Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

The turtle was huge. To the little boys that came with their mothers to help knot comforters last week, the 2-foot-long, brown reptile looked quite frightening. But being shown that it was lifeless and soft, like a teddy, they were reassured of its harmlessness, despite its big brown eyes. It wasn't until after our birthday lunch, however, that the turtle was conquered. With a piece of yarn around his neck, the little victors dragged him over to us, showing off their defeated enemy. I was so impressed.

The next day when I was watching my grandchildren, we were outside before lunch. Tyson, age 6, had his pedal tractor and Conner, age 3, had a hand-me-down tricycle. Conner pushed his trike uphill before he sat on the seat for a ride down the lane. He spread his little legs away from the pedals and let gravity rule. When his wheel wobbled and a twig in his path dumped him, he got up resolutely to try again. Since Grandma was watching he didn't cry, although it looked like he really wanted to. Little boys are so charming.

Years ago I used to have little boys, too. I recall a time when a little, buzzing motor made one of them cry. The motor was fastened to a little green boat that floated on a Wisconsin lake. But he was brave and took a ride in his mama's arms even though the fearful motor was quite close to him. Somehow the fear turned to fascination and then he cried when it was time to get out of the boat.

Only a few short years later, he wanted to give me a ride out the field lane. As I sat in the cart that was pulled by the homemade jalopy he was driving, dust eddied around me. The fear of engines and motors was gone.

The author is unknown of the poem I'd like to share: "God made a world out of his dreams, Of magic mountains, oceans and streams, Prairies and plains and wooded land. Then paused and thought, I need someone to stand, On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas, Explore the plains and climb the trees. Someone to start out small and grow, Sturdy and strong like a tree, and so He created boys, full of spirit and fun To explore and conquer, to romp and run With dirty faces and banged up chins, With courageous hearts and boyish grins. And when He had completed the task He'd begun, He surely said, That's a job well done."

When Conner just stayed on the doghouse roof beside the porch posts, that same day, I asked what he was doing.

"I'm working," he answered. Indeed, I had failed to see his "tools." As I admired his "work," I couldn't help but see in the tunnel of years: Grandson Conner is on a real roof with real tools. Life is so short. Little boys grow up too fast.

A little boy grown up and now published to be married, is the second son of my cousin Alvin (and the late Erma) Zimmerman of Clover Creek. Neil Zimmerman's Sunday evening trips to Potter Creek Road to see Marilyn Snyder are coming to an end. Preparing for an April 25 wedding for their second daughter, are Harry and Edna Snyder.

The thought of getting ready for an April wedding brings back memories of seven years ago. New life throbbed around us, the warm sun drew flowers into bloom and songs from robins filled our mornings. It was an exceptionally warm spring in 2012.

Although we can expect some cruel reversals in weather, last week gave us a taste of warmth to comfort our bones. It was perfect to clean my dirty patio and burn trash and clean my asparagus patch. But I was soft. Cutting patches hasn't done much to keep me physically fit. But I'll get there, like little cabbage plants needing to acclimate to outdoor life. I carry them and all their buddies outside in the sun and back in the greenhouse overnight, away from biting frosts. The temperature vigil has begun.