Journal -1

OUT OF NOWHERE, DELAWARE

The weekend of July 6 was just an ordinary weekend, since the 4th of July holiday just gone by. My partner in crime picked me up from work and headed south to visit her brother in Dover. Our usual stop before turning Friday into a night was a shopping mall off Route 13 across from the Delaware State University. As she initiated her window-shopping, off I went to the other side of the road. Just to pass my time, I started my own browsing around in a home improvement store. Those magnificent power tools and garden equipments looked so good on display. The automobile dealer looked intriguing, too. But the salespeople were still out on the lot waiting for prospects, so I started heading back to check my significant other.

Then I saw an unusual type of transportation parked in a usual retailer place (Sam’s Club). That sight caught my attention and placed the digital camera to work. I went back to the mall straight to a bookstore, and read about the Amish people.

They came to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the 18th century to avoid persecution in Europe. Their descendants were called Pennsylvania Dutch. The name Amish came from a Swiss Mennonite Bishop, Jakob Amman. These folks were North American Christian group of Mennonite origin. “They have maintained a distinctive and conservative agricultural way of life despite the influences of modern industrial society.” Aside from central and western Pennsylvania, the Amish people have settled in greater concentrations in northeastern counties of Ohio. Others have spread out in Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Virginia, Oregon, North Dakota, and Missouri. There were groups who even migrated in Ontario, Canada.
Armed with a little knowledge of their culture and how they migrated into the country, I was not happy with just looking at the horse drawn carriage in the parking lot. I did not even see the people who drove and parked this beautiful animal in front of the store. My curiosity got the better part of me that evening.

I was up and about around 5:00 the following morning. While my bride was still asleep, I set my feet out for a cup of java (“you’ve gotta’ have Wawa”). I knew enough about the highway when we travel to Maryland and have passed those horse buggies a few times along the highway. I took pictures of a couple of horse stables along the road, too. But that was all. The camera was hardly used. Perhaps, I came up too early? I went back to check in with my partner almost empty-handed, and with an empty stomach. I didn’t feel good about it. When the going gets tough, my partner and I go to the mall to (window) shop, hang out in a bookstore or see a movie. Two out of three wasn’t bad. Afterwards, we fulfilled our weekly spiritual obligation.

Luck was on my side Sunday morning. I started late, around 6:30 AM. With a 16 oz. of coffee on board and the camera laid out where Annie used to sit, I aimed for the same highway. It was a day of worship. Alleluia. All these wonderful folks were coming out of their home to attend their service. There were two married couples walking along the road with children in tow. But the rest were on their traditional vehicle of choice. I pulled over, and eagerly offered those pedestrians to be photographed. Politely, they declined. Fair enough, so I went after those passing vehicles. What a way to spend a weekend out of Route 8, Pearsons Corner, Delaware!

Want to see more pictures? View and enjoy!