From Rich Campbell (68):
Gary,
Thought I would offer a little “testimonial” to anyone considering the Alaska Cruise. My wife and I took this exact cruise last summer. Our 35th wedding anniversary. It was our first. We had a great time. The scenery was spectacular to say the least. I would offer some observations/suggestions to those who are “cruising” for the first time. The 6:30 PM dinner seating is perfect. It gives you time after to enjoy the ship and the entertainment. Plan to diet before or after the cruise–you won’t while on the ship! Take advantage of the entertainment. It was first class. If you can, get the oceanview view cabins. You can enjoy the view all the time. This inside cabins looked claustrophobic. Plan to take advantage of the “onshore” excursions. It adds to the cost but gives you a flavor of Alaska. (remember, for most this is a once in a lifetime event) I would avoid the onshore airplane excursions. One crashed and 4 passengers from our cruise died. I heard of a similar incident about a month later. We enjoyed the crabfest trip and the whale watching trip the best. The train trip was just ok. Stick to the excursions offered through the cruise. They make sure you are back before the ship is scheduled to depart. Bring some warm clothes. It gets chilly when on the ocean. Most of all, have fun.
Rich Campbell
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When I saw the picture of Dan McKay it reminded me of the time he
invited me to go with to Lake Metigoshe to go fishing with him. I don’t
think we were much more than 4-5th grade. We were out in an old row boat
and Dan had a brand new fishing rod that I believe he got for his
birthday. Anyway, Dan being the generous and good friend that he was,
let me use his new rod and reel. He was explaining to me about casting
and I wasn’t getting it about the button you release, so just as I was
to cast he said “Let Go” You guessed it, I let go of everything and his
brand new rod and reel are still at the bottom of the lake. Every time I
think of, hear Dan’s name or go fishing I think about this and feel
really bad. Dan the next time you are up around Long Lake come over to
my little spot and either throw my rod and reel in the damn lake or take
one of mine and maybe I can get over this guilt that has been eating at
me for well over 40 years
By the way my fishing hasn’t improved much since then
Rod Hiatt
invited me to go with to Lake Metigoshe to go fishing with him. I don’t
think we were much more than 4-5th grade. We were out in an old row boat
and Dan had a brand new fishing rod that I believe he got for his
birthday. Anyway, Dan being the generous and good friend that he was,
let me use his new rod and reel. He was explaining to me about casting
and I wasn’t getting it about the button you release, so just as I was
to cast he said “Let Go” You guessed it, I let go of everything and his
brand new rod and reel are still at the bottom of the lake. Every time I
think of, hear Dan’s name or go fishing I think about this and feel
really bad. Dan the next time you are up around Long Lake come over to
my little spot and either throw my rod and reel in the damn lake or take
one of mine and maybe I can get over this guilt that has been eating at
me for well over 40 years
By the way my fishing hasn’t improved much since then
Rod Hiatt
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Hi Gary and Dwight,
Thank you for the stories about my Dad, I have no memory of snow planes…..I know my Dad liked speed and drove those Ninty-Eight Oldsmobiles he loved about 90 miles an hour on a slow day. I use to love to ride with him, all the windows down…and get him to take a few of the girls for a ride too….great fun!
Evie
P.S. Exactly what is a snow plane?
P.S. I want to brag just a little, our daughter graduated from law school on Saturday….so now we have a lawyer in the family ….I didn’t know the difference between a lawyer and an attorney but now I do…..an
attorney has passed the bar…..hopefully that will happen real soon!
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Thanks for the generous comments about my sculpture commission….and, Donna, also for the flattering comment but I AM 62 and there’s NO doubt about it. How did we end up in our 60′s?….seemed impossible to imagine when we were in high school.
Dwight….your story was incredible. I can’t imagine too many 10 and 6 year olds today who would even know what to do in that situation, never mind being able to actually do it. They don’t raise ‘em like they used to.
Colette
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Gary
How are you doing? I thought you would be still sleeping?
Just to let you know the wife and I made a run to the Turtle Mountains this past week end. I thought it was dry around this area, but its a lot drier up North. Willow Creek is dry and the lakes are way down, with some being completely dry. There are very few leaves out and the grass is still brown up there. The wind was blowing so hard we had to hang onto the tombstones at the cemetery to keep from getting blown off the hill. It took a lot of effort but we got done what we wanted to do. It was not as enjoyable as it should have been, as I like to walk around at my leisure, read the names on the stones, and remember the people and the times. It was instead, jump out of the vehicle, do what you can and jump back into the vehicle. The highlight of the trip was stopping at Dale’s and having a jumbo. The restaurant looks real nice and the jumbo was the best I have ever eaten. It was delicious and made the whole trip worth while. I would go have another today if the gas prices weren’t so ridiculous.
Ernie was there wasting his time on a hamburger and fries. Ernie said they have a few roof leaks and are still doing some work on the outside of the building. I told Ernie you have to have a good roof to protect your investment otherwise everything will get ruined in know time. I know he knows that, but I told him that anyway.
Ernie said they are having a lot of problems with fires in the area. In fact all the fire equipment in the area was out fighting a fire three miles north of Dunseith. Ernie said it was the second day of fighting fire in that area. They must have stopped it as the way the wind was blowing, by now it would be knocking on Fargo’s door step.
You take care Gary, and if I get another chance to get up to Dunseith this summer, I’ll be sure and stop and eat a jumbo for you and Bill. Doesn’t that make you and Bill happy and your mouths water. to know that there are people out here thinking of you.
Larry
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Crystal mentioned the photo she sent of Pam Fassett’s birthday party was taken in Omemee , ND . I’m just curious how many people remember the pop factory that was in Omemee? It was run by a man named Rasmussen. Our Grandpa Fassett (Bill- my dad’s dad…obviously) used to load up us ‘brats’, as he lovingly referred to his granddaughters and head to Omemee in his green & white Chevy for cases of pop. It was quite a trip. Especially since Grandpa never drove more than 45 mph – made it feel like you really going a LONG distance. Of course, he rarely stopped at a stop sign – just slowed down and always said he’d stop twice at the next one – so that may have shortened the trip up some! I remember Mr. Rasmussen wore wire rim glasses and never had the ear wires wrapped around his ears – they were always just kind of propped over his ears. And he ALWAYS treated us to a free bottle of pop – flavor of our choice – and there were many flavors – strawberry, orange, blackcherry, grape and I think he even had crème soda. It was a real treat for us……and quite the adventure!
Paula
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Gary and Friends,
Dwight Lang mentioned in one of his emails how my dad, Don Johnson,
always looked overdressed for Dunseith. I can remember when we were at
the farm, dirty from working, if Dad had to go somewhere for parts,
etc., he would clean up and change clothes before he went. He didn’t
want any one to see him dirty! I have one picture of us, when we were
all in the field, when Dad was black from field work! He was that way
every day but no one ever saw him like that! He made sure of that! We
farmed quite a bit of land, our own and rented, and he did a lot of
field work and repair so he was plenty dirty real often! The picture
below was the way you will remember him but when I find the one of us
covered with dirt and grease I’ll send it!
The other photo is of Ramona Dionne [ Mona Johnson ] when she was a
sophomore at DHS in 1946. Although we aren’t related, my folks spent
time with Mona and Chuck doing things at the lake, etc. This is Mom’s
picture of Mona so they must have been together then too. Thanks Gary!!
Dick
