Jul 13 - Politics & the Democratic Convention**

Thursday, July 13, 1972 - Page 195
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

George McGovern, South Dakota Senator,
friend of Father Gilbert, and one of the directors
of Bethlehem's Shrine of the Nativity
(see my encounter with him in the July 17 entry)

The 1972 Democratic National Convention was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida, on July 10-13, 1972. It nominated Senator George McGovern of South Dakota for President and Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri for Vice President.

Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri

Eagleton later withdrew from the race when it was disclosed that he had undergone mental health treatment, including electroshock therapy, and he was replaced on the ballot by Sargent Shriver of Maryland.

Sargent Shriver, statesman & activist

7:30 PM
We got to work late today -- about 10:00 A.M. We usually get started at 8:00 A.M., and finish at 4:30. Today we quit at 3:00 (I finished at 4:30, however). I worked on finishing cement that Tim (the new kid), and Clint (but later Greg) put down. Mixing was Mike, and hauling was John & Greg (but later Clint). We got 40 more feet done today. I'm reading "I'm OK, You're OK" (am now about to read 2nd Chapter). Lyle showed up today at supper. It was another sunny day.

(9:00 AM 7/14/1972)
Quite a few people came today -- besides five nuns, M.R. (that's Mrs. Rogers), Gil, Me, Tom, Tom, Tim, Greg, Bruce, John, Clint, Pearce, Dorothy, & Mike, there were a few temporary people: Lyle, Joe, Alexandria, Julie, Julie, Megan (all together in the same car), and a group with kids and Father Murphy.

Bruce baby-sat for a two & a half-year old kid named Sean, whilst his mother was in the cave. Jim & I assisted for a while, then I started playing poker with Greg. I beat him, just barely, and we got thru at 12:45. The Demo Con is still going -- McGov has his V.P. picked. Greg continues to be anti-McGov even though everyone else in this place is pro (McGovern, incidentally, is one of the inter-denominational directors of this place).

Jim's hand

TOMORROW: Serious cave crawling

Jul 12 - I'm OK, You're OK

Wednesday, July 12, 1972 - Page 194
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

5:00 PM
Missed breakfast as usual. We worked on the laying of the cement (We: Me, Tom S., and Brad). The wall beside Storm's is getting started -- working on that are Bruce, Clint, Tom & sometimes me. On forms are Jim & Pearce. Dorothy is out walking around, so her foot is better. John, Greg & Mike were mixing and hauling cement.

Tom Hildebrand and John

Gordy left this morning for Minnesota. We had some tourists today, as we did yesterday. I almost caught a chipmunk yesterday, but it was too clever. I'll catch one someday. Yesterday, I learned a squirrel lives in the walls of Storm's. Hmm. I'm reverting to the events of yesterday -- that must mean I'm thru with today. Yes, it must.

9:00 PM
Mike & I spent some time throwing rocks into the Canyon and at nearby trees in the valley. We climbed down the original entrance to the Shrine of the Nativity and went in, walking out by just candle-light. Fr. Gil went to pick somebody up, I think -- Tim Somebody. There are going to be some more people coming up this week. I'm going to start "I'm OK, You're OK" now...

(The photos on these pages were put in on August 18, 1972. But I had them a long time already. Most were taken by Mike Mills, but I'm not sure exactly when.) [From 2013: I've taken the photos that were clustered on these pages and scattered them throughout July]

TOMORROW: Politics & The Democratic Convention

Jul 10 - Geri's photos of Europe trip*

Monday, July 10, 1972 - Page 192
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

7:00 PM
I've just finished putting in the photos Geri took [April 21 & 22; April 29 & 30]. I missed breakfast today, of course -- it was windy and somewhat cloudy, but most of the day was warm, clear and calm. I did various things -- hauled cement to Clint & Tom S. who put it in the forms, shoveled dirt away from the bank (just now I wrote "Happy Birthday to me," on July 17, 72), finished cement, constructed forms with Pierce (Dorothy, by the way, turned her ankle badly yesterday, so she's incapacitated), and began grading the land near Storm's.

