Guest Post: Allison Bruning (24/07)

This week on the TTC Virtual Blog Tour I'm joined by Allison Bruning and the theme for this week was to write a typical blog post that could be caught over on her blog... HERE! 

THE UNIVERSAL WOMAN






A few months ago, my husband and I befriended the local Amish family down the road from us. Nathan and Carolyn are the parents of eight boys and two daughters ranging in ages from 2 to 17 years. We had a few friendly encounters with them. After one of these encounters I learned Carolyn was involved with the children at her church just as I am in my own. We decided to spend a morning Christmas and grocery shopping. On a mild December morning we left with her oldest daughter and son for a day out on the town. It was during this time, I began to realize despite our differences in culture the bond between two married women knows no boundaries.










To be honest, I was excited about the trip since we decided to go together days ago. I liked spending time with Carolyn before. I’m a curious people person who loves to get to know more about different cultures. I had grown up in an area of Ohio where the Amish were, and still are, prevalent. I know what it means to be the subject of discrimination and public misconception. The Amish face those facets of mainstream America every time they step foot into our consumer driven world. Yet despite this foreknowledge I decided to be seen in public with them. When I began this journey I could never know how truly a shopping trip meant more than buying supplies.




At first I was kind of nervous. Carolyn and I had talked about recipes and cultures before. I had no reason to think I’d offend her. Yet like all new relationships, we held onto our comfort zones. She shopped with her two children while I hit the food aisles in Wal-Mart. Moments later, we reconnect in the Christmas aisle. She told me in her church, families have exchanged names of children to buy presents for. It reminded me of the white elephant gift exchange I had done in the past. The Amish do that? One of the names on her list was her eighteen-year-old niece who has Down’s Syndrome. Her niece loves to play with balls and there was a specific ball she wanted to buy for her. I learned instead of buying so many gifts for her children, the school provides for the kids. After all, as she put it to me, the season isn’t about getting presents but Jesus’ birth. She and Nathan do buy presents for her the two boys that aren’t old enough for school. What parent of a two and four year old wouldn’t want to make it fair for the younger ones too?






We traveled from store to store sharing our hearts with one another. We had so much fun we lost track of time. We began to understand one another bit more and found commonalities. Carolyn began to transform from just the Amish wife to a woman before my eyes. I learned tiny preferences such as Nathans’ preference for nuts and honey over refined sugar and her love of cheese products. We smiled and joked around like wives do about husbands. I already knew she spoke three languages. At home they speak Swiss, in church German and in school they learn English. But what I didn't know - she reads German.




I introduced her to aspects of my husband’s culture. She was amazed at the world aisle. I tend to cook more Chinese, Italian and Hispanic dishes over anything else. It was a new adventure for her. With twelve mouths to feed daily, each with their own distinctive tastes, I could see how introducing a different kind of meal could be problematic. Carolyn has to be wise in her shopping.




As the morning wore into the early afternoon, I gained a greater respect for my Amish neighbor. Wise and resourceful, Carolyn taught me no matter what culture you come from a woman is still a woman. We have compassionate heart for our children, a loving devotion to our husband, and the same emotions. A loving mother, she knows her children’s distinctive personalities well. What mother wouldn’t? At the end of the day, we are all someone’s mother, sister, child, and wife? Don’t we all have to wear the many hats womanhood brings? Womanhood, a human universal.









I wrote this piece two years ago. Since then, Nathan and Carolyn have had one more child. They have introduced us to some members of the Amish community. I have enjoyed the friendship bonds between us and their community. Since then, I have changed churches and have taken a new role at my new church. I still work with children but now I am helping Family Worship Center in Carrollton, Kentucky to plant new churches in Kentucky. That change has brought up new conversations between Nathan, Carolyn, my husband and I. Nathan and Carolyn had left their community in Indiana to start a new church in Kentucky. It seems the more we get to know each other the less different we are. We are all human.


Allison Bruning

The Executive Director of the Kentucky Young Writers Connection, a non-profit agency of writers who promote young authors throughout the state of Kentucky. Allison originally hails from Marion, Ohio. Her father, Roland Irving Bruning, was the son of German immigrants who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Her mother's family had been in the United States since the 17th century. Allison is a member of the Peter Foree Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution. Her linage traces to Private Reuben Messenger of Connecticut. Her educational background includes a BA in Theater Arts with a minor in Anthropology and a Texas Elementary Teaching certificate. Both acquired at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Allison received National Honor Society memberships in both Theater Arts and Communication. Allison was also honored her sophomore year with admission into the All American Scholars register. She holds graduate hours in Cultural Anthropology and Education. In 2007 she was named Who's Who Among America's Educators. She is also the recipient of the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards.

Allison lives with her husband in Kentucky. Calico is book one from the series, Children of the Shawnee. It is available at http://amzn.to/JSNRpm. She is currently working on the sequel, Rose. She is also working on another series, The Secret Heritage, which traces the life of her great great grandmother at the turn of the 20th century in Ohio. Allison's interest includes Ohio Valley history, anthropology, travel, culture, history, camping, hiking, backpacking, spending time with her family and genealogy. Her genres include historical fiction, paranormal, romance, and suspense.

If you want to read more from Allison then you can reach her at:

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/xxJ249
Facebook Fan Page http://on.fb.me/plvkxJ
Twitter: @emeraldkell
Blog: http://allisonbruning.blogspot.co.uk/
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5164664.Allison_Bruning





-Joseph




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