A Little Buggy Bling....

Teenagers the world round are pretty much the same.  There's a universal penchant for pushing the envelope and a desire to express one's individuality. The latter can be especially difficult when you're an Amish teen, because Amish culture generally de-emphasizes the individual to focus on the community as a whole.  Still, a buggy for a teenager is a bit like a high school locker for a non-Amish kid.  There are ways to sort of spice it up and show some personality without getting into too much trouble.  I've seen teenage buggies souped up with LED lights, exterior racing stripes, and even a battery-powered Ipod dock with speakers that played music in the buggy.  It looks like the above buggy has been outfitted with some sort of sound-system, a splashy blanket, some hanging accessories...and is that a purse of some sort on the seat? All photos courtesy of Beth Russo who spotted these scenes in the Jamesport, Missouri community.

And some other buggies in Jamesport, Missouri recently showed some kids trumpeting their sports spirit on the exterior of the buggy.  That's a logo for the Kansas City Chiefs football team appearing in the orange safety triangle on the back of the buggy below.  And below that, a little spirit shown for the University of Missouri.  The Amish parents may roll their eyes at such displays, but they're harmless and the a little letting off of steam as a youth can prevent problems down the road.