Klint

Jeff's gone, most of the nuns are still here, two groups of tourists dropped by to see the cave, Mike Mills beat me in two more games of chess, and I read some more in "The Thing In The Stone" [by Clifford Simak originally published in Worlds of IF Science Fiction, March 1970: A man who suffered brain damage can see the ancient past & hear the traffic of the stars -- and a mysterious creature trapped under a mountain...]. I'm learning to find more time where I can now, so I'll be doing more reading, some writing, and possibly some artwork.

John, Bruce, Clint, Tom & Tom are gone now, out helping a doctor move his motorcycle from Wonderland Cave. Jim's out someplace playing his guitar (I can hear the music vaguely). I am now in Abbott's, and Mike and Greg are in the next room fooling with some psychological test. Brad is unaccountable as usual. Today Gil mentioned that he'll want me to do some art work for a pamphlet. Progress on that will be forthcoming. Now I'm going to write captions for the Europe photos. -- It rained for a while today, then cleared up. The Democratic convention took place. I lost in poker.

Tom Hildebrand, Father Gilbert's right-hand man

TOMORROW: Flood-Repair Meeting in Deadwood

Jul 08 - Chess, Football & Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Saturday, July 8, 1972 - Page 190
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

(4:00 PM 7/9/1972)
I woke up today at about 10:00 A.M. when Tom Shearing came in. They found me in the retreat house at 8:00, when they saw I wasn't in Abbott's. Before getting to work, I played a game of chess with Mike Mills and beat him. We worked on the walks leading from the reception center --- (TEMPORARILY STOPPED) It is now July 9, 4:30 -- to continue with last entry -- Mike and I layed about 30 feet of side walk, with Greg, Jeff, and Tom mixing, and Jim & Pearce making the forms. Tom H., Bruce, John & Clint worked at the Sheckle's again -- they'll be gone till Monday or Tuesday, so they won't work there again for awhile.

Mike & Greg mixing cement

I want to get this over quickly, so I'll go as fast as I can -- Six nuns came Saturday, so did Penny, whom I met in January. I played her a game of chess after supper (won of course). I tried to find Bruce so we could give her the psych test -- I found him in the Abbott's Cabin playing chess with Greg -- he lost several games, and things deteriorated into a philosophical/theological discussion that persisted till 11:30 P.M. (that's a period of several hours).

I gave Tom Shearing my drawing of the girl on page 153 [6/1/72],* so she's not there anymore [Side note: * See page 153 for info on that. (June 1)] -- he appreciates art so I let him have it for free tho he offered to pay. --- We played football today: Me & Bruce against Greg, Mike & John -- when Jim joined our team, we won, 21 to 7. Rah! --- Jonathan Livingston Seagull has made its appearance. I'm "in" cause I've read it.

Wikipedia: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach, is a fable regarding a nice-guy seagull learning about life & flight, and a homily about self-perfection. First published in 1970, over a million copies were in print by the end of 1972, Reader's Digest had published a condensed version, and the book reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller list where it remained for 38 weeks.

TOMORROW: Geri from Europe Trip Arrives

Jul 06 - Forgetfulness: Non-Total Recall****

Thursday, July 6, 1972 - Page 188
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

REMEMBERING MOVIES ABOUT MEMORIES

We are the sum total of all our experiences. Our personal memories make us unique human beings -- but in the long run, what will you really remember about your life?

In this journal I faithfully recorded numerous movies I saw in 1972. I can hardly remember any of them today. How about you? What movies will endure in your memory after 40 years? How many of your experiences will permanently stick with you?

RECALLING TWO TOTAL RECALLS -- WHAT WILL YOU RETAIN?

MEMORIES FOR SALE
Here's an interesting case study. We have two movies titled "Total Recall" that explore the impact of Real versus False memories.

The original film was made in 1990 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sharon Stone. The second version, a remake from 2012, starred Colin Farrell & Kate Beckinsale. Have you seen them?

To avoid spoilers, I advise you to pass over this section now... But for those who have caught both versions, let's investigate your future recollections. Here are some scenes that you might be able to retain over the years…

"REKALL" INJECTS A FAKE MEMORY THAT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE

Doug Quaid tries to spice up his dull life by going to REKALL to have an exciting false vacation implanted in his mind. The treatment conflicts with a suppressed memory (he's really a rogue secret agent) that propels him into a fight for his life.

