Just Pondering: Ode to my city slicker

By Allyson McCaw on February 23, 2023.

As many of you have figured out from previous articles, I am from Saskatchewan – actually small-town Saskatchewan – and very proud of it.

However, over the years I have come to realize that we are a very unique group of folks. We certainly put on our pants the same way as everyone else, but there are some quirky traits that only us “Saskies” understand.

For instance, we always give a small wave to everyone we meet on the gravel road. Doesn’t matter if you have no idea who that person is in the oncoming vehicle, you still wave your finger and nod. You also do a little prayer that he doesn’t send a rock thru your window!

Another strange phenomena, at least in my home town, was parking on main street. The street is super wide and we park in the centre of the road. Crazy I know. I think it is so we can park beside each other and visit out of the truck window without leaving the vehicles! Sure, works in the winter!

We do things like bonspieling and attend smokers. These activities have extraordinarily little to do with on-ice curling and slide towards a whole lot of partying! But hey what else can you do when it is minus-40?

All of these things came to light when hubby and I were reminiscing about his first visit to my hometown over 40 years ago. He was a ‘newby’ to the prairies, and I made the mistake of forgetting this small fact. So I very carefully gave him directions to my parents farm which involved leaving Highway 1 and meandering over the many grid roads to our house. Big mistake! He just didn’t seem to be able to grasp the simple fact that you had to turn left at the red barn about a mile and half east of the Johnson’s granaries, and take the correction line ’til you come to the old Smith farmhouse. I also was very clear that if you end up at the cemetery you have gone too far and missed the turn-off. Also just a heads up, the Jones might be moving their cattle so take it slow along the old Highway 32. Simple right?

So very wrong and he really hasn’t forgiven me to this day. However, he did learn to embrace our quirky manners and in true Saskatchewan hospitality we welcomed him to the family. He may have failed the road direction test, but he passed the chicken plucking, horse hoof trimming and cattle round-up to my Dad’s approval.

Happy anniversary to my city slicker.

Stay well.

Allyson McCaw is a Medicine Hatter

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