Thanks to Larry and Don for the insight on the neighborhood. My
neighbor, Audrey Anderson Smith, was a sister to Arol (Bud) Anderson.
She told me many stories about Bud and Carroll Carlson.One time Bud’s
wife, Norma, got tired of Carroll and Bud arguing about politics and
went to bed at midnight. She got up in the morning and they were still
sitting at the table—arguing about politics! I think Carroll lived
alone too long and this was the main reason he was considered
introverted by most folks. He really liked to visit and talk but usually
didn’t if he had to start the conversation. Knowing this, I always would
break the ice and he would talk right along. If we asked him to come
over for a meal, he would usually say, “Ah, I got plenty to eat over
here, he he he, do you think I’m gettin’ skinny or what?” The next words
were usually, “What time, he he he?” He was VERY knowledgeable about
history and current events and expressed his opinion! I placed value in
his opinions because of his personal experiences over many years.
Several times we invited him up to our cabin on Lake Metigoshe. He just
loved to ride around the lake on my pontoon. I remember one day we took
a cruise around the north lake and then went back to the cabin to eat.
After we ate and sat around for a while, I said, “Anyone care to take a
ride around the south lake?” Carroll nearly tipped his chair over when
he jumped up and headed for the dock! It was fun for me to see someone
who still enjoyed the little things in life. He was a good friend and I
sure miss him.

Larry’s mention of roll-your-own smokes reminded me of my Grandpa Hans
Johnson and his flat can of Prince Albert. I really loved the smell of
his tobacco and the smoke was sweet, not rank like the cigarettes today.
Grandpa died in the fall of 1965. It was about 30 years later that I was
trucking hay and stopped in St. John for noon lunch at the little cafe.
There wasn’t a table left in the whole place so an old fellow I only
kind of knew said I could sit with him if I wanted. He was just
finishing his meal when I sat down. I was looking around the room and
all at once this smell from 30 years ago hit me. I looked at him and he
had just lit up a home-rolled P.A.! It was like instantly going back in
time! It’s amazing how the mind can store the memory of a certain smell
for all those years!

Seim’s well—good water for sure! We went to their well and got
drinking water in a cream can out of the covered underground tank below
the big windmill.I used to take the bottom cushion out of the old Model
A and set the cream can in the back. If we got water in the morning, the
sun shined through the small doorway and I remember seeing all the way
to the bottom of the deep tank. Clear and cold! My grandmother also used
the water can as a weather forecaster. It sat in the entry to the old
house at the farm and if it started to ‘sweat’ (condense on the outside
of the can) she would say, “You better finish putting up that hay today,
it’s going to rain.” It usually did! While I’m on the subject of old
predictors of weather, Grandpa always said to watch the seagulls. If
they are flying low over the lake it will more than likely rain. If they
fly high, no rain. If the foam from the waves on the lake lines up in
streaks–rain. If the oak leaves turn over and show their silver
underside–rain. The old ‘red sky at night–sailor’s delight, red sky in
the morning–sailors take warning’ still works most of the time too! I
still watch for these signs and they still hold true most of the time.
The old folks were much more in touch with nature than most people are
today. We have Doppler radar, the weather channel, and radio so the old
ways are not even considered anymore. Oh well, technology moves on but I
still use the old signs as well. Thanks to Don, Larry, and Gary!

Dick