Amish saw mill shipper, blew my mind!

This has been 10+ yrs ago, but read something that brought back this memory. I've delivered and picked up a few Amish loads before, and had some preconceived notions, stereo-types, experiences... call them what you want. As in, they don't like electronics, no telephones, don't like their picture taken, quiet, clean living, communal etc... but all around good people.

I had some basic directions, to a place in IA that didn't show on my atlas, and as expected there is no answer to my phone call to confirm them. So now I'm tooling down gravel roads, and stop to allow an Amish convoy of horse drawn buggies to pass, without drowning them in the wake of my dust. I watch, out of curiosity, as they go bye. The first tips his hat, in thanks, and I notice the rest pass without acknowledgement, and I mean in a strange way. Heads forward, wives and children don't even glance... awkward, reminded me of an old horror movie "Children of the Corn".

I arrive at the shipper, after numerous wooden bridges... really concerning because I don't know how I'm getting out of here loaded. So I ask, before they start loading, what's the best way back without the weak bridges? "Oh, we only send you that way on your way in, so everyone can see how many trucks we load." he said in a tone that only sounded like he was trying rub it in to the rest of the community. <---huh, guess every religion has those types.

So, I'm stuck at this place 3hrs with a young man 20ish, and his brother maybe 14yrs old, loading the flatbed, with a diesel powered swivel hoist. It was kind of fascinating to see the operation, from the old lamps to the out house looking telephone booth at the end of the driveway, even the old saw mill that still cut dimensional lumber... a 2x4 actually measured 2x4, instead of the crap we buy now.

Anyway, we're loading the trailer, and I swear I hear the F bomb... nah, I figure I just misheard. Nope, these two got into a full blown cussing match with the hoist. WOW, I about fell off the trailer laughing. This entire time I watched my mouth very carefully as to not offend the perceived uber-religious bible thumper's. But it got better, a Holland driver pulls up. He says to the two, "you know the deal, 2hrs tops" and sets a six pack of Budweiser in the shade. WTF? I'm just dumbfounded, I thought they didn't cuss, and no drinking EVER! not to mention these are just kids.

I had to ask the driver, how could you do that? He explained, 'you'll thank me, you would be here for 3 more hours if I hadn't showed up, and its not as if their horse is going to trot drunk and kill a family on the road.' Okay, but what about corrupting them, I thought they were clean living, I asked. He gave an explanation I don't fully understand, but it amounts to these kids are on break from the community to experience the rest of the world unbound from the rules... just the morals and values instilled. Basically meaning do what you want, and when you find yourself a freak outside the religion they are welcomed back, and should never leave again. ???

Please, please, please, don't take my description of this one experience too literally... I'd hate to blasphemy another religion. But wow, that day was a total mind F' compared to what I thought the Amish to be.

 

Thanks for the confirmation, I was worried the explination was not accurate. Yours is much better.