Layna and she bailed me out.
1/8/82 To Froehlichs for fish dinner. We had forgotten just how good walleyes tasted. The Evans moved today, cats and all. They didn’t say goodbye.
1/9/82 Robin brought Chris and Bobby in p.m. He left them here and came back at supper time with Sarah. No confrontation all day. I finished one bed - almost. Karen drove her debate team to Northfield yesterday. Due back today but called to say they were staying at dorm and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow. One worry less for us.
1/10/82 -36o Wind chill -83o Robin came at 10:30 bringing the boys. He volunteered to help on beds and we made good progress. Karen had us all worried because of horrendous weather. She drove from Northfield with her debate team. Quite a gal!
1/11/82 Layna went to town about 2:15. Worked on bed until about 3:15. As I was getting out of the bed that I was working on, I caught my foot on the top board and fell. I grabbed the pole & fell to the floor. I heard the bone snap. Laid on the cold floor till Layna came around 4 o’clock. She had tried to call but of course I couldn’t answer. Ambulance picked me up about 4:45.
1/12/82 Left Falls by ambulance at 9 to Hibbing. Layna & Buck to Hibbing. Surgery set for 9 a.m. tomorrow.
1/13/82 The nurse wheeled me in to operating room at 10:00 a.m. and out again by 11:30 to recovering room. They had put a steel pin in the break. Out of recovery room at 4:30. Layna and Buck left at 6 o’clock.
1/15/82 I have had strange hallucinations following surgery before but never experienced such dreams as I did this time. I was rum-dumb for several hours. 1)Farmer telling kid to shoot me behind ear. 2) Jim Banks logging camp. 3) Heard conversation between people at church. 4) hard time accepting fact I was in Hibbing hospital. Spent day and night in Hibbing.
1/16/82 In Hibbing Hospital.
1/17/82 Sunday. By sheer coincidence, the Falls ambulance stopped at Hibbing on way back from Duluth. They picked me up at 11:00 p.m. and arrived in Falls about 2:00 a.m.
1/19/82 A typical hospital day. I wakened at 5:30 to take pill. Back to sleep. Breakfast 7:30. Bath, shave and off for physical therapy - about ½ hour of torture. Lunch at 11:30. Nap. Back for more therapy. Supper at 5:30. Use walker for about ½ hour. To bed. Dr. Walter stopped for a few minutes, “You are doing fine.”
1/21/82 My roommate, John Russ has a badly infected leg. Dr. Walter fears gout or infection so sent him to Duluth. There was a replacement next morning. Mr. Bannert - a second Jim DiOnne. Russ talked most of time. Bannert a silent one except when cursing doctors and nurses. He hit an all-time high in rebellion this a.m. He refused to take his pills. The nurse finally got his mouth full and he immediately spit them against the wall! Bannert died Feb. 1 in nursing home.
1/22 – 1/30/82 A normal day in the hospital. I am doped up so I have little pain.
1/31/82 Visitor’s day for sure. Wagnesses held forth for an hour or so describing ailments in family. When they ran out of steam, the LaValleys took off. I should have sold tickets. Well, “They meant well!”
2/7/82 In an attempt to give me a change of scenery, Layna and Jim Banks took me for a ride to Black Bay. It was good. Stopped for Dairy Queen. Big deal.
2/8/82 Dr. Iverson came to Falls. He X-rayed my hip and said I was getting along fine. It hurts like hell at times but the great man says that is normal.
2/9/82 I must mention one of the nurses. Neva Santine. She weighs about 180# which she throws around with reckless abandon. In giving a bath , the younger nurses very carefully avoid uncovering the patients “private parts”, leaving that to the patient. Not so with Neva. When giving a bath, she becomes a mother with an infant babe. She does a thorough job fore and aft, topping it off with a lotion rubdown. My roommate gets the same treatment, so I can’t claim a preference.
2/11/82 All arrangements made and Layna and Buck took me home. I have no complaints on treatment, in fact I choked up when I said goodbye to some of staff.
2/12/82 Buck came with hand-hold bracket to help me land on potty. It will hold an elephant. Hope to try it soon.
2/13/82 Buck brought chain setup to help in getting in and out of bed. Works well - I am not surprised. Jayme and Maggie came for hour or two visit. Little Katie put on quite a show . Of our 16 grandchildren, Jayme and Maggie are the best adjusted. I’m glad I gave him my favorite 20 gauge shotgun.
2/14/82 Sally here by bus. Jim Froehlich baby sat with me while Layna went after her. A glad reunion.
2/15/82 Jayme and Maggie came with Katie. A real charmer. A well-adjusted family. Lynn Myers brought a hot dish. Thoughtful gal, and well adjusted, too.
2/16/82 A real breakthrough when I lifted my bum leg off the bed. Robin stopped in and was duly impressed.
2/17/82 We have decided that I should not be left alone any more. It would ease our minds and also give Layna a break. Layna called Mike Shuppen who seemed glad to come. He is a gook talker and a great listener. He should be after living with Margaret so many years.
2/19/82 Sally, Layna and I alone and got deep in discussion concerning NWI. No definite conclusions, altho it was apparent that our extended family have given it plenty of thought.
2/20/82 Bern Minter here for dinner. Sally, Bern, Layna and I. Up from table about 6 p.m., then Layna and Bern got going on their childhood at Silica. They talked steady for 2 hours and altho I had heard much of it before, it was fun. A couple of truly poor kids, with no regrets. “Should have had a tape recorder.”Bill MacPherson stayed a couple of hours with me while Layna and Sally to Karen’s for lunch. He gleefully beat me at cribbage.
2/21/82 Karen here at 7:00 a.m. and took Sally to bus depot. It will be lonesome around here for a while. Ruth Anderson stopped in. A steady talker but interesting. Saw Mr. Roberts on TV. Just as enjoyable as on the stage and movie. “They just don’t make movies like that any-more!”
