
My husband and I had a wonderful dinner last week in the home of one of his students. This was an Amish family.
We live near Amish and appreciate these gentle folk, but we've never had the pleasure of actually eating in one of their homes. When we walked inside, they had a long table set with heirloom dishes. A guest list of approximately fifteen people included extended family (grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, another couple and us).
They passed around homemade bread, strawberry jam, salad from their garden, salisbury steak, chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy and four different homemade pies (with two of each kind!). Oh, and homemade ice cream. It was like being on an episode of Martha Stewart. I wonder if she was Amish?
I've never seen so much food--and it was delicious!! Made me feel guilty for ordering takeout all the time--I got over it, though.
We had the best time of fellowship with this hospitable people and when the evening came to a close, their son (my husband's former student--third grade) and their daughter (first grade) took us on a buggy ride. I guess there's no age limit on the buggy drivers. Anyway, as dusk settled over the city, we enjoyed a moonlit ride down a lazy country road, compliments of these young drivers. We waved at other Amish folk as though we knew them.
As we drove home that night, we talked of their ways, their kindness, their priority of family. They are amazing people and it was our pleasure to enjoy a moment in time with them.
Amazing though it was, I have to admit that once I made it home, I glanced at my indoor bathroom with all its wonderful plumbing and whispered a word of thanks.
Have you ever eaten with people who live life quite different from you?
Labels: Amish, buggy ride, dinner