I hate goodbyes...

I hate goodbyes. and I have had so many of them. It's all part of this traveling life I live. 

I'll be leaving Canada within the next couple days and embarking on a road-trip back to the states where I'll eventually end up in my new home of Lynchburg, VA to starting grad school in the spring.  

As I packed up my things from the farmhouse today, I felt a tremendous sense of sadness. A sadness I have felt all too often all of the times I have said goodbye to a certain place or phase of my life. I have grown quite comfortable here, very accustomed to mom's home cooking, her big hearty breakfasts', her homeade hot chocolate, homeade bread, and the cozy movie nights movie watching with popcorn. 

As I packed up my things, I sorted through boxes and boxes of pictures, old souvenirs, diaries, letters, and such that I have acumalated over the years. I suddenly felt overwhelmed to think of all the various phases of life I have already been through, all the places that have felt like home, all of the boyfriends and friends I have had, all of the adventures, all of the highs, and all of the lows.... and here I am, about to embark on a whole 'nother journey into a whole new phase. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Sentimental - that is how I feel - sentimental and overwhelmed with all the places and people and times of life that have my heart. 

When we went to leave the farm, the van wouldn't start. The battery was dead. I was surprised at how quickly and effortlessly my mom and I got the truck, hooked up the cables, and got the van going again. Farm life always brings the unexpected and somehow something like a dead battery just doesn't seem like a huge setback anymore. The other day, we had to put a new tire on the tractor, hook up the rake to the tractor, and move the tractors into the quanset. It was incredibly windy that day and I felt like a real farm girl, out there in the wind doing all that work. 

Yesterday we took an hour or so drive to the big city of Moose Jaw to go shopping. It had snowed the day before, so everyone was bundled up and it almost felt like Christmas already. We had coffee at Java Express, then went to the mall, and then to Walmart. It's amazing how fun it is to be in the big city after living in a rural area for so long. Something as simple as going to Walmart turns into a really pleasant ordeal. I bought two shirts that I love and a really cute shawl from Java Express.

I've been playing the guitar alot lately, and I brought a couple of diaries from the farm house to look through once I'm back in the states. I'm sad about leaving, but I'm excited about this new phase of life. I hope to finally start writing songs and more stories about my travels as I pull material from my diaries. 

Cozy, full, and content

     My parents have an old beat up pick up truck that I love to drive. I feel so happy when I'm driving that truck with country music on the AM radio. We went out to the farm today and I got to drive the truck across the fields to pick up my mom from where she was dropping the tractor off. I turned on the radio, breathed in the crisp fall air, and felt truly content. 

     The weather has been beautiful today - that perfect kind of autumn cool that almost warms you... and when your bundled in sweatpants and a nice cozy sweater or sweatshirt, you feel like you have never been more comfortable. I took a walk down to the coffee shop this morning and delighted the whole way in the beauty of the air and the falling leaves. 

     I've been going the coffee shop just about ever day now to study for the GRE that I plan to take shortly. I usually don't get a whole lot of studying done there, but I love observing the local towns folk who are the most unique mix of farmers and French. Most people around here are farmers, yet they are all fluent in French and very French in their culture. I'm still trying to figure the whole scene out, so I just sip on my coffee and watch everyone. 

     I'm really beginning to like it here. I'm getting used to the slower pace of life and am definitely enjoying Mom's cooking. We just had a huge meal of pizza, popcorn, homemade soup, beer, and icecream! Sitting here curled up in my pajama pants and favorite jacket, I feel like the words to that Kenny Chesney song "Never wanted nothin more". 

Sunday in Saskatchewan

     I've been visiting my parents here in Saskatchewan, Canada for the last couple of weeks. They live in a small town of about 1200 people, and own a farm about a half hour from town. It's been very relaxing to say the least as there doesn't seem to be much to do around here and no one seems to be my age. Everyone is either really old or really young. At 25 years old, I seem to be caught in the middle. The beauty of this place makes up for its lack of social stimuli though - I am daily amazed and awed by the beauty of miles of nothingness and the majestic skies that are a photographers dream. 

    Being that it is Sunday, we headed off to church in a small town about 20 minutes away. When we arrived at their usual church we were informed that everyone was joining the United Church for services today because there was a special guest. So off we headed to the United Church. We slid into the back pew just in time for communion. Shortly after communion they dismissed and we realized we had arrived late. Late for the service, but not too late for the after service cake and coffee! 

     Not wanting to seem like we came just for cake and coffee (something every Baptist has done once or twice) I was hesitant about staying, but everyone was real friendly and welcoming so I decided it was all-right to stay. It was a pleasant time of "fellowship" as the Baptists say, although I saw at least two or three tables of elderly women glancing over at our table and psst  pssts-ing among themselves. I imagine they were wondering who we were. 

     At any rate, tonight was the annual "fowl" dinner, which is very similar to the American Thanksgiving dinner, but this was a whole community event. It was really neat to me to stand in line outside the church, smelling the wet hay and rain as everyone waited to get in and eat. It all seemed so authentic to be waiting for a harvest dinner with the smell of farms and hay in the air. The food was just delicious and the dessert selection was decadent. The dinner included rolls, coleslaw, corn, mash potatoes, turnips, turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, and all sorts of other fixings. 

    I am throughly full and quite charmed by the community feel of a small town. I am quite starved, however, for some human interaction with some people my own age.