First Buggies and the C-word
This is a bit of a follow-up to the post on the Amish and credit/mortgages of a couple weeks ago. NPR ran a story on the subject earlier today on Morning Edition, and you can read a summary and listen to it here: A Mortgage Banker in Amish Country.
One thing that struck me was the description of young Amish teens getting their first buggies on reaching age 16. This is an important time, as it is with non-Amish youngsters.
I immediately thought of my friend Daniel’s son Tim, who is anxiously awaiting his 16th birthday next month. Tim is pumped. The buggy has already been picked out and sits now in the garage at Daniel’s farm. Last time I was around, Tim, with obvious pleasure, showed me the works, the ins-and-outs of his mean machine.
Nice interior, and all set up with the standard amenities. It’s a closed-top buggy–some of the more conservative-minded Amish in Lancaster stick with open buggies for the youth–for instance, my friend Abe’s family–but not in this case. No telling yet if Tim will be decorating his exterior like this:
but I guess I’ll find out in February, which will be my next stop in Lancaster.
Also: switched up the format of the blog last week. I decided that if even the Amish can change, well gosh darn it this blog can too. I think the new layout and snazzy expanded triple-column format makes for easier reading of posts. Hopefully you do too. Thanks to everyone for reading and keeping up with these ramblings and relations from Amish America.
I guess I am a conservative when it comes to your blog change. The old style suited me better. 🙂
What really strikes me is the “Google ad” on the left side bar that is advertising “Amish Electric Heaters”.
Things are changing fast, eh? Or is it just the same ol’ marketing schemers hard at work? Will it be Amish neckties next? 🙂
Mike
I like the new layout. It is easy to read. Interesting post…coming of age is important in any culture. That is a very shiny buggy! Our OOMs stick with black.
Mike, Ruth, thanks for the comments!
I was a bit reluctant to change the format and if I could have expanded the old one to a wider format I probably would have. But alas, it wasn’t an option. And the new one has grown on me, to tell the truth. The google ads are a way to offset the significant amount of time I spend researching and creating content for the blog (translation=not getting rich here!) but I do try to block the objectionable ones–and truth be told there have been a few. Adsense is a nice service but unfortunately it’s not a perfect one. There are some ‘interesting’ ones that occasionally sneak through, though as I’m writing this I do not see the one for the famous Amish Electric Heaters! But of course, they come and go. Such is the mystery that is adsense.
Hey,
so I have stumbled upon this blog in my Amish googling and boy am I glad I found it! I currently am in a School of Ministry and for my Church history class I’ve decided to do my paper on the Amish. I’m originally from Michigan (very far north) but was living in Indiana the past year or so where my husband is from. The Amish have always been fascinating to me, and thus I am doing my paper on them. So then I decided I should ask if I can use your information on here and perhaps even quote that Amish man??
I’m also very curious as to how you have become so involved the Amish?
Again, I’m glad I found this blog, it’s really informative and helpful!
-Bethany
Definitely like the new layout. Thanks for such an informative and interesting blog.:)
Hi Bethany, sure that is fine, just cite the blog somehow and I think there’d be no problem. And I appreciate the kind comments. I met an enormous amount of Amish people while selling books in various Amish communities across the country over a four-year period. I sold a set of books called Family Bible Library, which is quite well-known in many Amish communities. Unusual job, I know, but very rewarding.
Thanks Kathleen, very kind of you!