5/28/83 The big day finally arrived. Sally, who had engineered the whole deal, was outwardly calm. I wonder what was going on in that pretty head. Jim, no help - like me. We got to the church on time and pleased to find Byrne and Carole, Timmy and Mary Kay, George and Velna, Karen and John along with about 200 other guests. The Cabrini gang much in evidence. All came to hug and kiss the old folks. A fine wedding conducted by a young priest. I had second thoughts about communion and to please Sally, joined the Catholics at the altar. Back to Jernbergs (after lunch at church) for more food and drink. About 20 close friends. The presents were opened. Many beautiful gifts and $990 in cash!
5/29/83 Said goodbye to Jernbergs and Wickems and off for Raymans. The usual warm welcome. To see movie Ghandi. A 3 ½ hour spectacular. Back to Raymans for a super Manhattan and steak dinner. Much talk until bedtime.
5/30/83 Off for Gun Lake at 10:30. To Daveys by 3:00 p.m. What a happy reunion! Kimballs out for dinner. Emmy Lou very brave. The rest took it for an example and a pleasant evening followed. Much talk about the fun trips to Norway Island. Memories, memories.
5/31/83 Off for home about 3 p.m. As usual, I choked up at the farewell. How many, if any, times will I share the company of those good people. We decided to go home via #65. Fond memories all along the way, especially in Buck Lake area. What an influence on my future those year spent there. It was good preparation for the life we have led. No regrets.
6/1/83 Layna to see Dr. Berlin (Walter out of town) about her damnable cough. She waited 2 hours. “An allergy,” said he. More pills. We shall see. Buck stopped in for short visit. Canadian situation under control at moment, what a blessing. When he left, I thought, “He has more responsibility than the president of Union Oil.”
6/2/83 Checked the power saw and got it going. Checked the lawnmower and got it going.
6/3/83 Our old well intake leaking. I called Jim Froehlich who, by some super human effort, unscrewed the 30 year old coupling and put a cap on it. How will we ever repay that man?
6/4/83 Lynn Myers came to island and put in a good day’s work. She and Karen cleaned big cabin. Karen and kids slept in first cabin.
6/5/83. Lynn Myers came again and helped. She and Karen a good team. They left after lunch. Layna and I at 4:00.
6/7/83 Our first trip with Rob Myers. He passed the test! Helped load and unload boat, mowed lawn, burned branches, tore up old dock. All that very cheerfully.
6/8/83 Raymans due at 2:30. Layna and I to town for a few things. Home to NWI at 1:30, just time to go back for Raymans. A productive p.m. followed. Sun came out and wind went down. All hands at digging flower beds. The Raymans brought a trunk full of flowers. What people. Don’t know how we could survive were it not for Froehlichs and them. Some way, before it is too late, we hope to make it right with all of them.
6/9/83 George, with my feeble help, dug up and planted the bed by rock wall. Even put in 6 tomato plants. Layna and Velna worked around main house. We can expect a “profusion of bloom.” George looking for new fields to conquer so we started on dock. He made good progress. All I did was hand him tools. Goddamn but I get frustrated. Karen, kids and Punky out in p.m. I am not happy at the kids behavior, mostly at the table. I tell myself that I will do something about it. When?
6/10/83 Our guests slept in. Much accomplished in p.m. Rob Myers a willing helper. We tore off enough planks from small dock to see we had a major project on hand. This is a job I have planned for years. George a meticulous worker and at times it irritates me - but not often. I realize he must feel the same about my fuzzy thinking. He watches over me like a dutiful son. Velna and Layna hit it off well.
6/11/83 Layna and Velna to Fort Frances. They were caught in bridge traffic both ways. George and I on dock job. He is making good progress despite my feeble help.
6/13/83 Layna brought Chris out in a.m. He made a big hit with the Raymans. A fun kid to have around, especially when his siblings aren’t around to pester. George fell off dock twice and landed on shore side. He said that he wasn’t hurt, but I don’t believe it.
6/14/83 Raymans in no hurry to get started. A steady downpour at lunch time. Raymans left in the worst of it. Layna running motor. I begged off. She took Chris home and brought Bobby back. Terrific rain and wind when she returned. If I could have got her on phone I would have told her to stay at #265. She said she would have faced any storm rather than leave me alone on island! As usual, I choked up badly when saying goodbye to George and Velna. I am an emotional old fart.
6/15/83 We bought a pump for boats. $74. That should help save our old backs. Had fish feed at Grandma’s Pantry and back to 265 to wait for Sally’s bus. Layna picked up Sally. She said she planned on staying a month. Glory be!
6/16/83 Layna and Sally busy. I stumbled around feeling pretty rough. Maybe it’s the Goddamn wet, cold weather. Dave Ramnes stopped in after supper. While we sat talking, a humming bird smashed into the window. We saw it lying on the ground and thot it was dead. Dave went out and picked it up and it showed signs of life. He laid it on the front step and it began to move. Dave put the feeder near it and it reached out and put his bill in it! A few minutes later, it took off like a bullet and landed in a nearby tree. A great show. A big otter sat on our swimming dock and put on another show.
6/17/83 Layna, Sally and I gave the shop a good cleaning. Much stuff dropped off the dock and much more found the burning pile. Jimmy and friend, Roger Bowe, arrived about 8:30. They had come from St. Paul on a motorcycle. It makes my butt sore to think about it.
6/18/83 Jimmy & Roger hard at it all day and much accomplished. A major operation to put piling under dock. It took some hard work and much ingenuity. They pulled a sunken barrel out of the lake, then put spray rail on Larson boat. All done with a smile and plenty of kidding. Jim’s back badly burned. Karen, John and Maureen here at 4:30.
6/19/83 Roger and Jim left at noon. Lynn Myers and Sheila Hart for visit. Karen, John and Maureen left at 3:30. Sally, Layna and I walked around island. Felt good.
6/20/83 Layna and Sally began cleaning closets in guides room. A job! Robin brought the cats, Hans Schumacher brought Duncan. We are the home for unwanted pets.
6/21/83 Layna to town. Came back at 5:30 bringing Vivian Sutch. She has been praying more than usual and the Lord has told her to quit teaching and enter a monastery in Pecos, NM. She sent in her application 2 weeks ago. So far no answer.
6/22/83 The storm broke at 2 a.m. and it was a brute. It let up for about an hour then all hell broke loose. We actually felt our Happy Shack shudder. The waves washed almost to the house. We surveyed the damage when morning came. It was rather severe. 8 good trees down, many on the power lines. We called REA and they sent 2 men. Sally was checked out on the power saw and in a short while looked like a true lumber jack (Jill). Much debris but we will get help later. The Albrecht and Ramneses for a visit in evening. Good!
6/24/83 Nancy and David came. They wanted to work. We launched Larson and found several leaks. We pulled it out and caulked them.
6/25/83 Jim came at noon.. He and Sally cleared path around island. Mike Heilman came for ice and I got him to dive for sledge hammer. Good boy. Robin invited us to Gene’s birthday party. Eleven guests. To Sheila Hart’s place for dessert.
6/26/83 The whole crew raised the dock light pole, then packed rocks around same. David re-hung power lines. David and Nancy left after lunch. I can’t remember being more impressed by a young man. He worked his butt off for almost three days. A great sense of humor.
