Saturday Slight

 

We enjoyed a much-needed and enjoyable pause from the trials and tribulations of the outside world last night. 

Twas an apple cider-pressing gathering held in Selle at the current church headquarters of our German Baptist friends.

The evening involved much more than fresh cider produced from thousands of apples and prepared by some machinery along with dozens of willing and happy hands of all sizes and ages. 

In the kitchen, some folks cut apples into tiny chunks to be mixed in with the batter for fried fritters. Others dished up white chicken chili, which served as the main dish for the dinner. 

In the main meeting area, with cider-making equipment set up, teams of adults or adorable little children participated in the process while enjoying upbeat visiting. 

Neighbors who had been invited blended in with the church members, sometimes reviving past friendships, sometimes initiating new. 

Once the many plastic jugs were filled with cider, a couple of adult church members and a team of young men orchestrated the fastest and most efficient table-and-chair set-up I've ever seen.  

After a prayer and a hymn, attendees went through the food line, some coming back later for an second fresh fritter and maybe even a third. 

Around the room, toddlers sat watching the action or simply enjoying their own little world in the midst of all the activity. 

After dinner, hymnals were passed out for the grand finale---twenty minutes of singing all verses and throwing in a little harmony for selected hymns. 

"Maybe we'll do this again," said Sam Wray whose Selle home served as the setting for the gathering. 

At the end of a week where an election had symbolically placed lots of folks facing off in their respective corners, this event served as a reminder that we really do have a lot in common. 

And, the simple gifts of friendship, communal efforts, respect for each other's culture and, as always, good food go a long way to give us continued faith in our fellow citizens. 

It was a wonderful evening of reconnecting and meeting new friends and, yes, creating new memories.

  Bill and I feel blessed to have been invited. 

Note:  Scroll through the photos while listening to the music at the bottom. 

The boys below help pick the apples above from our tree in the north lawn. 

I have been asked over and over during the years what kind of apples these are. 

Since I have an audience today, if anyone has an idea, please let us know.  Thanks.