Saskatchewan Will Be Missed — Just A Little Young

I moved to Saskatchewan April 7th, 2011. It was a Thursday. I remember this because Rob had told me he couldn't come for a visit till the next day, Friday, after he finished work. I exited the plane, headed to luggage pick-up in the Regina airport expecting to find my Uncle and Aunt, maybe one or two of my cousins if not all of them, waiting for my arrival. Scanning the crowd as I came down the escalator I quickly realized they must have forgot or maybe were just waiting for my text. I felt myself tear up doubting the decision I had made to move out here for a guy I barely knew. I quickly ran to the bathroom to hide my tears and send a quick reminder text to my Uncle that I was there and needed to be picked up because I didn't know their address. I pulled myself together and went out to locate my life in all of two duffle bags. And there he was, Robert Galloway, the love of my life with the biggest goofy grin on his handsome face flowers, gift and card in hand. In that moment I got all the reassurance I needed to know this is where I needed to be.

Saskatchewan has been a lot of firsts for me. I have done a lot of growing up in this province. I got my first adult full-time job here, Lived by myself for the first time, got married, had my two gorgeous babies here, bought my first house and vehicle here. Saskatchewan has served me well. The memories and moments I have had here are absolutely unforgettable. As promised I decided to give you guys a list of some of the reasons why I will miss living here in Saskatchewan.

1. FAMILY

It has been so nice to live close to Rob's parents and brother these last couple of years. It kills us that we will not have them close by anymore. I did not know Rob's family that well before we got married, only meeting them a couple times. But now I have comfort knowing that if anything were to happen to Rob I will still have a relationship with them no matter what. They love us so much and it has been such a joy for us to watch them be grandparents to our girls. We will miss them so much and we are so thankful technology is where it is today. So, there will definitely be lots of FaceTiming and pictures to be sent.

2. FRIENDS

Is it just me or does everyone from out west have the gift of hospitality? So many people have made such an impact on me as a person. Whether that person was only apart of my life for a summer or years. This blog post would never end if I listed off 6 years and 9 moves worth of friendships I have made. (If any of you happen to be in the Ottawa area, you will definitely have to call me up.) I wouldn't be the person I am today without each and every one of those people. I do not know where to begin to thank them for listening to my crazy rants, being a shoulder to cry on and being an amazing friend to me. All of the friendships I have made here over the years I treasure with all my heart.

3. WIND

There is just something about that warm, dry, constant breeze in the summer that soothes my soul. Probably could do without in the winter. I have to say though it has always been something I have loved about the prairies. Call me weird but I am going to miss it.

4. SEE AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

The landscape here is like looking at the ocean but with land. There is something absolutely beautiful about it. You can see forever. In the summer it looks even more beautiful with all the different types of crops.

5. HUSBANDS MINI LIST

Low hydro costs, inflated oil field wages, no vehicle safeties with in province transfer of ownership... Thanks for those Rob.

6. SMALL TOWN VIBE

It doesn't matter if you live in rural Saskatchewan or a bigger centre like Regina, everywhere has an everyone knows everyone feeling. From the casual friendly waves to strangers to good mornings or head nods to everyone on the street. The amount of cars stopped for the one stranded car on the side of the road. I would say 90 percent of the population is the warmest, friendliest people you have ever met. I also enjoy the slower pace. No one seems to be in any sort of hurry to get anywhere, enjoying the ride. It is amazing how even a city of Regina's size can also have the feeling as all the small towns that surrounds it.

7. RIDER PRIDE

I am not a CFL fan myself but if I was I would definitely be a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan. This whole province stands by their football team through thick or thin. It is something you can't help but want to be apart of. I remember working at Suzy Shier and not having a single customer show up on game day. Everyone I did see was sporting their Rider green. Even when I worked for the government you were expected to wear green on game days. A sea of green is all you can see every weekend during football season. Houses, cars, you name it (A freaking train!) I have never seen more team merchandise in all my life. Talk about die hard fans!

So there you have it, seven reasons why I am going to miss this amazing province and all the amazing people in it. We are going to miss living here. It has been a harder good-bye then I ever could have imagined. Never know where the future could bring us though. I don't regret a single minute spent here. Photos are from a little bonfire we had last week with Rob's parents. We are starting our long drive tomorrow. Wish us luck! Saskatchewan, it's been a blast!