The Simple Life

(Lancaster, PA 6-9 April) Did you know that Pennsylvania is beautiful? I sure didn't. It's amazingly beautiful. We spent a few days in the Lancaster area where we enjoyed a buggy ride to an Amish farm for a tour. Two little girls made their entrance a few minutes after we arrived at the barn and stared at us like I imagine they get stared at a lot. On their turf, though, we were the odd ones. Their lifestyle seems a simple one, yet so very appealing. They work the land, raise their families, provide for their needs without the entrapment of the outside world. I certainly felt a small kinship with them as we are living a rather simple life ourselves right now. (Of course, to them we are still so connected to the world even in our simplified lifestyle). So, we did the buggy ride, went to several shopping areas catering to the tourist crowd, bought a few things, ate smorgasbord, and basically enjoyed the beauty of the blossoming and blooming spring landscape all around us.

On our buggy ride, Menno (our driver) was very willing to answer our questions about Amish life. We tried not to be too nosy but we did ask several questions. Ed asked him about the difference between the Mennonites and the Amish, his simple answer was, "electricity". Not sure that is all there is to it, we stopped at the Mennonite Information Center and watched a movie about the differences between the Mennonites and the Amish. It was very interesting, and very informative and it turns out it's not just "electricity"!!!

So much beauty in this area of Pennsylvania, I ALMOST could live there...if I didn't already know what Oregon is like!