Comment on Abner the bookbinder by Barbara Libengood.
I met Abner when we first moved from Pittsburgh to Lancaster County. We worked together at Zimmerman’s Grocery Store in Intercourse and he was the person who introduced me to one of the Amish school directors. We became good friends and spent many evenings watching the night blooming primrose, drinking home made root beer and eating grapes off the arbor. His wife was a wonderful woman who shared the same “twinkle” in her eyes that Abner had. So many of the experiences that Brad shared were similar to ones that we had.
Abner loved playing practical jokes. We used to take the Mormon Elders to visit him. On the way to one visit, we told the elders about this beautiful Cindy that lived in the apartment next to Abner. They wanted to meet her and Abner told them all about her long brown hair, beautiful long eyelashes and long shapely legs. By this time one the young men was straightening his collar and trying to make himself more presentable to Cindy. So Abner invited him into Cindy’s apartment to meet her. And there we were in the forebay of the barn with beautiful Cindy hanging her long brown hair over the stall door waiting for Abner to give her a treat. Of course, Cindy was his horse! The first time we played this trick, Abner thought it was great fun and with other visitors he talked with more detail about Cindy. I can still see the twinkle in his eye as he opened the door to visit Cindy! We of course, we have a good laugh and then some root beer or meadow tea and eat pretzels!
I had to smile when I read of Abner’s Amish TV dinners. And the funny stories and jokes he used to tell. He was a man who loved to be around people, to teach them and to learn from them. He reminded me at times of a child, so eager to learn new things. And he taugh me so much about life and living.
My life was richly blessed because Abner and Katie were in my life.
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