Can't believe it's been a year

Grenfell - As of March 1, Ive officially been in Grenfell for one whole year. Its pretty scary the way a year can pass. I remember my parents always saying, Just wait until you get older, youll see how time flies, and I thought, Whatever, a year is SUCH a long time. But now that Im a grown-up, a year feels like a couple of months, tops. And I hear it just speeds up the older you get.Ive been reflecting over the past year, and everything that Ive done since Ive been here.

For one thing, Ive been thinking about some of the interesting characters Ive met along the way. One of the most notable happened when I was brand new, and his name was Dorian Baxter, A.K.A. Elvis Priestly, the Anglican Archbishop who liked to impersonate Elvis in full costume after each of his sermons. He was actually very cultured and soft-spoken in person, which was surprising. He was just one of many intriguing people Ive met.

Ive also noticed a lot of little differences between Saskatchewan and Ontario in the past year.

One thing Ive enjoyed is the way that rural Saskatchewan is, for the most part, unaffected by the latest health and diet crazes. Butter is one of the food groups here, which is fantastic, and I dont think Ive met a single vegan since Ive been here. Not that I have anything against vegans, but they sure are tricky to feed.

Every event I go to around here is met with buttery potatoes, lots of meat and endless desserts, so much so that I sometimes feel like I should be paying to do this job instead of getting paid. Ive noticed that Saskatchewan (ians?) are more active, so I guess they can get away with richer food. Im still learning to be active enough to work off what Im eating, but thatll come with time (I hope.)

Im definitely more of a carnivore since Ive been here. I cant handle going a week without a nice big hunk of red meat. Im not sure whether the meat is tastier here, or if its just so abuntant that Ive grown addicted.

I also couldnt navigate my way out of a paper bag a year ago, and now I can find places with directions like, Go east one mile, then go north once you reach the big pile of twigs, then go two more miles and look for the mailbox with a hat on it. The first time someone gave me directions like that, I have to say I just felt like giving up and possibly crying a little, because it just about broke my poor city brain.

Then theres other little things, like how different the sky looks here, versus Ontario. It just goes on and on, and the sunsets are amazing. Then theres the wind! Its something else.

Ive experienced my first drive-in movie, my first time driving a snowmobile, my first time driving on the highway by myself (that was traumatic) and my first taste of wheat salad (I had never heard of it, and couldnt decide if I liked it at first but its grown on me.)

Ive made some boo-boos along the way, and I still have plenty to learn, but overall its been a pretty good year.