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.