The Johnson Journals, Chapter 4

Don Johnson Journals and Letters
1936 - Camp Koochiching Part 4

Feb. 4 Max –42 Min –16
Still all morning, wind coming up from SW and blowing like hell all afternoon. Partly cloudy in p.m. Today was Sally’s [fourth] birthday and I believe she enjoyed it all. There is no doubt in her mind now that she has left her babyhood behind her. The three bears went over big. Layna made a cake with candles and all the rest of the trimmings. It won’t be so very long before our little girl won’t be so proud of her birthdays.

Feb. 5 Max –40 Min –18 Moderate NW wind.
Clear. For the last few years we have been watching the effect of the moon on the weather. We have come to one conclusion. As the moon gets bigger the cold increases and seems to reach the greatest intensity about the time of the full moon. We have three or four cold snaps each year and these, almost invariably, come when the moon is near full. The two cold periods this year have run true to form. I wonder if there is any scientific explanation.

February 6 Max –28 Min –15 Moderate NW wind.
Clear. One more day and it would be two weeks since getting our mail. That would never do so I decided to go to town despite the weather. It took me until noon to write a letter to Vance describing in detail the progress on the boat. I am feeling independent as hell concerning my work so far. Just a hint from him saying that I am not going fast enough will sure send him a real letter. It certainly is a grand and glorious feeling to know that you are in the right. I am working on a job that really is a bit beyond my powers. A job that was wished on me by a boss that couldn’t or wouldn’t recognize his or my limitations. It is costing him more than he anticipated due to the fact that I work so damned slowly. Lord knows he isn’t paying me much but he might possibly forget the pace we traveled at when he was here and expects more from me. I repeat it – I am in no mood for fault finding in this case.
I walked all the way to Jim’s and must say that my hands were pretty cold when I got there. Jim was home and was getting ready to go to Ranier. George Erickson has found an interest in photography and as that is one of Jim’s accomplishments, he is doing all he can to help George out. He was going down to develop some pictures they had taken the night before. I was only too glad to go along. Really had an enjoyable evening. It was a new experience for me. Saw Buck for a while and told him that I thot it possible for him to come home with me the following day. The boy was vastly pleased. Jim and I didn’t get back to his place until 2 a.m. We then talked until 4. A long day.

Feb. 7 Max –30, Min –10 Wind NW Clear.
Jim showed me his boat building tools. I can see now that I lack not only in learning but also in equipment. After a great deal of hemming and hawing, I suggested that he might consider coming to Hibbing to live with us next fall. I won’t say that he jumped at the idea but he surely didn’t shy away from it either. During a previous conversation he said “This sure is a funny world. You have what I want (meaning our home life) and I have what you want (meaning his mechanical skill). It seems that no one can have everything.” It was on that remark that I based my suggestion. I told him that I thought it possible for us to beat the game in this instance. We would give him a place in our home and in return he would teach me the things I wanted most to know. The man not only has great skill but also has the ability of imparting his ability to others. I have always felt that I learned easier than most people. What could make a better combination? We picked up Buck in Ranier. He walked across from Ben’s without any trouble and was welcomed royally by the rest of the family. I hope that the feeling that now exists between Buck and Byrne is a permanent one.
I had a great pile of stuff from town to say nothing of the seven boards I bought for the boat. I loaded the supplies (including 5 gallons of lamp gas) on the toboggan and started for home. About a third of the way over, I decided that it was too much for me. I unloaded the gas and brought the rest on home. As I had to go down to the sand beach for a load of wood, I decided to let the rest stay over at Ben’s until tomorrow. Brought home a bunch of papers and found out for the first time about King George’s death as well as the passage of the soldiers’ bonus over the presidents’ veto. Damn those guys, anyway. Democracy sure is running beyond its basic principles when it allows a bunch like that to browbeat of bunch of weak kneed politicians to do their bidding. Money is a subject that I will freely admit a lack of understanding in. I have read enough history, however, to know that making it by way of the printing press, may it look ever so good, is one of those things that just doesn’t work. Despite the depression and the obvious need of more cash, the government has fought away from such an expedient. Those who kid themselves that they made the world safe for democracy have presented their demands with such force as to drive the country to it. Maybe (and I hope) that I am dumb in this and that it will work. Time will tell.
I might add one more thot. One might say that it is a sour grapes proposition with me. That is not the case. Lee [Don’s brother] owes me $25 that I had small chance of ever seeing again. There is a chance that he will see fit to part with it now. It sounds rather small to think of the welfare of a great nation in terms of 25 bucks in one pocket or another but what the hell. About 3 million veterans aren’t doing much better. I wonder what percent of them has a crappy feeling over accepting the money for the little they did during the war.

Feb 8 Max –18 Min 0. Strong NE to N wind.
A real blizzard. The temperature finally got up to the zero mark but for a reason. It has been too damned cold to snow. Now it is taking its chance. There isn’t much coming down, but what there is is being blown around in great style. You can hardly see the other shore. The lumber for the boat was still over at Ben’s and, as I was afraid that it would snow enough to make getting it home too tough, I went over after it despite the wild weather. I loaded the boards on the new sled and was agreeably surprised with the results. I came on home with very little trouble. Went down to the shop before noon but didn’t accomplish a great deal. nother of those “standing and looking” times.

February 9 Max 0 Min +8 Moderate NW wind. Clear.
The first Sunday that the Johnsons have been together full strength for three weeks. Carl helped me haul a load of wood and you would think that he had done a day’s work. He sure is soft. He talked today about making a little trip on snowshoes and camping out. As I questioned him on the details, I discovered that he thot it would be a good idea to end up at someone’s shack each night. He even admitted that he thot it would be a good idea to make Spike’s the first night and then get him to haul us around with the dogs the rest of the trip. That would be roughing it, all right.

Feb. 10 Max –10 Min 0. Wind NW moderate.
Partly cloudy. A blue Monday for sure. I came near going to bed without writing anything but that would be kidding myself. Might as well put down the bitter with the better. My cold seemed to have a relapse. At any rate, I felt pretty punk all day. Everything seemed miserable about the shop but I got a good start on the next pair of planks nevertheless. Layna was with me the greater part of the day and so got an earful of my lamentations. I sure would be a miserable devil to live with if I ever got anything really wrong with me. Quit work about 6:30. Was just leaving the shop when Frank Weldon and Ed Johnson came in on snowshoes. They stayed around awhile waiting for Spike to meet them with the dogs. He showed up after a bit. Frank plans on driving his car over this way tomorrow. He wants me to go and help him get across the portage at Dahlbergs. I hate to leave the boat but there isn’t much else I can do. If I write more, it will be sour, so won’t.