Posted by blamethebanjo on Saturday, June 7, 2008
Using directions I got from Mapquest my Wife and oldest granddaughter started out to visit a small town about 75 miles south of Traverse City. Anytime I can I head south I do. That is another story in itself.
70th Avenue was the name of one of the last stretches we had to travel. About twelve miles long it ended almost right in the town. We were all surprised when we turned onto the road because it wasn't paved. It was barely gravelled. A recent rain had the numerous pot holes filled with water making some of them look deceivingly shallow. My wife started to grumble about the mud slinging up on our van while I tried hard to find a bright spot to remark about.
I mentioned that the roadway was mostly covered in wagon tracks with evidence of horses recently using it. This didn't lighten her mood at all. Suddenly to our left I saw a young lady at a clothesline in her yard. The way she was dressed I knew she was Amish. The clothing on the line testified to this as well. I started to see the familiar buggies parked in front of houses along the way and more youngsters in their unique style of dress playing in their yards.
There was a lumber yard where men were working while goats roamed freely about with no fence to hinder them. Chickens were also strutting around the houses in most cases. The light blue curtains my Mother used to tell me about hung in most windows of thieir modest homes. The Amish have always been very interesting to me. I admire their conviction and in some ways the simpler life they live. Not that I could do it myself. I am too soft and spoiled at this point.
My granddaughter said seeing the children somehow made her sad. I didn't quite know what to make of that. My wife told her the people there have always lived the way they do and were happy to do so. I hope so. It would be difficult to live their lifestyle today if you had known any other way. I like to fantasize that I could be that tough but I don't think there is much reality in my thinking that. There is a certain romantic essense about them though.
I think it would be great to strike up a friendship with them and get to know them. I think they could teach me a lot even though I wouldn't have much to offer in return. Except friendship and acceptence. That might be worth more to them than I know. Still, I like to think about them and wish I could know them better.
9 comments on “Simpler Times.”
joemac Says:
Saturday, June 7, 2008 @11:52:38 PM
great blog Darrell, leaves a pause for thought......Joe
dustyelmer Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @12:17:25 AM
that's a great post. we have a pretty sizeable Amish community up north here in and around Ogdensburg NY. my gramp felt a strong connection to them because of his rustic upbringing, so he started going up there and making their acquaintance, and before long he was running a little side business of buying loads of apples at the orchard down here, trucking them up north and selling them to the Amish, usually taking home made bread, cookies, meat and vegetables instead of cash. in the process, he's become "the Apple Man" and is one of the few "english" (everyone who isn't Amish = english) people to really be accepted into their homes. him and gramma have been to their weddings, their church services, funerals, you name it. when i was young i used to go with him in the summer at least once a month. i wouldn't trade knowing them for anything. they have a certain wisdom about them that's hard to find a parallel to in our society. all the Amish i've ever met have been very nice, happy people. they are a little skeptical of us, and i don't really blame them. for every one person who understands and respects them, there's 9 others who mock their clothes and make fun of them. i think that if you were to approach them, with time, you could become friends. the major downside...they don't listen to or play music of any kind, or at least the "low order" ones don't. the only music they have is their a capella hymns, sung in German. you should definitely seek them out though! once they see that you're sincere i think you'd be set. you'd be taking home more home made bread than you could shake a stick at.
fisher Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @4:21:12 AM
A few years ago, my son Jeremiah and I took a bow hunting trip to Richfield Springs ,New York. Jeremiah was leaving for his first deployment to Iraq in a few days after.While we spent some quality time togeter, the whole trip had a strange air about it.One afternoon,getting a coffee,Jeremiah started talking to an Amish farmer who had just pulled in in his wagon. I sat in the truck patiently while they talked for about 20 minutes. When he climbed back in the truck he said" If I ever had to leave a baby on a doorstep, I would leave it with an Amish family" I agreed with him.
brawny1 Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @5:31:17 AM
My wife lost her mother when she was 4 ears old. She lived in Ephrata PA in the heart of Lancaster County. Her Grandmother came to live with her family to help out. Her dad thought that two young girls would be too much for Grandma so he had a Menonite women come to help out. The Menonites are a less strict version of the Amish so to speak. Her grandmother and this women, Emma, are to this day the single strongest influences in her life and allowed her much insight into the Amish way of life. My wife speaks so highly of her interaction with the Amish community that we at times, talk of returning to Lancaster PA to live. Maybe some day.....
blamethebanjo Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @10:14:10 AM
These are all wonderful stories that make me want to get to know these people more than ever. My wife and I are looking at an old victorian house very close to where I saw their homes. Thanks for the posts.
Darrell.
BryanWB Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @1:55:07 PM
Being from the UK, England, I am privileged to read all your posts. Thank you so much. Best wishes. Bryan.
blamethebanjo Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @3:13:51 PM
Thanks Bryan, I am glad to have you as a friend.
Darrell.
kcjc69 Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @3:39:50 PM
Darrell,
You are one of His finest creations. If others looked at the world the way you do, we would be much better off. Step out and introduce yourself I'm sure they will open their hearts and home to you. Bless ya, Jim.
blamethebanjo Says:
Sunday, June 8, 2008 @5:24:05 PM
Jim, I am humbled by your words my friend. He outdid Himself with you. I am certain of that.
Darrell.
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
