5/25/82 Brad’s VW bursting at the seams when they took off at 9:00 a.m. It was their worldly possessions. We did not settle anything startling during their 4 day stay. I think they enjoyed the day up the lake. Layna told me that Brad told her to be sure he got a 90 day notice before we sold the island because he would raise the money himself! One thing we accomplished was to get acquainted with Menchu. She is a honey.
5/26/82 Moine Schwankl here to tape second episode of the Life of Layna and I. To Karen’s for supper. Don and Mike Carey there. Good people. They left about 10 p.m. We stayed another hour.
5/27/82 Layna and I to island before noon. It is a sad picture for me not to be able to do much with my peg leg. A beautiful evening. We decided to stay the night.
5/28/82 Layna to town to pay taxes. $586 (for first half). I suppose that we should be happy in that we got the cash to pay it. The law makers are playing with the idea of a $200,000,000 deficit for next year’s budget. Harry Davey sent an SOS for ideas about fishing for his weekly column. I never thought he would run out of material. I wrote 3 instances. Felt good.
5/29/82 We made a start toward moving to island. Layna started packing at 8:00 and had a good load ready when Karen came at 9:00. Gary and two boys at landing and we made the move in two trips. Everything put away and grass all cut by 3:30 and away went our help. I limped around, staying out of Layna’s way.
5/30/82 Bill and Dare White pulled in to our dock about 2:00. Glad to see them. Bill on the wagon. We are all proud of him.
5/31/82 A typical Memorial day. Windy and showers. A good group at NWI. Lynn Myers, Jean Eberle , Punky, Karen, Gary, Jason, Chris. Mostly a day not too far from the fireplace. Everyone gone by 7:00 p.m. It is not bad here alone (with Layna). Robin came with the 2 cats. I am not thrilled.
6/1/82 My 2:30 appointment with Dr. Walter canceled by him. Out of town. I have been to see him a dozen times this winter and believe his heart is not in it. Well, he has hit a terrific pace for a great number of years. To Visual Optical for eye examination. My only glasses are at least 8 years old. I walked out of office with 2 pairs less $165.
6/2/82 To Ray and Ruth Anderson’s for pancake breakfast. Much good talk with the good food. Spent most of morning at table.
6/3/82 My leg feeling much better and I was happy to be able to help, be it ever so little. Robin came about 4:30 and stayed for supper. He loves NWI like a member of the family. He expressed his feeling very well. Robin took Chris back to town with him. Sarah and Bobby slept on the floor of our cabin. Brad called from Seattle. They had made the trip in 3 days. We are relieved.
6/5/82 Byrne, Carole and sister Linda arrived after supper. They had come from Chicago non-stop. Sure glad to see them. Despite being tired, we talked until almost midnight.
6/6/82 Byrne full of business. He took his computer to #265 and worked on a project all day. He stayed there overnight. We have trouble entertaining the gals, altho they are not bitching.
6/7/82 Byrne came home at 9:00 a.m. He had been up most of night working. He has as much to do as a doctor on vacation.
6/8/82 I finally got an appointment with Dr. Walter. I have been worried for week that the “nail” in my leg had slipped. An X-ray showed that all in place and healing well. I wish it wouldn’t hurt so damned much. He, Walter, gave me some super pills that might do the trick. I am waiting! Byrne, Carole and Linda did a good job on the flower beds. The sun showed thru for a couple of hours proving that it is still in the heavens.
6/9/82 Layna dissatisfied with 2 old washing machines, and has been for some time. Today she had one delivered to dock and Byrne brought it home and installed it.
6/14/82 George and Velna arrived with the usual trunk full of flowers. What people. Much to talk about. Kent Hrbek chief subject. They could not be more proud if he were one of their own.
6/15/82 3 ½ people worked all day on flowers (I am the ½) and much accomplished. Flowers and tomatoes. A profusion of bloom.
6/17/82 Jim, Sr. and John came full of ambition. John hit his trigger finger with maul making a painful cut. He was taken to hospital for X-rays.
6/18/82 Raymans packing their bags and it makes me sad. No doubt but we feel that we are nearing the end of a beautiful friendship.
6/19/82 Raymans left - as always it is like losing family when they leave. Fathers’ Day card from Sharon Judy. I am proud!
6/20/82 Karen took off for town at 9:30 in Cadillac - 10 hp Johnson. About an hour later, she came rowing back. She had hit the sandbar, losing the motor. The 3 McLinn kids came along, put on their swimming trunks and retrieved it! They stayed for lunch.
6/21/82 Don and Beth Parmeter for dinner about 5:00. Friends of Karen’s. We had never met them. He is secretary of Governor’s advisory committee on Nat’l Park. Interesting.
6/22/82 I am working on a good cry over my leg. 5 months and damned little improvement. Not sure but what Parkinsons is a contributing factor.
PS Sept 14. I have added 3 more months to my miseries and no noticeable improvement. One of the first things I did when we moved was to rig up a Cadillac for fishing. I did not use it once - not the rowboat, either. I am so damned unsteady I would fall in for sure. I haven’t reached the point where I would welcome that.
6/23/82 Moving day for Karen and many hands on deck to lend a hand. 3 Alexanders, 2 Don Parmeters, 1 McLinn, Punky. At the height of activity we got a call to meet Ray and Winnie. Buck, as usual led the attack with his pontoon boat. Much of the stuff put in two cabins but much of it without a home tonight. Chewed rag with Palmers till 10:00 p.m.
6/24/82 Fireplace burning all the time. Cold and windy till sunset when we got a clear sky just at sundown. Played cards much of day. Ray and Winnie didn’t seem to mind the confinement.
6/25/82 Sunny and warm when we got up. What a welcome change. The Johnsons and Palmers off for Fort Frances. No heavy shopping. Lunch at Rendezvous. Saw Earl Kirk.
6/27/82 Warm and windy. We took the Palmers on a tour of Mermaid area. I think they enjoyed it.
6/28/82 For the want of something to do, we decided on having lunch on mainland. Stopped at Bern Minter’s to inquire about her health and wound up by asking her to go along. She said, “I’ll go on one condition. That I pick up the check!” On to Thunderbird for a good meal. A nice gesture by Bern. It was good to get away from island kids.
6/29/82 We pulled Larson out of water and found bad leak. Don’t know if I can fix it. Tad Sheldon stopped in to apologize for kids staying out with Tammy until 2:00 a.m. They have kid problems, too.
7/1/82 53 years ago today, Layna, Don and Little Buckshot came to Rainy Lake. It was to be a two month job at Camp Koochiching. I had a college degree in mind. Two months on Rainy Lake and we decided to go native. It turned out to be a wise choice. Full of good days which far out did the bad.
7/2/82 To see Steckmessers. They were out on their water soaked dock. Good Lord, what a mess. We can’t understand why they and the Rays won’t put in $500 apiece to repair it. None of your business, Johnson. Each day Bobby demonstrates the fact that he is more clever than the other NWI inhabitants. He loses a few skirmishes but the battles are his.
7/4/82 Etta, Richard and Erin came in late afternoon. All pooped from long drive and to bed early.
7/5/82 Avis Herbert came for a short visit. She brought Corky and girlfriend. He has become a handsome man. He is vice president of a paint company. It is hard to believe he is the same kid who cut the TV antenna guy wires sending it crashing to the ground.
