Thursday, December 22, 2022

Amish Christmas

Tonight, we went up to have a Christmas celebration with Mattie and Levi and the kids. We wanted to pick up some gifts for the children, and we were in a quandry about what to get. Finally, we decided on games.  Tim was holding a game of monopoly. "What about this?" he asked.  

I looked at it doubtfully. "Do you think that Amish children play Monopoly? It seems kind of counter to their lifestyle."

Tim said, "I don't know. Why don't you ask her?"

I turned around and not 4 feet away was an Amish woman. I laughed out loud. I said, "Well, you're certainly my miracle of the day!" and asked her my question. 

"Sure," she said. "I always liked Monopoly when I was a kid. " She looked at us curiously. "I wonder what Amish you know?" 

I said their last name, which is very common. I laughed and said, "That probably narrows it down quite a bit, doesn't it?" I said it was Levi and Mattie and told her where they lived.

"Oh, sure!" she said, "Levi's my cousin!" 

Later, when I told Levi about it, he laughed and then he said, "So, I wonder which cousin you met?" 

I couldnt' help him out there. 

Anywasys, Tim and I picked out our games. The Monopoly. Barrel of Monkeys, Perfection, Trouble, and a big jigsaw puzzle. One of the boxes  contained cocoa bombs for them, a box of candy, a handful of candy canes. We didn't know what games they had, so we figured that if we got multiple games, if we were lucky they'd include a couple they didn't already have. 

I was giving Mattie a break from cooking, so I made a lasagna. They were making home made ice cream and a special desert. 

We had so much fun, and it was great fun to hear the kids talking quietly back and forth in their tongue as they ate. I heard someone say 'games' and I knew they were excited about the presents. After supper, the table was cleared, The kids tore into those gifts. Even the oldest ones were quite excited. Best of all, it worked out that they had none of the games. 

The oldest ones grabbed Monopoly and sat down with the rules to try to figure out how it was played. I said, "Some things are just easier to learn by doing." The oldest girl was the banker, and we settled in  to play a game. They all listened intently, sucking on candy canes. We played about an hour, until they all got the hang of it.  

William sat there playing his puzzle game they'd gotten him. The youngest boy happily played Barrel of Monkeys with his mother. Perfection proved a bit too exciting, and there were tears, but Trouble worked well for the younger girls. 

They sent us off with a a lot of baked goods, two dozen eggs,  Levi, ever the joker, sent me off with Chicken Poop lip balm, which actually had a sweet story:

'Born and raised in Kansas, Jamie Tabor is the chick behind the lip balm. She decided to call it 'Chicken Poop' after her grandpa's sense of humor. If one complained about dry lips, he'd say, "Put some chicken poop on your lips so you won't lick 'em." ' William thought this was hysterical.

Levi thinks he's pretty funny stuff, but I've already got a plan for the next time I'm up there: I am sneaking 2 or 3 cans of flarp for the kids. 

We still haven't heard back on the results of Tim's culture. The office is closed tomorrow, but they guaranteed that the person who does their billing for them, will call him tomorrow with the results. 

32 comments:

  1. It sounds like a lovely time for everybody, especially the kids. I'd never heard of Flarp but I know someone who would like it very much.
    I'm guessing the Amish world is probably smaller and closer than most.

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    1. I think we all know someone who would love flarp.

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  2. I clicked on the link for Flarp and honestly it stopped being funny after 30 seconds. I guess I'm too old.
    I'm glad you all had a lovely time at the dinner and the kids enjoyed the games.

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    1. Oh my. I watched for the first toots. Never got farther than that.

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  3. What a great idea to have that compendium of different games. I'm glad they went down well. Board games are a no-no here at Christmas as Middle Daughter is a sore loser and it always ends in her flouncing off! Pick-up sticks is about the only thing we can trust her not to get cross over :)

    Ah Flarp (great name) - there's a British equivalent that we once bought Danny when he was about 9 or 10, when we met up with a friend in Bath for Christmas shopping. We all went for an Indian meal in an amazing Regency building (imagine glass cupola over the dining area). Danny had this flarp stuff and made it really "perform" and then said, "Tamzin!!" (his sister) in a scandalized voice!

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    1. If remain was mortified, the boy was even more delighted.

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  4. Sounds like a good time was had. Simple pleasures, honestly enjoyed.

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  5. I could have answered your question. Last spring during our annual neighborhood garage sale, the Amish always stop by and the three items they bought were a big box of board games and a big box of canning jars that I was selling and a big box of puzzles another neighbor was selling. I remember pondering how they would enjoy some of the pop culture heavy games like Trivial Pursuit.

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    1. That's funny. I need to design an Amish edition of Trivial pursuit!

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    2. As long as I'm on your team!

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  6. Good presents, I used to love Monopoly but my over eager grandson Tom would set about winning with a determination bordering on fanatic - and he was only 6 years old. So Have a lovely Christmas with your family Debby. X

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  7. Flarp would give grown up kids like myself much amusement Debby. Have a great Christmas.

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    1. LOL. It can be over used, Northsider. It is most effective when saved for special occasions. (Don't ask me how I know these things).

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  8. You were blessed to have an old-fashioned Christmas with great human interaction. When we have played Monopoly with the kids, I have the most horrid time (regarding how well I do). I spend all of my time in jail and paying taxes and am soon bankrupt. I swear that this happens time after time. It is ridiculous.

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    1. Every game needs a loser. And if that loser can be upset, why it adds greatly to the pleasure of the game. I landed on community chest, and the in my next two turns on two properties owned by the same little boy. It was highway robbery, I tell you, and everyone was buying property but me. I was sure to lose the game and the idea of being whipped by children who had never played the game before was very upsetting to my pride. They all sucked on their candy canes and loved it the show. Even the ones not playing gathered around to watch and laugh their heads off.

      I am a very good actress. *bows modestly*

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  9. How sweet!
    And yes. Flarp for all!

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    1. I will only be sorry to miss the entertainment.

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  10. We don't know enough about groups who live a different life. We have lots to learn from them. I love games and you show that youngsters like games if we can get them off their phones.

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    1. I've never see Amish kids on phones. I can however tell you that they run in a herd to Tim when he pulls it out of his pocket.

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  11. It IS funny to think of Amish children playing Monopoly. I never would have expected that!

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  12. You two are so generous with those you meet. What a good example you set for us and for your family and friends. Merry Christmas!

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  13. Board games were a grand idea and one you can keep going, both giving and playing.

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    1. It worked out even better than I could have hoped.

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  14. Monopoly is one of those games I just never liked. Barrel of Monkeys, on the other hand, is great fun! I bought everyone chicken poop one Christmas years ago! We still have a chicken poop sweatshirt around here somewhere.

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    1. To be honest, as an adult, I am really not all that fond of Monopoly, but we were buying for kids. They were excited about it, so we'll call it good.

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  15. What a fabulous time you all had! You gave the kids holiday happiness.

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