2/15/83 Layna and I out for a walk. We were doing fine then I got a good scare. My legs lost control and I stumbled forward, would have fallen if Layna hadn’t grabbed me. We turned and tiptoed back. Not funny.
2/17/83 Layna found time to have the Wagnesses for dinner. We have owed it to them for a long time. It was a fun evening. As usual, we got on the subject of the big shots of the past, always a fertile subject. We all agree that Dahlberg was a prince but no one would nominate Roberts, Scheldrup or French for those honors.
2/18/83 Les Cleveland came for coffee. He is always going or coming and tells it well. He has joined “Elder Hostel” group. He tells of experiences that to him are real adventures. To us they would be minor events, full of minor irritants.
2/21/83 Sally came on 9:30 bus. We sat and talked until midnight. Nothing said about NWI, altho it must have been on the tip of our tongues.
2/23/83 We drove out on the ice at Sha-Sha and went across to Moe’s cabin. The deer pole hangs empty in between two pine trees. There were times in the “olden days” when we had as many as a dozen deer hung up there. No regrets, altho it would be fun to walk the Voyageurs Trail just once more.
2/24/83 To Earl Kirk’s funeral. The church was packed. We got to know him when he was guiding for Layna at Sprague Island in the 50’s. Connie Thompson, Ray Carlson plus Earl. They knew what it meant to have fun.
2/25/83 The Daily Journal ran a special edition that gave Buck a lot of copy as lamplighter. Even brought in the old man. We went out to Buck and Dales after supper. Some good talk. Last month Ted Hall sent a letter to Buck asking him to arrange a meeting of the Oberholtzer Foundation to be held on Curtice Island. It was so damned gutsy that we all got a charge out of it. Buck wrote an answer in which he explained why it would not work. It was a masterpiece of put-down-man-ship. Much laughter.
2/26/83 We got a pleasant surprise when a couple of strangers came to the door. It wasn’t long before we recognized them as Hugh and Nellie Medhurst. We hadn’t seen them for 15 years. We had one sad mission when we went to Louie Turgeons house to tell Bess that Louie had died.
2/27/83 Jim Banks came, I was beginning to fear that he had fallen off the wagon. Not so. He brought a package of rice and one of frozen blueberries! Robin’s baby sitter quit so he came with kids. Good!
2/28/83 We both had appointments with Dr. Walter. We waited 2 hours before seeing him. He checked us over and said to come back in 5 weeks. All of the articles I have read say that it is most important to have faith in your doctor. I am beginning to wonder.
3/2/83 George and Velna Rayman came. They are part of our family.
3/3/83 George still insists that Black Bay is full of big crappies. We drove out to the Bay. 3 young men came with a power auger and drilled a dozen holes. They told George that they had been fishing since daylight and had caught 2 lawyers and a small walleye. That didn’t discourage our George.
3/4/83 George and I exploring. We drove to Thompsons’ hunting grounds. We followed the road for 3 miles of perfect driving. George takes good care of his equipment but doesn’t baby it when a logging road beckons. Home at 5:00 then off for dinner at Thunderbird. “Special Prime Ribs” $10.75 per plate. I never thought I would live to see the day. (four Manhattans, $6.00). George gung-ho to go crappie fishing, in desperation he set a folding tent up in the living room. They (the crappies) weren’t biting there, either.
3/5/83 The Raymans left about 10:00 a.m. They are the perfect house guests.
3/6/83 I walk for ½ hour each day for exercise in basement. At times I make myself believe that it really helps. I am not sure.
3/9/83 Irene MacKellar called at 9:00 to invite us over for coffee at 2:30. We went. Signe Green there. Those two old gals (merry widows) were really primed to talk. They were home from a 3 week Caribbean cruise. I remember much of what they said but the standout figure was that the trip cost them $4000 apiece and another $100 for chicken feed. God bless them. They had a great time and could well afford it.
3/11/83 To bank by 10:00. Layna had a purse full of important papers. We were with Karen Skifstads for about an hour and came away feeling pretty secure. I can afford to break another leg.
3/13/83 Tommy came with the paper and we put in the rest of the day reading the bad news.
3/14/83 Layna met Mike and Molly Lucachick in town today. She invited them out. They came at 7 p.m. We hadn’t talked with them since 1965 (square dance days). A real gabfest followed until 10 p.m. A fun evening. We should do it more often. They said that George Garganos had died. At one time - in the 60’s - he made a supreme effort to teach me calling. It was too much of an effort. I really tried and had one moment of glory. That was when I taught 3 squares in our basement every Sunday for 3 months. Some of my people are still dancing. Not me, thanks to Dr. Johnson who told Layna she had heart trouble.
3/15/83 The only excitement at 265 came right after breakfast. A fine specimen of piliated woodpecker came for a visit. He worked on a big poplar east of the house, giving us a fine view of how he excavates a hole in a partially rotten tree.
3/16/83 I practiced putting my shoes on off and on all day. Joan Williams came just to visit. Much religion talk, but it doesn’t bother us when it comes from her.
3/17/83 St. Patrick’s Day. TV full of celebration. My dad, being a good Swede used to wear an orange ribbon in utter defiance. He never got beat up, but he acted unafraid. I was reminded of my confrontation with the Irish woman years ago. It was on the steps of St. Pats Cathedral. She said that some day the world would be under one religion. I agreed by saying “Yes, but it will be the Lutheran religion”
[I remember this story somewhat differently. My memory of the way I first heard it was that Dad and Paul Bartholomew were sightseeing in New York during a conference where they were representing the M & O Paper Company. The Irish woman said, “Isn’t this cathedral beautiful?” to which Dad replied, “Yes, Mam, it certainly is.” She then said, “And to think that it was built to the one true God and the one true religion.” That’s when Dad said “Yes Mam, but that one true religion is the Lutheran religion.” which caused her to look at him as though she had seen the devil and say, “Oh you, a fine looking man, to talk like that.” And then she scurried off. BLJ]
3/18/83 Buck picked Layna up at 6 a.m. and off she went on the first leg of a 10 day trip. She will be with Karen this p.m. What an age we live in. Buck and Dale had offered to keep me while she was gone. Many articles written about the advantage of old people moving in with the kids. Well, I can’t imagine living with any one better. Hope I don’t out live my welcome.
3/19/83 My greatest accomplishment was watching Buck work on his lattice. He doesn’t make many false moves, nor does he stand and look much of the time (like his old man).
3/20/83 Buck finished his job on the lattice work. I went for a long walk. Almost fell a couple to times so hit for home. Will I ever walk again? Two full days with Buck and Dale. Hope I am not in the way.
3/21/83 Read meter tomorrow. Buck, Dale and I sat at the table and chewed the rag almost as long as the Mando guest. Fun! Much reminiscing. It is remarkable how we can remember Koochiching, Dahlbergs, NWI - on and on through Mando houseboat.
3/22/83 Terry there. We sat at table and swapped lies for 3 hours. The 3rd Johnson guide tells a story well. Layna called to say she was at Lisa’s and will start for home tomorrow.
