Johnson Journals part 409

10/28/82 Jo picked us up about 9:00 a.m. and off to Karen’s house where she had made a 5 course breakfast. We met her landlady. Mary Hopmeir and daughter. Both high class. They obviously like Karen and vice -versa, To Chapel after breakfast. About 25 “students” from Star King. Quite impressive. We then went to the beach, about 20 miles away. Jo swam in ocean but the Johnsons passed it up.

10/29/82 Down town and took sightseeing trip around city. A three hour deal. Very interesting. Then off to “Solomon Grundy” seafood restaurant. Layna picked up the tab. $62.00 + $8.00 tip = $70.00. Our only real splurge - it was worth it. On to Unitarian Church to hear lecture by Dr. Wm. Coffin, Jr. A most interesting talker.

10/30/82 A pancake breakfast and on to airport. Airborne by 12:30. On to Mpls where Sally and Jim met us and took us to Raymans. A good visit and almost missed plane. Got a ride in a cart or we would have. Landed at Falls at 10:40. Jim F. there to meet us. All well at home. What a trip. Another jewel in Layna’s crown. She got me there and brought me back. Not a hitch of any kind.

10/31/82 Sunday. Most of day spent in catching up on papers and letters. Robin came for a short visit. He had Sheila Hart and kids with him. All well behaved.

11/1/82 Last day before election and TV is full of candidates making their final pitch. Much to do about the amount of money some of them are spending. Tomorrow we will learn which ones bought their way into office.

11/2/82 George and Agnes McIntyre stopped in on their way to vote. We talked about hunting. George held the floor for about an hour talking about hunting geese, ducks & pheasants. I was a perfect listener, altho I could top everything he said, not to mention the deer and moose. Good memories. I can look back with no regrets. Robin brought the three kids out for haircuts. No crying. They look good, even Sarah with a few teeth missing.

11/3/82 First snow fall - 6”. Jim here early with his plow. “We can’t let it get too deep” says Jim. Barit came over just as he finished. They came in for coffee. They are always welcome. Our basement leaking and I am worried. Wrote a letter to Omar. My penmanship gets poorer every day. The Parkinsons manual says that is normal - like many other things to look forward to.

11/4/82 Les Cleveland here for visit. We think that he is the luckiest man alive. His final take for the island was $106,000! His mother the chief subject for conversation - as always. He will miss her when she leaves. On second thought - she is 92 and might outlive him.

11/5/82 Buck stopped in after lunch. Full of good talk. If he realized how much these visits mean to us, he would do it more often. The Jehovah Witness gals here for about an hour. I don’t mind them. They are very low key.

11/6/82 Opening day of deer season. It doesn’t mean a thing to me. I made a list of the areas where I had shot 10 deer or more and came up with the following: Buck Lake, Island Lake, Deer Island, Neil Point, Black Bay, Sandpoint Island, Cranberry Bay, Lost Bay, Lake of the Woods, Bancroft Bay, Trout Lake, Red Gut Bay.

11/7/82 To Buck and Dale’s in early p.m. Shortly after Bern and Mary Dahlen came. We sat drinking coffee and talking, talking, talking for a couple of hours. Buck had received a letter from Ted Hall asking Buck to arrange a weekend at Curtice Island (originally Backus’ home) for a conservation group in 1984. We all agreed it was a gutsy request. Buck had written a reply that was a masterpiece. We covered a number of people, past and present. I was watching Mary who was soaking it all in. A great way to spend a cloudy Sunday afternoon. NFL players still on strike. I am getting to the point where I don’t give a damn if they ever play football again.

11/8/82 Sarah’s birthday and Robin went all out to celebrate. He took nine little kids plus Grandma and Grandpa Johnson to MacDonald’s in Fort Frances. Back home for cake and ice cream. Sarah almost covered with wrapping paper. We were last to leave Robin to his troubles. What a goddamn shame that he and Karen could not hit it off.

11/9/82 When the Froehlichs kids, Tom and Linda, were growing up, they came to visit practically every day. Those visits have been rather infrequent now that they are teenagers. Today they came about 4:00 p.m. and stayed an hour. Tom had made a drawing of a big buck. Much talking about hunting.

11/11/82 The three Monahan kids with us all day. No serious battles. Chris reads well. Between his books and TV, he amuses himself. Sarah no problem most of time. Bobby loves the word DON’T and is constantly on the move looking for things he shouldn’t be doing.

11/13/82 A pleasant surprise when Lynn Myers dropped in for a visit about 10:30. A good listener. She asked many pertinent questions and seemed interested in the answers, especially about Karen.

11/14/82 To St. Paul Lutheran church where friends of the Seegerts put on a benefit party for their 3 year old boy who is suffering from a rare blood ailment. A good crowd. Well, they can use all the help they can get.

11/15/82 I should be elated. I did not touch my cane at all today. My leg and knee are tired but I did not falter. I walk with a heavy limp but even that is somewhat better. There is hope!

11/16/82 Buck and Dale (and dog) off for parts unknown, about 3 weeks.

11/17/82 To see Dr. Walter at 11:00 a.m. He seemed to be well pleased with my progress. I had to agree even tho I think that my leg is damned slow in coming around. He said, “Keep taking your pills and exercise.” I am impatient but when I consider others I know, I am getting by as well as most of my peers. The NFL strike is over (57 days) and already I am looking forward to Sunday’s game (I had vowed to boycott them.)

11/18/82 Mike Shuppen and Bob Phillips stopped in and had a drink. They go hunting tomorrow. The logging roads are rivers from recent rains. I am glad to stay home. Almost forgot that Dennis Johnson, a freelance writer from Mpls came to pick our brains about Oberholtzer. I am afraid that we didn’t paint the same picture that the other worshipers did.

11/20/82 To Fort Frances Rendezvous to join about 50 others in helping Bill and Gladys Martin celebrate their 25th anniversary. Many, many speeches, some very clever. Their daughter and son-in-law had open house after the party. More eating and drinking - and singing! The show broke up at 3:00 a.m. We were right with it to the end.

11/21/82 I have been super careful in my walking for exercise. The icy roads and wet basement have made it next to impossible to walk safely. Tonight I decided to walk down the living room and into the hall. I started out full speed, hooked my feet in the cane and dove forward into the closet. I lay there thinking, “I have done it again!” I had rammed my back against the door frame. It hurt awful. Layna came running and helped me us. She was frightened, too! I ached all over with a few patches of skin knocked off. By bed time, I felt good enough to crawl in without help.