QUAID'S WIFE IS REALLY A DEADLY IMPOSTER

Later, Quaid finds out that his lovely wife Lori is actually an evil agent. When she learns that REKALL has exposed his blocked memories, she vigorously tries to kill him, but Quaid overcomes her attack and forces her to admit the truth. 

REMOVING THE TRACKING DEVICE

While running from the Bad Guys, our hero learns that he must remove tracking hardware from his body. In the 1990 edition, Quaid pulls out a "bug" from his nasal cavity. In the 2012 remake, he needs to extract a subcutaneous mobile phone from inside his right hand.

WHAT WILL YOU TOTALLY RECALL?

Think about it… How does your memory actually work? What sticks and what doesn't? When these films fade into the ancient history of your life, what images will survive to prove that you've actually seen these movies?

THE MOST LIKELY PROBABILITY...

Based on promotional interviews, online feedback and various articles regarding these films, I can guess what will ultimately be retained by most people when they are asked, "Did you ever see Total Recall?"

Probably the most memorable long-term images from these movies are presented at the bottom of this entry. Check it out...

But first, here is today's entry from 1972:
(5:00 PM 7/9/1972)
Thursday is too far removed from my memory, so unfortunately I must bow to the ravages of time and admit I forgot what transpired this day.

However, I do remember that Bruce, Clint and I were laying forms for the side walk at the driveway. But we blew it and Gil decided Pearce should do the forms from now on. Several more games of chess were played and I continued to beat Bruce. That's all I can recall. ---

[Actually, this appears to be an abbreviated recollection of events that occurred on the previous day, July 5, which underscores this entry's theme of the faultiness of memory]

(The moldy piece of paper attached to this page was found in the cave when Me, Tom S., Greg & Jim went crawling. It bears the combination to the cave, and I thought I should save it, and I just got around to putting it in now... "Now" is about a month hence: 1:15 P.M., August 4, 1972. I'm in Ken's room in Chicago, Ill.)

Secret combination revealed here for the first time

Back to TOTAL RECALL -- What will finally stick in your mind?

Is this what most of us will remember after decades of forgetting everything else? Are these the only images that will persist from Total Recall 40 years from now? Probably.

TOMORROW: Darlene, horses & an unfortunate allergy

Jan 17 - Lame jokes & newer plans

Monday, January 17, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

3:00 PM
This is our last day here. Matt talked with his parents last night: A friend of Jack's will fly here in the morning, Matt & I will drive to the airport, and the three of us will go back. I'm spending the day packing, and Matt's recording some records before we disassemble the stereo.

The characters here have been: Fr. Gilbert Stack, Tom Hildebrand, Wheezie (Steve Minor), Keith Koball, Brad, Dotty, Dorothy, Pearce, Mrs. Rogers, Swede, and Phil (who is now in Rapid City visiting friends for a while). Matt vacuumed Storms (the Stereo Cabin), and I put away the chairs in the main room of the retreat house, which had been put there for the big meeting a few days ago.

We've been talking alot at dinner -- last night during a conversation somebody asked what's black and white and red all over. I said, of course, a pregnant nun, and Fr. Gil chuckled uncontrollably for a few moments. Today I suggested (while reaching for a fried egg) that eggs are the largest single cell in existence (it's not true, and everybody knows that, but that's what my physiology teacher said once) and that started a big discussion on physics, surface tension, calculus, tetrahedrons, pi and various other odd things, most of which were brought up by Gil, and explained. He's bright and he lets everyone know it.

8:30 PM
Matt came in -- "Ta da!" I exclaimed upon his entrance. The stereo was blaring, and I said, "Are we packing that tonight or tomorrow morning?" -- "Huh?" he said. "Have you called your parents yet?" -- "What?" -- "When are we leaving tomorrow?" -- "I... better call," he answered, moving for the door. "Mayhaps you ought," I replied -- "What?" he said, opening the door. "Mayhaps you ought," I repeated more clearly. "Huh?" he asked, and I repeated again. "Oh," he said going out the door. -- "I wax poetic in my phrase," I explained. "I wax deaf in my ears," he finished. Then I turned the stereo off.