3/23/83 Buck to Tenstrike to price lumber for dock at Curtice Island. He asked Terry and me to go along. Terry and Buck sat in front seats. I had a hard time hearing, but enough to pitch in occasionally.
3/24/83 Went for a walk and got another scare when my legs misbehaved when I was near Buck’s driveway. I am a mess. Layna called to say they had car trouble and are still in California. NUTS.
3/25/83 I went for a morning walk. The longest so far. Buck went to Curtice Island. When he came home for lunch, we sat at table for more than an hour. My legs behaved well when I went for a walk. Layna called in evening. They were in Albuquerque. Weather warnings in the area they have to cross. They don’t seem to be worried. I am.
3/26/83 Buck and I to Loren Erickson’s to give him a lift on a dock stringer. We sat in kitchen and talked for a couple of hours. I let my mind run back to 1931 when Ben Nordeen and I logged off Gold Shores only to have my timbers stolen by my neighbor, Gilbert Carlson.. To Pickle Barrel for dinner. A small token to show my appreciation for all the things my kids are doing for me.
3/27/83 Buck to island and Dale and I sat at table and talked. She is a good head, easy to talk with. She is well versed on many subjects. Buck and Dale to Charlie Kocinski birthday party. I fell heavily at Bald Rock.
3/28/83 44o A spring like day and I took advantage of it. Longest walk so far. Chickadees singing their spring song. Woodpecker beating out an answer. Dale and I sat on deck and soaked in the sunshine.
3/29/83 Stopped to talk to Chuck Thompson who had just arrived home from 4 months in Mexico. He was shocked by its poverty seen there but liked the 150 - 1 exchange.
3/30/83 Layna arrived at Jackfish Bay (Buck & Dale’s) at 4:00 alone. She had dropped Karen off in town. Layna stayed for supper and a good gabfest with Buck & Dale. Home to 265 by 10 p.m.
3/31/83 Tyke and I have become good friends. He does what I tell him when we go for a walk every day. He reminds me of Klinker in her early years. The old saying has it, “Every man I entitled to one good dog and one good woman in a life time.” Well, I have had both.
4/1/83 Vivian Sutch came out at 11:00 but not for lunch. She is fasting during the Easter break. She has prepared her path to heaven and hopes to show me the way - Layna doesn’t need any help. She hates teaching and plans to go to a seminary for a year to get more guidance.
4/2/83 Layna and I to inspect the “Shannon Square”. It is the answer from the Shannon family for the downtown merchants to the mall on the west end of town. It showed the results of good planning and execution. The place was jammed, which must have been gratifying.
4/3/83 As in past years there was no celebration at #265. Fern Laurion was once asked if she attended church regularly and her answer was only at Christmas, Easter and New Year’s so she, “could see the whores, pimps and taxicab drivers.” A small group at our table but the 3 little Monahans much in evidence. It seems strange without Robin. (He was at Gene’s house).
4/4/83 Saw bird robin between Tilson and Jackfish. The Froehlichs here for coffee in p.m. He is making a deck on front of house - just to have something to do, I think. We drove out to Jackfish - our dock in good shape altho it has moved some.
4/5/83 To see Dr. Walter at 2:30. He asked a few questions, gave us each a handful of pills and said, “come back in a month.” All of the “doctor- patient” articles on health talk about how important to maintain [confidence]. If he keeps me stumbling much longer, I’ll consult my Dr. book - a second opinion as it were. That will be better than a new batch of pills.
4/6/83 Another birthday and it was a busy one. 22 people showed up to share wine, coffee and goodies prepared by Karen and Layna. I walked around all day without my cane. Not too tired tonight.
4/9/83 The Republicans had a mini convention in the Falls. About 40 people. Layna handled the money. She is getting fed up by all around her, even me. I took care of myself without much trouble.
4/14/83 Layna entertained RLWC. Lee Grim the speaker. He gave an interesting and informative talk on local birds. I felt well informed.
4/16/83 Off for Nancy’s shower in Duluth at 9:30. The gals gathered at the church (50 of them) while Jim, Bert, Dave and I watched TV. Dave said just enough to affirm our first impression late last fall that he is OK. Girls back from church at 5:00 and we, Layna & I, on road ½ hour later. As we drew into the Falls, I was struck by a “seizure” - the worst in my life. I gasped for breath and really thought I was going to choke to death. Frightening! Boys started on roof! They are whizzes. Jesperson and Karsnia.
4/18/83 Karen here for supper with 3 kids. Each took a turn at a nasty spell, not too bad. She did not give in, which pleased Layna and me. A good visit.
4/19/83 On the spur of the moment we called the Speed Christiansons and made a date. We were there at 6:30 and stayed until 10:30. Much in common to talk about. Square dancing, health of our peers, old timers up the lake, moonshiners (including Speed, himself) - all in all a most enjoyable evening. When I worked the buoy job, I used to stay overnight at their cabin on Rabbit Island. There was an old, 1900 or so, phonograph and a bunch of records there. I got a big charge out of them and they had a cassette made for me. They gave it to me tonight. I played it when I came home - 15 old time songs, many of them from our collection at Buck Lake in 1918. Great memories.
4/21/83 Karen here for a short visit after supper. Robin and Chris out jogging. Robin trying hard to be a good father and doing a great job.
4/22/83 I finally got a letter written to George Williams. Somehow I don’t expect an answer. I think he is peed off because we didn’t go to Mexico last winter. Too bad - and I mean it.
4/23/83 A surprise of a lifetime. Rudy Erickson drove into the yard and unloaded a big cardboard box. He pulled out a deluxe Exercycle. He set it up in the living room. When Layna asked, “How much?” he said, “Nothing,” and meant it! What have we done to earn such treatment?
4/24/83 Karen, Punky and 3 kids brought picnic lunch. They set card table up in yard and a feast was had by all. After they left, we drove out to Curtice dock. No ice on it. Some at sandbar, however.
4/25/83 Frankie Johnson came with a pike pole for Buck - just as we were about to eat supper. We had not seen him for a couple of years. He was really wound up and stayed well over an hour. An interesting and clever man. Always one of my favorites.
4/26/83 Today, Jim and Barit and I took off from Curtice dock, Buck’s crew had launched our boat. We had no problem except getting out on our dock. Jim solved that by lifting me out of boat like I was a baby. We gave the island a good inspection and happy to say found nothing amiss.
4/27/83 Mike and Margaret Shuppen came after supper to spend the evening. God, what a talker she is! We got a blow by blow account of all her bouts with the medical profession from the first slap on her rump to the 6 pills a day she is taking at the present time. Mike takes it all in, only snorted once. She noticed that I was dozing off and quit talking right in the middle of a sentence - for which I was grateful.
4/28/83 I watched TV. A new experience when I got sick of violence and shut it off. Hill Street Blues - Channel 8 (PBS) much better.
