Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Part 75
• Don builds a custom desk for his youngest daughter, Karen
• Layna leads Karen’s Brownie Troop
• Less fishing, more dancing

2/20/57 Oscar Fintland back to work and obviously he is not a well man. Rumor has it that his boys are going to lose the taxi business. No doubt but much of his trouble is mental. It sure is possible to try to do too damned much for your kids — especially that kind. MacKellar here for a couple of drinks and rag chewing. I am glad he takes the opportunity of dropping in.

2/21/57 Layna took me home from work in car loaded with 11 Brownies. They were joined by 5 more when we got to our house, so I lit out to visit Retter. He is getting along a lot better than I thot he would and a lot poorer than he thot he would. Layna and I to see “Giant” — one of Hollywood’s latest super colossal. Good, but not 100% for my taste.

2/22/57 I am getting old. I am reminiscing 40 years ago today — at the age of 10 — I played my first game of pool. Johnny Promersberger’s father was custodian at the Elks club and we were up there. I have never played another!

2/23/57 I have never been fussy about ball room dancing and think much less of it now that we are square dancing. However, George Washington Masonic Ball the social event of the winter season so off we go. Had the Wagness, Houskas and Eppingers in for a couple of drinks (the best part of the evening). We had a reasonably good time. Largely because I told myself to get “in the groove.” A good share of the Falls in St. Paul to see finals of hockey tournament which Falls won from Roseau 3 to 1.

2/25/57 I got myself nicely in the groove of working on sewing cabinet when Sullivan’s Peterson stopped at 9:30 to ask me if I wanted to go to camp. I did. An interesting experience, especially the lunch I had with Sullivan. Those fellows live in unbelievable conditions for this day and age. They are a rough but lovable gang.

2/26/57 Up at 7 a.m. and got in almost a full day’s work on sewing cabinet. It is taking shape, and will be both practical and ornamental. (Functional is the word from “Better Homes & Gardens.”) I haven’t allowed myself to get even a little tired of the pulpwood business this winter but it had better slow down soon if I am to keep this up.

2/27/57 Another good day on cabinet. Not many mistakes. Wrote 4 business letters. Very proud of my efforts and put same in mail box. So far we are lining up pretty good for Norway Island.

2/28/57 Got going in mass production on drawers. Cut out 8 of them and put one together. It fit! I have been very careful on this project and so far haven’t made any serious boners. Judy called to ask us to go fishing Sunday. After talking it over with Layna, I called back to say “no.” Layna definitely has lost all interest in that kind of activity and I am not as keen as I was.

3/1/57 Another good day on the sewing cabinet. I can see the end. Maybe 2 more full days. Each day, I marvel at what a wonderful house we planned and built ourselves. It is a most practical unit, right from my basement workshop up thru kitchen, living room and into the bedrooms.

3/2/57 Worked on drawers all morning and then did what I thot was a decent thing. We called the Retters and had them out for coffee before I went to work. The old boy(he is 75) is doing well — even talking about going back to work. I rushed thru work to be done at office and off for dancing when Layna came at 8:30 — in time for start. The usual good time — especially after lunch. I got up and said a few words. Reginald Johnson’s home burned. Sure gave me a queasy feeling.

3/3/57 Guy Lyman told me that he would get our light plant fixed if I brought it in soon. Buck said he would haul it from island if I put it out on ice. Moes & Johnsons & LaValleys had 11 a.m. brunch at our house and we were then to go to island. LaValleys couldn’t do it and finally Cliff & I set off alone. We got plant on ice and decided Buck could never get it in sled. We began pulling it by hand. A helluva job which we gave up half way across. I got Putt-Putt from yard to help us and we went after plant at 4:30. No trouble. Made it home by 6:30.

3/5/57 Layna’s Brownies “flew up” — all 13 of them, the proud mamas were all here, even 3 papas, so we had a house full. Everything went fine except when Karen ran up stairs and I began to clap.

3/6/57 Moe — Johnson got their new (second hand) record player and it looks like it might be OK. We have it on approval so will know more about it before we buy it. Put some good licks on sewing cabinet. Looks fine.

3/7/57 Bill Kirk, Bruno Seppala and I to look over new Mando site in Strange Bay. A beautiful day. Saw a fox on Rice Bay and even had hopes of getting a shot. Got a most disturbing letter from Ma. She accused me of most everything, including beating her out of $500. What a mess. I called Beryl but didn’t get too much satisfaction. There wasn’t much she could say or do so I didn’t expect much.

3/8/57 Woke up at 3 a.m. worrying about Ma. Got up, made a cup of tea, and wrote her a letter and enclosed 5 checks for $10 apiece. I suppose that’s all wrong, too!

3/9/57 We are finally Knot Heads! We made up a square, Seegerts, Moes, Brunettes & Johnsons and went to Virginia (100 miles) for no other reason than to dance. We had a glorious time, mostly because we were so impressed with Tom Thomley’s calling. A guest caller from Marble tried to hash us up and we made it without a hitch. Mae sure would have been proud of us on that one. Home at 3:30 a.m. Tired but not exhausted — must have been the exhilaration that kept us up.

3/10/57 Up at 9 a.m. to get Karen off for Sunday School and couldn’t get back to sleep. Retter called and I went down to pick up some odds and ends of lumber. Cliff and I with Karen — off for island on snowshoes at 1:30. I picked up instruction book for light plant and off for home. Karen pretty tired. Layna broiled us a duck apiece and as we were too tired to dance, we talked it until 8:30 when Moes went home.

3/11/57 Thaw — +52. We got a breath of spring today and the pulpwood haulers went wild. They have had the best winter on record but still behind in their hauling. Much confusion — with usual criticism by Archie. I called my mother and she said all was forgiven, tho God knows what there was to forgive. I have put this experience down as a prelude of what to expect as she grows older.

3/12/57 338 loads of pulp. Drew sketch of Karen’s desk and think it will be OK. It is a combination of ideas taken from magazine pictures and a few from us. To the Fort to talk over what is to be done to Mando for season. Louie has lost 22 pounds and looks good. To Father & Daughter banquet for Girl Scouts with Karen. It was a large event — about 300 people.

3/13/57 345 loads. Got in a full day on Karen’s desk and really went at it as tho I had made hundreds of the same kind. We are all getting pulpwooditis, but it hasn’t shown any adverse effects as yet. Bud, Scholta and I getting along fine. Retter with us from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. and he is acting good.

3/14/57 Storm! Biggest snow fall of season — or past few seasons for that matter — 11 inches all told. Winds up to 40 mph so roads shut in many areas. I have had a kind of a cold for some time so decided to take day off. No wood anyway. I worked on Karen’s desk all day and it is the best piece of furniture I have touched for sure. There sure is a lot of satisfaction in having a good place to work.

3/16/57 Most roads open after storm but pulpwood slow in getting started altho 60 loads came on day shift. I didn’t stay to see how many on night shift because I hit for square dancing at 8:30. I started a movement to get our club to cancel next dance so we could go to Big Falls and went thru hell-a-whooping. Should be fun. I put in a good morning on Karen’s desk. It is real cute!