by MarianBeaman | Oct 14, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
Great Aunt Mary Grace would turn 117 this week on October 14 if she were still alive. When I was young, the Longenecker family visited Mary Grace Martin at her cottage at Mt. Gretna, PA. What I remember most about her appearance was her pleasant aura and a gap-toothed...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 7, 2015 | Amish, blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Recipes, Uncategorized
My sister Jan (“Janice,” growing up) is easily the best cook in our family. One of my birthday presents from her last year was a cookbook entitled Amish Cooking. In the head-line this week, I say “A Touch of Amish” because the recipes are quick and easy...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 30, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized
Humorous Slices A green apple, a yellow apple, and a red apple, it’s like a fruity traffic light you can eat . . . . Did you know that my love has the consistency of applesauce? It’s true—and juicy. ~ Jarod Kintz I ate a slice of humble pie, and it tasted like...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 23, 2015 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Dollar Discovery! On September 10, 2015 I opened an envelope dated April 30,1962 that Mother sent me in college. I had read her letter then, but did not open the Bossler Mennonite Church bulletin where she had tucked a dollar bill (series date 1957) until now. I...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 16, 2015 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
The closest thing I ever came to living in a convent was my year in the dormitory at Lancaster Mennonite School. It was much like living in the dorm at my alma mater, Eastern Mennonite College, now a University, but only more awkward. “Awkward?” you ask. “In what way...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 9, 2015 | blog, Conflict, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized
Nuns live in convents. At least that was true in America in the1960s. Strictly speaking I was not an actual nun, a Catholic sister with a habit like Karen Leahy, who left her convent at Mount Maria to pursue a literary life and experience more freedom. (My review of...
by MarianBeaman | Sep 2, 2015 | blog, Education, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
A toy train and a baby doll. That’s what these brother and sister pairs are exchanging with each other. Trading is fun among friends, no matter what their size. Big or little, old or young – most people like to exchange gifts, conversation, sometimes even big ideas....
by MarianBeaman | Aug 26, 2015 | blog, book review, Coming of Age, Conflict, Education, Literature, Recipes, Uncategorized
I bought this portable meal, a Lunchables, to give to a homeless person. So why is it still sitting in my refrigerator? Last week I planned to give this lunch to the next person I saw holding a “Hungry & Homeless – Will you Help?” sign as I waited in my car for...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 19, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Literature, meditation, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Purple Passage, Quotations, Reflection, Uncategorized
A Short Story Once upon a time seven children from three different states came to visit their family in Pennsylvania. Some came from far away in a car, plane or train so they could see each other and get to know their grandparents and great-grandparents, who lived in...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 12, 2015 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, meditation, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
My Mennonite Aunt Ruthie Longenecker is elderly now. She has always loved art and is still producing beautiful things nearing age 97. Like Mary Delany, known for her exquisite scissors art, age is no hindrance to creativity. Note the red and teal crayons in...
