COLLECTOR

COLLECTOR

It was in the early 1990's, I believe, that I first started to 'collect' things. I once thought it immature to go into one of my relative's homes and see their "frog" collection. There were frogs on the towels, on the fridge, big frogs, little frogs, talking frogs, singing frogs, etc.

I entered another relative's house only to see pigs! They were all over the house; she also collected ducks. No, not the real kind but ormanents of duck replicas.

Someone else once collected unicorns! And butterflies....even big ones nailed to the outside of their home. It was all very distaseful to me; childish, a waste of money, silly.

So I surprised myself when I suddenly found myself collecting something too.

It was a warm, spring Saturday and I was living outside Atlanta, Georgia. My new house was in a subdivision of 500 homes in which we were not allowed to have a clothesline. So on this lovely day, I was fuming to a neighbor about having to use our clothes dryers.

She asked me if I was going to the Civic Centre to view the Amish show. Well, I had a real interest in them and their way of life. I knew they resided in Ohio and Indianna and found it strange they would be here.

Out of curiousity, I went with her. Of course, the Amish themselves were not there but their sales representatives were. As I walked around looking at their beautiful workmanship, artistry and foodstuffs, I was amazed because not one salesman approached us.

I gathered my many things together and paid on the way out the door. That was the very beginning of my spring surprize. How I looked forward to that special weekend every year until I moved back to Canada.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to bring much of my 'collection' with me but I still have a few things. I shall always cherish them!

After studying books about the Amish and their gentle, humble way of living and loving one another, I pray that I might return in my next life as the wife of one of them. They are very supportive of one another's neighbors and live for their faith and their families.

They love their children and their pets but believe in managing their lifestyles without modern conveniences. They are a simplistic, healthy, Holy and generous people and I believe that is how God intended all of us to be.

And I'd always have my clothesline!!