Amana

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Happy Father’s day. Both the boys checked in early in the day. I would like to note that I only got one to text me on Mother’s Day. It’s not their fault. They were raised wrong.

We stayed at the Hotel Millwright in Amana this weekend. It was very nice. I really liked staying in the old Mill works. I like all re-used things and places.

I had heard of the Amana Colonies before coming here last year. I think I thought they were some kind of Amish place, but I have since learned that they were indeed built by a group of people fleeing persecution, but they were not Amish. They believed that God talked to individuals who were meant to share his word. They did not like Lutheranism and chose not to send children to Lutheran schools or to become soldiers. Eventually, in 1855, they emigrated to Iowa and settled seven colonies, living a communal life until 1931. The depression was tough on them, and people were ready to work to make better lives for themselves instead of sharing everything.

Last year we didn’t get much of a chance to walk around town, as we needed to get back to MN asap on Sunday. Today, we wandered along the shops and restaurants. I was suffering from the 50 bites I got Friday night. We went into the general store and looked for something to put on to lessen the itching. They had everything else, so why not that? I found a spray for sore muscles that also said it was great for bug bites. Keith said BUY IT. I said but look – there is a tester. It says try me. So I did. It seemed like snake oil to me, but the itching reduced for a while. Psychosomatic? Maybe.

We bought root beer and popcorn and a scrubbie for dishes and some salsa and.. and something. Oh. Taffy. It was 10 cents OR 10 for $1. It was very good taffy. I wish I’d gotten more.

We went to Yana’s Ladies Boutique. Oh, man. We spent a lot of money. They had pretty clothes. Keith had a nice chair by the changing room. He made friends with the shopkeeper, who was from Czech Republic. I got three dresses and three shirts. And a necklace. He said I could not say no because it was Father’s Day.

Huh.

It was 1:00pm and we were hungry. We went to the Ox Yoke Inn for the Father’s Day buffet. It was delicious. It had everything we could possibly have wanted – including pavlova with whipped cream and fruit.

We tasted lots on the first trip and somehow ended up with two bizarre plates of white food on the second run.

Keith’s last plate was very specific.

I went back and sprayed my legs with muscle helper one more time before we hit the road. I fell asleep right away. I woke up when Keith was asking me if I needed to use the bathroom because we were stopping for gas. I said sure, because we were there. I floated across the parking lot feeling very sleepy. When he came in (very soon, after pumping gas) I was staring at a case of sandwiches. Why? I think I was still asleep. I was not hungry (see buffet story). He said he was going to the bathroom. I followed. There was a voice from the ceiling saying that shower #4 was ready for customer 57. Keith turned into the men’s room/shower area, and I tried to stop him because he wasn’t customer 57 (or was he?) and he shouldn’t shower, but my arms didn’t work. I used the bathroom and wandered back out. Keith found me looking at sandwiches again. He asked if I wanted one. I said no. I walked away from him and went to the Subway within the building. He followed me and offered to get me a sandwich, but I said no. We went back to the car and set off into the unknown of Iowa. About 5-10 miles down the road, I woke up completely. I remember doing all those things, but really, really, really was out of it. I remember it as really, really fun. I think I was drugged by taffy.