Rockin' with the Amish

I just got back from a trip to Iowa, joining Elizabeth and her family for part II of their family reunion. Part I was in North Dakota and I couldn't take enough time off of work to attend both. I decided for part II because it was pitched to me like this:

We're going to drive to Davenport (part of the famed Quad Cities of the Midwest) where we'll spend the night, then tomorrow we're going to take a boat from Le Claire to Dubuque, spend the night in Dubuque, and then come back to Davenport

That didn't sound to bad... 6 hours of driving to Davenport, IA - A good night's sleep, a few hours on a boat to Dubuque, a good night's sleep, a few hours on a boat back to the Quad Cities, and then 6 hours back home. Nothin' to it. Piece of cake.

It wasn't until we had boarded the boat that we learned we were in for eleven hours on the boat. That's right. Eleven.

But that's not the half of it. The 6 hours to Davenport was easy enough, cleverly broken up by a quick stop in Waterloo, IA to fuel up and pick up some pizza hut pan pizzas and a diet coke. We arrived at the expected time at Elizabeth's Mother's home, hit the sack, and woke up relaxed and ready for the adventure ahead.

We made the quick drive to Le Claire, IA - Carpooling with Grandma & Grandpa and arrived with the rest of the extended family. I'll try and lay out the family tree here.

Grandma & Grandpa begat 2 daughters: Rosita (Elizabeth's Mom), Susie, and three sons: Paul, Tim, and Mark. Rosita begat Jon, Elizabeth, & Sara, and subsequently married Steve. All were in attendance save Jon who had to work in Chicago.

Susie married Paul and begat Megan & Andrew - All were there.

Paul married Jill and begat Kristen (8), Jacob (5), and Analyse (2) - All there.

Tim is dating Mary - Both there.

Mark is engaged to be married to Sherri. Both there.

That makes... let's see, including myself...20 of us.

We meet at the boarding platform for The Twilight encounter the Twilight's other passengers. The Amish. About 60 of them.

That's right - Amish. I mean AMISH Amish. Beard wearin', no-zipper havin', solid color dress wearin', starched bonnet sportin', bible totin', God-fearin' Amish. The real deal. Amish ranging in age from weeks old to deceased.

As they're known for keeping to themselves, and as you might have guessed, there wasn't too much interaction between the Amish and us, "The English", their boatmates for the next 11 hours.

We had our assigned tables for meals (Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner served on the boat ride up the Mississippi). In between meals we were free to stroll the decks, sit out on the lounge chairs on the lower decks, stay inside and play cards, generally relax. It was a 3-level 'paddlewheel' boat (without a paddle). If you've been keeping up with this blog, you've probably already learned that the Schumachers (Elizabeth's family) are quite musical.

They can all play stuff and sing stuff. Song is a normal part of their get-togethers so it was no surprise to me that at the evening meal the prayer was SUNG in 3-part harmony as it always is. Be Present At Our Table Lord.

As the evening prayer-song broke out, I was pleased to see the Amish suddenly stop and take notice. It was as if they suddenly realized that we all weren't necessarily the devil at all.

After dinner a few of the daughters came over and we found out that they, too, were having a family reunion. They asked about the singing and they were asked if singing was part of their culture. It was, they said, and they hoped to hear the Schumachers sing more. They, in turn, were invited to sing as well, and it was generally decided that perhaps tomorrow we could ALL sing. Together.

Our boat hit land and we all disembarked for the hotel in a biblical-sized swarm of mayflies and were free for the evening. Most of us went to the water park that was part of the hotel and I enjoyed watching all the kids splash about. I checked out The Diamond Jo Casino that was across the parking lot (they got me), and then we hit the sack. Grandpa had made all the travel arrangements and made sure that no unmarried couples slept in the same room. I was put with Andrew, Uncle Mark & Uncle Tim were put in the same room, and their girlfriends were in their own room.

This annoyed the girlfriends and no doubt amused Grandpa.

Morning came and there was a lavish breakfast buffet and then back on the boat.

After lunch the amazing happened. The Schumacher's sang, then the Amish sang some of their hymns (amazingly beautiful). Then Grandpa was leading BOTH familys in hymns. But the end of the trip we were bouncing Amish babies on our knees, the Amish kids were playing with the Schumacher kids, we all sang Happy Birthday (with a "May God Be With You" verse added by the Amish) to Heidi (the little Amish girl) who turned 10. They passed out some books of Amish Hymns to Grandpa and a few of the family. He sang the German ones, and everyone was delighted. I couldn't help but think of how much my Father would have enjoyed that. I'd have done anything to have him on the boat with me - But he's enjoying his granddaughter in Georgia.

I'm certain that I'll NEVER be in any situation like that again in my life - And feel extremely fortunate that I got to be a part of it.

Posted by Michael at July 11, 2005 11:02 PM