Everyday LifeFamily

Those Fresh Mennonites

Having grown up Mennonite I have a certain amount of pride in my heritage and the community of crafters and their crafts comprised of homemade, homegrown and healthy. That said, I have laughed again and again at the marketing of the Mennonite. “Mennonite Baked Goods”, “Amish Furniture!” and my personal favorite, “Amish Lumber!”

Really!?!?

Were the trees somehow converted, giving up their adornments and conveniences before the sacred and holy wood was felled and split? Can you picture the giant maples refusing to turn red in the fall lest they become too vain in the process? Oh Sisnet Vua! What nonsense.

Today I saw another one…

and I had to get a picture:

Yes they do! Just try and stop them!

At seeing this my mind went straight to the tendency and stereotype of the prolific Mennonite. Yes, they do produce and they produce often. My cousin Roxanne is keeping the traditions alive with the recent announcement of baby number 10 on the way. We Mennonites come from big families and we’re happy about that. We usually don’t make the distinction that we’re “fresh” but it is less common to find that sort of production from the less “fresh” or “aged” Mennonites.

The little “S” on the end of Mennonite seems to be the problem. Did the marketing genius who put this sign up not realize that though they are many…they do not always have to be spoken of in plurality. In fact in this case, the word “Mennonite” should have simply been considered an adjective to describe the “produce” as a noun, not as a noun humiliated by the word “produce” as a verb. And the placement of the word “Fresh!” I’m stunned.

Ach My!

I had to share my chuckle with you. But my chuckle was quickly overwhelmed by guffaws when I turned around and saw this one:

Based on my previous observations, you can imagine my shock at finding that these practices are being carried on “inside!” What sort of place is this?

Please…an apostrophe could save the reputation of my family here!

7 thoughts on “Those Fresh Mennonites

  1. Wow. So if this is the kind of display the “Mennonites” are supporting and encouraging, I’m not so sure my son will be coming over anymore. Maybe I should be asking what he is learning at your house. This is absolutely one of the MOST hilarious things I’ve seen in a while. Thanks SO much for sharing.

  2. You don’t MEAN it! Sisnet Vua! What the world! Whatever the expression, that sign needed to have something said about it! Thank you for doing the job! Um…maybe I used one too many exclamation marks?

  3. Last week one of our drivers at work came back from a delivery spouting about how he fell off an amish ladder! I laughed at him and asked him how he knew it was an “amish” ladder – did it wear an amish hat, drive an amish buggy, etc… he didn’t think it was as funny as I thought it was… Cracks me up!!

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