My husband and I wanted to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in our favorite place at the time... Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We wanted to experience the simple life as close as possible to locals, and short of staying with the Amish, which would not have happened, I knew we would have to find a Mennonite home.

I got a list of Mennonite families that lived on farms and that had a bed and breakfast. I called most of them and my first questions were: 1) Do you have a television in the room, 2) Do you have cable, and, 3) Do you have air conditioning? If any of the questions was answered in the positive, the place was not for us. Those were modern conveniences we did not want.

On the umpteenth call where someone actually picked up, (I hung up if I had to leave a message on an answering machine), I spoke to a Mr. Luke Hess. Not only did they live on a farm, but they had no television in the room and definitely no cable. They also had no air conditioning, though it being August might have been something to look forward to, but not for us.

We arrived at the farm. It was secluded, and was an actual working pig farm. They also had a garden where they grew most of their food. The customary horse and dogs were on the property as well. It was wonderful!

The Hesses were wonderful and introduced us to their family of four children; Lucille, then 15, Delbert, 12, Doretta, 9, and Doug 6. We also met their parents, were invited to a Mennonite service, and ate freshly made sticky buns and Shoefly Pie, two classic Pennsylvania Dutch “must have” goods. The Hesses quickly became dear friends. Our first wedding anniversary was made extra memorable because of them.

We visited and stayed with them every weekend for one year while we house hunted in Lancaster. Our friendship with them and the Mennonite community deepened. When we bought a house in Long Island instead, it was sad to think how much we would miss Lancaster and it’s friendly people, especially Luke and Dot and family.

It has been seventeen years since we first met the Hess family. Last Saturday, April 12th, we attended the wedding of Delbert to Katie Curtis. This was the third Hess wedding to which we had been invited. Ten years ago we were invited to Lucille’s wedding to Dave Metzler. They now have two children, Kira, age 6, and Micah, almost one. Almost four years ago we went to Doretta’s wedding to Bill Giersch. Doug, who is now 23 years old, has a steady girlfriend. They have all grown up and are a strikingly handsome family. It is always such a wonderful experience visiting with such dear friends, that despite the fact that we do not see each other often, we are still close to them and they to us. One day I suspect that the entire Hess family will attend the wedding of our daughter whom they have known since she was a baby. It will be an honor for us.

Almost seventeen years ago we met the Hess family. Their sincere and warm friendship was the best anniversary present ever.

"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure."
~Sirach 6:14