Amish Buggy Ride on A Rainy Day

It was a cool rainy day in Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania. The morning air was crisp, and rain drizzled as we purchased tickets to ride the horse drawn buggies in Amish country. My wife Lisa has ridden on dozens of these trips, and she was excited to have my brother and sister-in-law along for their maiden ride.

A vehicle from Maryland parked. A father from Hawaii was visiting his son who was in the Air Force stationed in Maryland. It was their maiden voyage also. We waited, along with five others, for the buggy driver’s arrival.

We loaded into the buggy and Ben, the Amish driver, introduced himself and asked if anyone wanted to sit in the front with him. My sister-in-law jumped on it “Quicker than a chicken on a June bug.” That is an Alabama expression for being quick. Then Ben asked where from where we came.

There was a newlywed couple from Israel celebrating their honeymoon. They spoke very good English, but I think they had trouble understanding our Alabama southern drawl. Across from them was the father and son from Hawaii. To their left were three members of a family, grandparents, and grandson, from upstate Pennsylvania. My brother, my wife Lisa, and I sat across from them. I had the pleasure of sitting next to the newlyweds.

As the journey back in time began, Ben began to explain the Amish way of life. It is always fascinating as we slowly passed the large dairy farms, cornfields, alfalfa fields, and apple orchards. The trip was worth the price just to watch the expressions of the first timer travelers.

Each traveler told a little bit about themselves. The newlyweds planned to visit Washington D.C. The Hawaii father and son we amazed with the Amish culture. My brother and sister-in-law are big farmers in South Alabama, and they loved seeing new farms and gaining new ideals.

The grandparents told us that it was their grandson Joey’s twentieth birthday. I lead the travelers in singing happy birthday to Joey. Granddad was retired Airforce and he and the young Airforce officer from Hawaii shared common interests. Granddad said that he and his wife had placed to travel and explore, but they inherited Joey.

Even though he was twenty, Joey was autistic and non-verbal. He was well mannered and obedient. Sitting direct in from of me, Joey seemed fascinated with me. He would touch me from time to time and his granddad would admonish him. I told the grandad that it was okay.

One time he saw a knot on the pull string of my jacket, and he quickly touched it. He would look me in the eye, and I would smile. One of the reasons he watched me was that the week before I had taken a nasty fall and scraped my face from my hairline on my forehead to the tip of my nose. I had an ugly scab and a hole on the bridge of my nose and used a long staff to help me walk. I told Joey that I was wearing my Halloween mask a little early.

After a stop at a farm, Joey returned to the buggy with a large cream cookie. As the tour continued the curiosity of Joey got the best of him. Quick as the proverbial chicken on the June bug, Joey reached over to me and stuck his right index finger on the scabby hole on the bridge of my nose. I admit that it hurt but I tried not to show pain and smiled. His granddad scolded him. I assured him that it was okay. My dad taught me that we were to lookout for those that could not take care of themselves. It was a heavenly moment realizing that Joey felt safe in touching me. I assured his grandparents that children and animals were attracted to me even wearing a scabby face and sporting a walking stick.

That night as Lisa and I talked before retiring for the night we discussed Joey and the hundreds of children being raised by their grandparents. We are thankful for those that will put their lives on hold to care for those that cannot care for themselves.

I am sure that the raining buggy ride of the serendipity of travelers will share Joey’s story around the world. I know it will if you read this article. The Bible commands believers to care for those that cannot take care of themselves.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3 KJV

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14 KJV

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones Luke 17:2 KJV

Heirloom Rock'n Horse

Fourteen years ago, the Hopper family passed another milestone in life’s journey.  Our first grandson, Jon Grady Chapman celebrated his first birthday on June 13.  He actually turned one on the seventeenth, but the thirteenth was a Saturday where family could attend.

It was rather big party.  Jon Grady’s uncle Andy, the interior designer, brought a cake covered with a miniature circus tent.  I really thought with both extended families there that he should have brought a real circus tent, but we won’t go there.

Jon Grady’s grandparents thought it would be nice to give Jon Grady an heirloom rocking horse.  We got the idea after attending Friendship Baptist Church’s Sunday school get-together at Harold Wayne and Charlotte Leonard’s cabin in Vineland, Alabama.  When we saw it and asked what the horse cost, I got the idea that I could make it out of better wood and build it cheaper than the Gatlinburg price. 

Remember, it was an heirloom horse.  I love woodworking, but at the time I did not have the place for my tools or the time to do much woodworking nowadays.

We asked Liz Thompson if she would take pictures of the horse and e-mail them to me.  Liz did and I thought I could do it, but I realized that plans would be much better.  Pam, our wonderful Associational secretary, suggested that I look online for some plans.  I did and I ordered them from California.  I got them in two days, which amazed me seeing as how some of our mail-outs to local people take more time than that.

I had the plans for several weeks before getting enough time to undertake the project.  I designated one week of vacation to go back up home to Sugar Ridge and build an heirloom rocking horse.  My brother sells hardwood and I got him to get me some cherry wood.  He handpicked me some beautiful cherry and sized it according to the dimensions of the plan.  He delivered it and I immediately started to lay out the pieces from the patterns.  I admit that I read the instructions several times before starting.  I know that is not manly, but it is better to read instructions on some things before assembling them.

I have a small band saw, but it is designed for thin small horses and not heirloom rocking horses.  Cherry is hardwood, but it is a good wood to use.  I decided to go to a Lowe’s and get a new jigsaw.  My old one has disappeared.  I think an interior designer has it.  While at Lowe’s I decided that I need a belt sander achieve a more quality finish.  I am glad I got the cherry wood cheap, tool costs were rising, but nothing compared to today’s prices.  I thought a trip to Gatlinburg for a purchase might be cheaper.

With new tools, I cut out the horse and sanded the pieces to perfection.  I started assembling some pieces and I realized I needed a biscuit cutter, biscuits, and wood glue.  No, I was not cooking, but in cabinet building, biscuits, or oval shaped dowels, help to strengthen joints when gluing wood together.  I made another trip to Lowe’s.  Did you know that Lowe’s stays open to 10:00 PM?  At midnight, I glued the horse’s head to the body with biscuits and glue.  It made a pretty joint and I had three new and handy tools to do woodworking one of these days.

I returned to Linden where Uncle Aaron, and Poppy, that’s me, started the process of creating an heirloom.  The wood was too pink.  I was convinced would turn dark but I stained cherry wood with cherry stain and sealed it with three coats of floor grade polyurethane.  It did look great.  With the heirloom plans, I ordered a blond mane and tail, saddle, bridle, and eyes, which made it more beautiful.

When Jon Grady sat on the horse, he made a clicking sound, which brought smiles to everyone.  I did create a beautiful piece of artisanship and problems.  Every kid at the party wanted a horse and asked their dads if they could build one for them.  It also means that when other Jon Gradys come into the Hopper family that more heirloom horses will have to be created. 

Gatlinburg sure looks nice in the fall of the year.

See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-4 NIV).