4/26/82 I have been apprehensive about calling Sheriff Elliot about the Civil Service Commission. I knew that he and Tony almost came to blows a few times. I did not feel fit to engage in battle with him. No worry. He was most cordial and assured me that everything was under control - at the moment.
4/27/82 To town in a.m. with Layna. She had a long list and kept crossing the items one by one. I sat in car and read the paper. Many well-wishers stopped to talk. An interesting day. I bought a metal cane from City Drug. The walker an important tool.
4/28/82 Lillian Rizzo and Ralph Morris came to #265 at 7:30. We had a good meeting, but we miss Tony.
4/29/82 Left Falls at 10:00 a.m. made it to Sally’s at 5:30. Easy stages. A beautiful day. Had lunch (picnic) at Orr. My butt got tired at Cloquet and I was rather uncomfortable all the rest of the way. By shifting positions frequently I was not too uncomfortable when we arrived in St. Paul. We went to bed early.
4/30/82 Layna and Sally shopping, leaving me alone. I found plenty to read. Reagan came out with statement that we are in Britain’s corner about the Falkland Island conflict. Wonder what that will lead to. The whole Jernberg family sat down for supper. An unusual thing. The kids are growing up.
5/1/82 The big day finally arrived to see a Twins game, with Raymans’ neighbor, Kent Hrbek, the star. George Rayman at Sally’s about 1:30 . He brought wheelchair. No problem getting to our seats. He maneuvered me around like he does everything else. What a man! Our first disappointment when we learned that Kent had an infected ear and wouldn’t play. Despite that, we had plenty to ooh and ahh about. The new Humphrey dome a dream place.
5/2/82 The Jernberg kids and the Bye girls made brunch for the old folks. Sumptuous! We took off for home at 2:00. My butt sore after first hour but we stopped to stretch a few times and made it home without too much discomfort. Layna to Pickle Barrel for chicken. To bed soon after. I’ll admit I had a few qualms about this trip, but as it turned out, they were unfounded.
5/3/82 Louise Larson called saying that she and Lardy were on their way. A pitiful sight when Lardy crawled out of the car. He is almost totally blind. He brightened up when I mentioned fishing. He has hopes of getting out and it took some thinking before I realized he had me down as one of his companions!
5/5/82 Karen and kids and Punky here for supper. They were all set to go home at 8:00 p.m. when Chris’ favorite program came on. The world is on its way to a nuclear war but we could not watch the news. Maybe it is just as well.
5/7/82 Lake opened! To Froehlichs for coffee and fresh baked lemon pie. Fun! We had just settled in to watch Dallas on TV when Dick and Joan came over. We had a good visit, better than Dallas. We, on the spur of the moment, went to see Gina Erickson in p.m. She lives alone and doesn’t like it. She talks much of John, repeating over and over how much he loved me. Well, it was mutual.
5/8/82 After lunch we drove out to see the Seegerts. They looked beat. Why should such good people have to work so hard? Well, we put in a number of years of that kind of toil. In our case it turned out well, even tho we still have the island.
5/9/82 Mother’s day. Karen went all out in preparing dinner. Baked white fish the main course and it was excellent. My leg acting strangely. Will see Dr. Walter tomorrow. Robin came with flowers for Layna. I gave her a set of earrings. Robin still one of our favorites.
5/10/82 We had a 2:00 p.m. appointment with Dr. Walter. He asked Layna a few questions and was not satisfied with the answers. He gave her a slip and told he to go to hospital tomorrow. Now what? Were both a bit subdued when we arrived at Karen’s. Cheri Swanson, her husband, Paul, and mother. A sharp group.
5/11/82 Layna to hospital in a.m. She was cleaned out after all the physic she took last night. After a bunch of X-rays, they turned her loose. Dr. Walter said he would call her at 5 o’clock. She gave me a blow by blow account of what had happened. It was enough to worry hell out of us, especially when we waited until 11:00 p.m. and no call. We were both full of black thoughts, which we tried to hide from one another.
5/12/82 I woke up thinking about Dr. Walter, wondering if he planned on worrying us to death. He called at noon to say Layna had checked out beautifully. What a fine man! I celebrated by walking down the stairs to the basement. It is 4 months since the ambulance crew carried me up those stairs.
5/13/82 Bob Phillips and Mike Shuppen took me to the Salary club banquet at Island View. A noisy group of about 200 people there. We sat thru 1 ½ hour of bedlam.
5/14/82 We made an effort to consolidate our finances. We are solvent. When we retired in 1972 I said, “Maybe if we had handled our money more skillfully we could have had more. Why worry, we have enough.” Inflation has raised hell with most of us but we haven’t suffered. In fact, we are tied to the cost of living index, so if our dollar doesn’t buy as much, we get more dollars.
5/15/82 Avis called to invite us for coffee in her new home. She is mighty proud of it and well she might be. I kept comparing it with Bern’s mansion and my vote goes to Avis. What a snug little nest! We drove out to Sha-Sha to check on the fishermen. There were lots of them but no fish.
5/16/82 Layna brought some old letters from basement. Fun!
5/17/82 We, with Jim, to island at 9:00. Inwardly I was full of fear and trembling because my leg was acting up. No need to fear. They launched the Cadillac and, with a minimum of trouble, I crawled in. The rain held off all day and we made good progress. The plumbing is all hooked up. Always a big job but Jim did it with a minimum of effort. Good man!
5/18/82 Most of today spent in recovering from yesterday. Jeez, was I stiff from all that walking.
5/19/82 The Thompsons came to tell about their winter. Money, money, money. That was their theme. Lisa and Denny get acquainted. He stood up well.
5/20/82 The Froehlichs and we to island and much accomplished. Replaced window that partridge smashed. Launched Larson, started ice maker, mowed grass. All above done by Jim. He and George Rayman would make a good pair.
5/21/82 Pre -nuptial festivities called for the families to get together. The supper was built around 30# of Texas shrimp! Denny’s tribe stood the test. The kids off to a good start. Brad & Menchu drove in about noon. Brad scheduled to be in Seattle next Saturday. They came a long way round to visit us. A good decision. We were glad to have them. The baby - 7 months old - a honey. So is his mother. Brad not as cocky as before but enough to remind us of his childhood.
5/22/82 The wedding on time. 12:00 noon. Denny got tongue tied when he started on the marriage vows but with Lisa’s help, he muddled thru. Reminded me when, at my confirmation, I stood before most of the Swedes in Hibbing and said “On behalf to the Lutheran Church, on behalf of the Lutheran Church” - then in desperation pulled the idiot sheet out of my pocket and read it! The reception at 3:00 p.m. About 50 friends joined in for food and drink - even sang. So endeth the 5th and last Buck and Dale’s fledgling to leave the nest. We are proud of all of them. Rainy Lake Chronicle folded. Too Bad!
5/23/82 First picnic on NWI in 1982. Karen & 3 kids, Brad & Menchu & Little Don, Don and Layna. No great celebration, just a happy gathering.
5/24/82 My temper operating on a short fuse. Right now I am tempted to throw this diary thru the window. My greatest fear is that Layna will read my mind and think that I am mad at her. How could she think that after all she has done for me?
