Ellen and I met in Intercourse, Penn. on Saturday - it is so ironic that such a kind and modest people would have a town with a name that is a scandal to modern people. Intercourse, many years ago, had a meaning more like social contact, hence, someone like Ben Franklin may have written of having intercourse with someone and simply meaning a conversation. The first dictionary listing is "a connection or feelings between persons or groups" and our usual understanding is the third listing. Of course, in our sexualized society, we think only of the sexual connection.

Enough of this - on to the fun. Despite not feeling great, Seth was a doll, entertaining all the shopkeepers and the little old ladies. There was a festival that day, unknown to us, and the town bussed in old folks well, by the busload. Who knew? But we had arrived early, and got great parking places, etc., so it was fine. I love the Old Order Amish - their example of Christian charity when that gunman killed the school children was a lesson for all of us. I was particularly amused by all the laundry on the line, hanging outside of the huge homesteads. I was amused because when I was a kid, it was a scandal to not hang your wash out - only lazy housewives used clothes dryers, and there was a certain way the clothes were supposed to be hung out. I was reminded of my grandmother a lot - I bought pickled watermelon rinds, green tomato relish and chow chow for Frank for Father's Day because all of it reminded me of my grandmother. At the store where the canned goods and jellies were sold, you could see the Amish women working, doing the canning. There were signs, asking that people don't take photos, as it was very picturesque, but Ellen and I instantly had compassion for the women - skinny, old women, working in a sweating hot kitchen. They looked pretty crabby, but it was probably just concentration. Ellen and I had a conversation, mulling what it would be like to feel like people were staring at you - the folks in the buggies, were almost always back inside out of view. It seems like a rather complicated situation - clearly, a huge part of their income comes from tourism, yet, we know they are uncomfortable getting their pictures taken. It would be weird to be sort of a sideshow, when you're just trying to live your life.

Ellen bought two beautiful, small quilts made by a local Amish woman and sold in town. So, now we feel good that Ellen got good quilts and helped support the folks.


It was a beautiful drive through York. We almost moved to York when we came here, but the drive would have been at least an hour or more every morning. Too much. But it is beautiful country.