Back by popular demand ...

Bonnie and Dolly take over the Atomic North Star Ranch

[Editor Note: Bonnie’s back. Enjoy this latest edition from Holli’s mom.]

It’s time for a new “On the Drift.” Since the original writer is very busy, I will step in. She is super busy and I have plenty of time on my hands so welcome to the latest edition of her story and what turns out to be mine. So let’s delve into how life has changed for all of us with my daughter building a new life as a Midwesterner.

As you know my daughter, she lives life to the fullest and she has jumped in with both feet. You never know when a post will come up about where she is exploring or what she’s doing to the house. One thing about her, as you all know, is she loves life and wants to know everything! She has so much of her dad in her, as he too was always planning a trip or something to do. He used to say “let’s get something on the calendar so we have something to look forward to.”

I think she is happy to be a Midwesterner again! This move for her has made the lives of the Hartman girls so much better! We get together for Hartmanfest whenever we can. It is now so much easier to plan. The Hartmanfests are filled with love and drink and laughter and reminiscing and fun. We all love them!

I personally am super happy about this change. One of my biggest concerns was that she would be sorry she moved since being close to me was part of her equation in deciding to move back. She and my other two daughters think that someone needs to take care of me as I age!! Well, I am not dead yet, and they seem to want to keep it that way. There have been some items that have come up. My girls decided I needed a “safer” car. I was fine with my little Ford Focus that got 40 miles to the gallon. I told them if they wanted to get together and buy me a new car that I would accept it!! Haha – that quieted things down a bit. Then there was intervention from up above! By gosh, my car needed a big $1700 repair so within 30 minutes I had purchased the exact car they thought I should have. Girls 1, Mom 0. Next comes up the fact that I live on the second floor. What would I do if I fell and broke my leg? Something more to think about with us senior citizens. Well, I tell them lies!!!! Time to make up for the many lies I was told through the years. I said I would move to a ground floor condo when one came up in my building. That solved the problem for the moment.!! Girls 1, Mom 1. More on this as time goes on.

I really love coming up to Rochester to take care of Dolly. As I love all my granddogs – they each have their own personalities. But Dolly is the subject today. She loves me as I walk her twice a day when I come. She has this quirky thing about lotion. She can hear you open the bottle or smell when you open the bottle and she marches right to you like, “I know what you’ve done,” and immediately starts licking the lotion off your skin. If you try and hide your hands she digs with her nose until she can lick them. And there is quite nothing like waking up at 5 a.m. with a brown face and a wet nose on your cheek saying, “feed me! Feed me!” And one thing about Dolly – you never have to wash the dishes, as she licks the plates so clean, you can just put them right back in the cupboard!

And the house! You should come and see it! She has transformed it into a beautiful place of peace and tranquility and wonder!! I love it so much – even better than her Denver home. It has turned me into a Mid Century Modern nut! I am constantly on the lookout for the stuff we got rid of or didn’t want, because it was outdated when we were growing up. It has been fun looking and shopping for and buying (with her permission) for the Atomic North Star Ranch. I recently returned her grandfather Herschel’s radio to her. He had it in the basement in his workroom. I remember it was purchased at Herschel and Verna’s estate sale by a dear friend’s husband. He recently died and I asked if I could purchase it back and she was kind enough to give it to me. Thank you Pixie for returning a piece of our heritage to us. Holli is thrilled with it and you are so kind to return it to her.

Holli does have her limits, though. I did find a light switch face plate that would go in my bathroom perfectly and it was $27, but she said “too much money.” The from a gal that has a Tesla, two homes, and automated window shades. I think that light switch cover may be going on her Christmas list.

Even though I do have my own bedroom and a bathroom at her house, this is not my home and I have no right to invite you without her permission. BUT – should you get up this way, definitely stop in. There is lots of shopping, plenty of great restaurants and the Mayo Clinic is just a couple of miles away.

Til next time, a very happy Iowa mom.

Bonnie Hartman