Johnson Journals part 407

9/6/82 Layna and I to Curtice Island for supper. The annual end of season party. The whole gang had spent most of last night singing. Buck was so hoarse he was only whispering.

9/7/82 Karen, with Layna’s expertise, had her little Fiesta pretty well packed by 5:30 when we took off for “Spot” and farewell dinner. If the tears were close to the surface, no one showed it.

9/8/82 It didn’t take long to put the odds and ends in the car and off our baby went for her great adventure. I had promised myself - NO bawling - but when she put her arms around me, I broke down. She held me until I said, “Why don’t you go?” and she did. Weather beautiful so we went to island. My but it was quiet!

9/9/82 The Wrights (4), Sheldons and Thor Eberhardts had invited themselves for dessert and movies. Both a huge success. My leg pain moved up to the hip. Kee Rist but it grabs “holt”.

9/10/82 Swede Sundberg and helper here for an hour in p.m. and took measurement to base an appraisal on. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with. Jim Banks came about 5:00 p.m. He brought fillets of walleye for a shore lunch. Layna made potato salad and we sat down to a regular feast. We love that guy. I showed my feeling by giving him my Model 12 12 gauge Winchester shotgun. I had a deep feeling of satisfaction in doing it. I shot hundreds of ducks (and one deer) with it. Don Davis family gave it to me. Good memories.

9/11/82 Robin came with the kids for lunch. They were on their way to make an overnight camp on Dryweed. A cloudy, windy day and we wonder if their tent was up before the rains came. When Chris met me on the path, he put his arms around me and said, “I miss you, Grandpa.” Touching.

9/12/82 Raining hard by 6:00 p.m. Our thoughts with Robin and the 3 little campers. Layna called Robin and we were relieved to learn that they were home safe and sound - and a bit damp.

9/14/82 George and Velna Rayman pulled into 265 about noon. Windy and cold so we decided to stay at 265. Ed Hrbek funeral on Monday. George gave us a blow by blow account of Ed’s battle with the rare Lou Gehrig disease. It is an insidious ailment, in many ways similar to Parkinsons which give me cause to be frightened.

9/15/82 Had an appointment with Dr. Walter at 1:45. He checked a few things, sent his nurse in and she gave me 2 shots in the butt. More pills and he said, “See me in 3 weeks.” The Raymans took us for a walleye feed at Grandma’s Pantry. We then made a grand tour of area. Layna got birthday cards and calls from all of the family - except me. She refused to tell me what she wanted and I used that for an excuse to not give her anything. What a stinker, after all she has done for me during the last 8 months. We all stayed overnight at #265.

9/16/82 George worked all day on repairing south dock. I sat on block of wood and watched - very frustrating. My leg does feel better but I use my cane for every step.

9/17/82 We sat at breakfast table and relived our trip together to Mexico. Always a good subject. No one anxious to say goodbye. They have become our best friends, outside our family. Sometimes I wonder what makes George tolerate me. He is a real perfectionist, and I’m so damned sloppy. To Ted’s Frigate Friday where about 35 people had gathered for cocktails. On to the Born Again kitchen houseboat for dinner. On to main cabin where we saw slides of Quetico Park. Spectacular! Slept at 265.

9/18/82 To Clinic for appointment with Dr. Dick Dobbs. He cleaned out my ears, checked my throat and vocal cords. He said that the hoarseness in my speech was due to a leak where vocal cords come together. No cure, just try talking louder.

9/19/82 Ray and Ruth Anderson sailed up to dock about 4:30. They were prepared to sail on to marina but we talked them into staying. It was not difficult. They are interesting people. She is a take-hold gal but it doesn’t seem to bother Ray so why should it bother us? They had spent 5 years aboard a sailboat in southern waters, so had plenty to talk about.

9/20/82 We were up at 7:45 to find the Andersons making themselves at home in the kitchen. The wind had gone down so they were in a hurry to get started. The Bill Whites came for diner at 5:30. Layna made a gourmet meal. Good fun. Bill has been on wagon for couple of years which made a big improvement. The NFL players on strike, as of today.

9/21/82 Buck came with his pontoon boat at 9:30. Layna had a load of boxes all packed. On to 265 where Layna put everything away.

9/22/82 A willing and knowledgeable crew, Jim Froehlich, Buck and Terry, Layna and Don. Starcraft pulled up and covered, Larson pulled out and 25 hp. Johnson put away. Edwards boat pulled up. Jim volunteered to drain plumbing and did, with very little help from me. To Grandma’s Pantry for fish dinner - good. The place was crowded as usual.

9/23/82 I called the sheriff and went to meeting at jail. Ralph Morris there. Much talk with Sheriff Bill Elliot. We got a personal tour of the Law Enforcement center - very impressive. When I got home and to bed, I could not sleep. What we said, and saw, kept running through my head.

9/24/82 Called Ralph Morris to discuss what we had done and he gave me some assurance that we can work out our problems. Fall coloring at it high. We drove out to Island View to soak up some of the beauty.

9/25/82 Border Lakes Ass’n had meeting on a Rainy Lake Houseboat. We left dock at 9:15, had lunch, had meeting and returned at 3:30. A good group with not much clout. My first ride on the new houseboats. I was amazed. They cost about $45,000 apiece. Dual controls, the whole bit. An Iowa farmer with a wife and 3 kids can rent them and take off without a guide. Shades of John Erickson! A pleasant surprise when Dave and Jill Austin and 4 kids came to 265. They brought a bag of tomatoes and an apple pie! It brought back old memories of how Layna baked for the old lake bachelors who were our neighbors years ago.

9/28/82 Walt Mahle here to clean furnace. He is crippled with arthritis and MS but cheerful. He crawled up and down stairs twice. What an effort! He cleaned our furnace for at least 10 years. The first time for $5.00, this time for $20.00. Inflation.

9/29/82 We both wrote long letters to Karen. We received a long letter from her the same day. She sounded cheerful, also busy.

9/30/82 Layna busy most of day. I was busy getting out of her way.

10/1/82 One delay after another so we did not get started for Brainerd until 10:30. Arrived at Daveys at 2:30. The usual hugging and kissing. No thought of fishing in Gun Lake. The fall coloring was spectacular right from our house to Daveys. In places it was absolutely breathtaking.