Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Part 73
• Scaling: weighing the loads and writing the checks
• The Johnsons see several movies at local theaters
• Don visits friends in hospital — exercises, diets

1/1/57 Another year and another diary. I missed almost the whole month of December in my last one — can’t even think why. Here we go again. I had to go to work at 3:30 p.m. The pulp landing had been closed for 24 hours, therefore we found 36 trucks waiting for us. They were dispatched in our (Fintland, Herrem, Johnson) usual efficient manner and it was rather slow the rest of the night.

1/2/57 Wrote to Ma, and a long letter it was. Gave her a full report on grand and great grand children. She is still with Beryl. Altho she went after a considerable amount of persuasion on Beryl’s part, I am sure, she is happy and comfortable now that she is there. It should help to break up the winter which is so long for older folks. It isn’t for us — I love it!

1/3/57 Ever since we made the first hike in our back yard, I have been intrigued with the idea of walking a mile south and then hitting east to the road. Did it alone today. Hit some rough country but all in all a most pleasant and invigorating experience. Came out in Larson’s field and walked back to Dutchy’s and called Layna. Jim came up soon after for a full report. Pulp rolling in like mad.

1/4/57 390 loads of pulp in today. Bob Lessard put on check writing. He looks like the right sort, here is a good chance to know him better.

1/5/57 Supposed to work until 11:30 p.m. but at 8:30 ran out to go square dancing. Layna and Lou hostesses so I got into part of cleaning mess. Two squares stayed on until 1:30 a.m. We sure got a gang that can hang tough.

1/6/57 Mr. & Mrs. Higgenbotham, from California, to see us at 9 a.m. about Dahlberg’s place. We made arrangements and Buck took them in snow sled. They look good. At 1 p.m. Johnsons (Karen, too), Moes, Collins & Jim DiOnne on snow shoe run. Some of us all the way to Larson’s. A beautiful day. Back to Collins for hot dish & couple of drinks. At 7 p.m. LaValleys, Claude Stewarts and Charlie Stuart joined gang at our house for dancing. Broke up at 12. A full day.

1/8/57 -21. Karen put pressure on for family to see “Best Things in Life are Free.” We went — not bad. Sneak preview to follow main event, but I was all for going home — we had been out too much lately. When the title was announced as “Anastasia,” I sat down. By far the best acting performance for a long time. Ingrid Bergman a much mature and polished actress. Helen Hayes and Yul Bryner turned in excellent jobs.

1/9/57 -27. Collins invited Layna, Karen and I over for dinner. Houskas there. Much interesting conversation, some relative to morals of youth as result of seeing some movies. Baby Doll started discussion. Ed’s opinion colored by Catholic viewpoint — and why not? Mine just as colored by lack of religious thinking (prejudice?). To bed by 11 p.m. Earliest in week.

1/10/57 Another cold morning but pulpwood as usual. I get aggravated as hell now and then by the orders and counter orders that flow in and out of our office but so far have kept my mouth shut. Regular square dance night in Fort but Layna entertains Club in Ranier so we didn’t go. One of the few we have missed, so I sit home — finished “Island in the Sun” and write in diary.

1/11/57 To Littlefork hospital to see Lawrence. He was sitting up and talking of going home. He is partly being repaid for all he did for Gladys I. Gladys II stays with him from 9-9 each day — and he shows his appreciation. I would sure hate to carry him off to the cemetery now that he has found the best happiness in years.

1/12/57 Big dance at Mae’s. 2 squares, some out of her beginners class. Reverend McNaughten and wife there. I view all such people with suspicion but he looks like the right sort. They left at 10 p.m. But rest hung around too long. Broke up at 1 a.m. Even we were tired which means that others must have been dead beat.

