Grabill Save A Lot

By the very fact of his being human, man is asked a question by life: how to overcome the split between himself and the world outside of him in order to arrive at the experience of unity and oneness with his fellow man and with nature. Man has to answer this question every minute of his life. Not only - or even primarily - with thoughts and words, but by his mode of being and acting. -Erich Fromm

I'm writing this, longhand, on a beautiful Groundhog Day in Leo-Cedarville, Indiana. Fine snow is falling softly and time seems suspended in space due to overcast skies. On the road, drivers in warm cars pass Amish families in black clothing riding in black buggies, exposed to the elements.

Locally, there are thousands of these quiet persons who make up a separate ethnic society; farming, doing construction work and going about their busy lives. If you've only seen them from a passing car, stop at the Save A Lot grocery store at 13325 State Street in Grabill for a personal encounter.

The Amish park their horses and buggies under an open, roofed shed, so watch for manure underfoot in the parking lot. The no-frills store has nice cheeses, good cuts of meat and best of all, local Amish, many of them women, shopping and working. You can hear what's for dinner being cooked on the farm and have a non-threatening conversation - note that your acquaintance is bi-lingual, the house language being German, not Spanish.

Fantasize about asking someone a burning question - why don't their buggies have tires with air? How come they can use power tools and cell phones on the job, but there's no electricity in the home? But take one look in the eyes of a little boy in a straw hat and suspenders, and you won't dare. And as The Joker's entourage would say, "no pictures, please." Amish folk do not like to be photographed. Let us not be rude. Go in peace, brother.