I went to Amish Country!!! I saw cute little Amish people in their cute little outfits riding around in their cute little horse-and-buggies! Okay, so first I got the cheese…. :yes: Then I took off down a country road, reeling with giddiness at the cuteness of it all. Buggies in the road! Little children running around with their cute little hat- and bonnet-covered heads! I wished I’d nabbed something pink and sparkly out of my daughter’s room to give the girls…. But no, that would be wrong wrong wrong…..
Ohio is home to the world’s largest concentrated population of Amish people. Where else would you find a buggy shop? There were buggies all over the place, and if they weren’t riding in buggies, they were walking or riding bicycles. Farms, fields of fodder shocks, and houses I wished I could go into to see how they live without electricity or telephones. There were cheese shops, candle shops, furniture shops, quilt shops–everywhere! I wished I had more time to shop. Through plate glass windows in the shops, you can watch them making candles and cheeses. The cute little Amish girls running the shops were so sweet. I almost didn’t expect them to speak English, they all seemed so foreign in a way. A world apart, right in the middle of America.
I wonder what it’s like to be a living, breathing tourist attraction? I was afraid to be too bold about taking pictures. I pulled over on the side of the road and just waited for buggies to come by, then I’d pop up my camera to take a quick picture. I almost felt bad about taking their picture at all, but I couldn’t resist.
There is something fascinating about their basic lifestyle. Living side by side with the “Englishers” the Amish maintain their 16th-century ancestors’ simplicity, forsaking modern conveniences for what is handmade and homemade and pure. Wow. I could almost do that. Except for giving up the internet. And TV. And having my hair highlighted. And……
You? What could you not give up?
Meretta ~ American Title Finalist says:
Internet access. Which leads to the computer, which leads to electricity.
Oh. And my dishwasher. I’m not giving up that one either! 😉
On December 20, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Estella says:
I am not giving up my dishwasher, internet access, vacuum, electricity, phone— and on and on.
On December 20, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Joyce says:
My dh and I live in NJ. We always enjoy going to Lancaster, Pa. There is a lovely amish community there. We took our grown son there one time and he couldn’t believe that such a world existed only 3 hours from home.
There are many things I could give up but lights to read by at night is not one of them.
On December 20, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Tori Lennox says:
I can understand why they want to be apart from the rest of the world. BUT I couldn’t live without electricity or the Internet. Or television. Or Sirius Satellite Radio. *g*
On December 20, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Cryna says:
I would not be able to give up my Microwave and Computer with Internet – so guess electricity would be hardest…….and my books…… 😕
On December 20, 2006 at 5:41 pm
TeresaH says:
Sounds like you’ve been having a blast traveling these days Suzanne. :thumbsup: I couldn’t bear to give up indoor plumbing and electricity…since without the latter you can’t have the internet, or lights, or air conditioning, etc.
:rotfl:
On December 20, 2006 at 7:35 pm
catslady says:
I want every modern convenience I can get my hands on lol.
I have a book to recommend – Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. It gives you some good insight into the Amish and it’s a really good book.
On December 20, 2006 at 8:02 pm
ruby55 says:
About the same as yours. But I’d add freezers for frozen meals for the world’s worst cook.
Sometimes I think it really would be a simpler life and not cause as much stress especially if you didn’t really know about it. But once you know all the mod cons, it’s hard to give them up.
On December 20, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Toni Anderson says:
Telephones would be hard. How would I keep in touch with family abroad??
Happy Christmas Suzanne!!
On December 21, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Marty says:
One year, I bought all Amish gifts for Christmas presents. Everything is quality and reasonably priced (for the quality)(-can’t argue with that.
On December 21, 2006 at 8:34 pm