1/13/57 Twenty five below and 15 mph wind. We got up at 10 a.m. and I walked out the back door and around to the front and decided there wasn’t a damn thing I wanted to do outside. I built a fire in the fireplace and it was the center of activity for the three of us most of day. The only thing of value accomplished, I skinned and butchered a deer. Layna wrapped same. We cut off 5 chops for lunch. Moes called to say they were going to dance at Kenny’s at 7 p.m. We went. Collins there. Broke up at 11 p.m. A pleasant, easy evening.

1/14/57 Layna worked all day sorting out old pictures. I was called on to make selection. What a conglomeration of stuff. At one time they were fairly well in order but time, with our help, has sure messed them up. Retter at home so Oscar supposed to work a 16 hour shift. He pooped out at 6 p.m. leaving Scholta and me alone. We got caught in a rush that lasted until 9 p.m. We then had 200 tickets to check. We finished just at 11:30. Archie & George Jones furnished usual irritants.

1/15/57 Picked out about a dozen pictures for collection and sent to Bert Lehman with a note. He should get a kick out of both. Wrote a recommendation for Jim to U of M graduate school. I thot it pretty good — hope they agree.

1/17/57 Hadn’t done a darn thing in the way of exercise all week except punch the bag so at 10 a.m. took off on snow shoes. Walked a mile straight south and cut west until I hit track. Then hit off on logging road in NE direction and hit my trail. One hour and 45 minutes of steady going — felt real good. To Fort where I talked over moving houseboat with Bill Kirk and Louie. Back in time for work.

1/18/57 Layna had a few things she wanted on island so we decided to go over with Jeep. Not cold, but snowing & blowing. Traveling good where slush froze to surface but some places drifts hard enough to walk on. We got stuck in those places.

1/19/57 On a 1000 calorie diet all week and lost 2 #. Layna on same deal and lost 4 #. So it goes. Much to this deal that we do not understand, but doctors don’t agree, either. Retter to hospital for prostate operation. Working nights but got off at 9 p.m. for square dance. Stayed until 1 a.m. and on to Mae’s for drink. Cold coming on and took antihistamine pills. We shall see how it works.

1/20/57 Karen all set to go to Sunday school when she complained of being sick. She went back to bed and we called Dr. Chermak. Our little girl feeling mighty tough. He gave her a shot, along with prescription for 3 kinds of medicine. She felt better as day went along, altho she was dopey when she wasn’t sleeping. Moes, LaValleys, Seegerts, Burrocks here for 5 p.m. meal. We danced until 11 p.m. We took time off for me to show 20 minutes of pictures. When coffee hour came, Layna and I got going on Dahlbergs and kept at it until 12:30. Karen much better by the time we turned in.

1/21/57 Karen still a little woozy but much better. We kept her out of school. We are in the midst of a real cold wave. Temperature down in the -30s for several days. Pulp is slow coming in. Oscar on sick list so Owen asked about Buck. I said I would see about it. He didn’t know that the idea came from Johnson to Wagness to Miggins.

1/22/57 20º below and as there was no sign of Buck, I walked up to island to get him. We came back in snow sled. He called Mpls for OK from Curtice and got it. On to Miggins where he was put on M&O payroll. At the present, this looks like a good move for all concerned.

1/23/57 -26. Layna and I to see “War & Peace.” A movie spectacle of all time. We enjoyed all 3 hours and 40 minutes of it. We had seen Audrey Hepburn on stage which made picture worth that much more to us. Wrote letter to MacKellar outlining work & expense for next season on Mando. This is a new deal. Maybe a buck passing proposition.

1/24/57 25 below zero but Moes and us to Fort Frances for square dance. They don’t dance our style but good people to be with. Buck came to work and no doubt but he will get along fine. He has his foot in the door toward a scaling job and I think it a healthy situation.

1/25/57 To hospital to see Retter and Oscar and ran into Emil Johnson. All three quite seriously ill. Retter almost rundown from dope given since operation. Tonns, Misner and us out to see Lawrence. He looked good. It was their paper anniversary and we brought appropriate stuff.