How it Feels to go Home

Land of the Living Skies

I am a Saskatchewan girl, that means I am a Rider fan, I call hoodies “bunny-hugs” and I need to be able to see for miles or I feel closed in. Saskatchewan, “Land of the Living Skies”. The province I call home has its own beauty. There are no majestic mountains, but you can see for miles in all directions and the sunsets are spectacular.

I live in Alberta now and have called this province my home for 15 years. I still have family in Saskatchewan, so I head back frequently to pay them a visit. Darryl and I headed back this time to see my Father and unload some clothes and food before we depart on our travel adventure. Our escapade for 2018 will take us away from home for close to six months. I can’t believe we will be going on this journey, but it is necessary at this time in our lives. Call it a midlife crisis, if you like, but it is a crisis that I am happy to be experiencing. Everything that we did not sell, donate, recycle or throw out has gone into storage. Let our voyage begin with a trip back home.

Heading Home

Anticipation is the feeling I get when we head back to Saskatchewan. I look forward to seeing my brother, Father and in-laws. Going home helps me feel closer to my Mom. We always stay at the farm where I grew up. I have a sense of peace when I am there. It is quiet. No traffic. No public transit. Just the sounds of crickets, frogs, meadowlarks and the occasional tractor in the distance. I pine for the sound of meadowlarks as they have the most beautiful song; one I have never heard anywhere but in Saskatchewan. Their song always stops me in my tracks when I hear it.

Mornings are calm before the wind picks up. The breeze can be fierce in Saskatchewan. Walking around the farm yard I couldn’t help but notice how the gale through the trees sounded like waves crashing through the ocean. It is early spring and there are no leaves on the trees, so the wind speed has a unique swishing sound as it makes it way around the branches and into the yard. By evening, the wind usually dies down. The calmness of the evenings makes it my favourite time of day. The tranquility of the evening brings relaxation and time to enjoy a cool drink on the patio while listening to the gentle jingling of the wind chimes at the house.

Goodbye Saskatchewan, for Now…

The time has come to leave Saskatchewan, but I will be back after our trip to Texas and New Orleans. When we return, it will be June and summer will have arrived. The landscape will be different – more alive with colours of green in the fields as the wheat crops pop up. I wonder what my next trip back will bring as my Father’s mind is failing. How long will he remember me and my family? I need to go home to see Dad and connect with my roots before we start on our expedition to the Middle East and Europe.

When I leave Saskatchewan, I always have a slight feeling of sadness as I am saying goodbye to home. This time, I am excited because I know we will be back soon and we are starting a new path in our lives. A trail that will take us to countries we have never been to before. A passageway that brings with it feelings of excitement, joy, fear and anticipation.

The Journey Begins

Darryl and I have never done anything like this before. We are very structured people. Planning is what I do and to go on a venture this large without having everything planned to the T is outlandish to me. I am grateful that throughout our upcoming journeys we will always be able to call the farm in Saskatchewan home.  Even though we have purged so much, Saskatchewan will be our anchor.

Our actions seem careless to some, but most people are supportive and, dare I say, jealous! We get mixed reviews when we tell people what we are doing. They either look at us like we are nuts or they are happy and supportive of our new mission. I see nothing but good times ahead. This will change us forever. It will strengthen us as individuals and it will reinforce our marriage. We will not come back the same and I love the idea of it. Time to travel around the planet and discover my niche!

All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.