And Then There Was One

I visited Saskatchewan friends, towns and villages in a brief trip to southwestern Saskatchewan last week. 

The Cypress Hills haven’t changed: they continue to be a magical refuge in a vast land which stretches to the horizon and beyond. I lived on a farm north of ‘The Hills’ for eight years and in the village of Golden Prairie for ten years. Each day I would see the blue line of the Cypress Hills south of the farm and the town. We spent many summer weekends there, enjoying the cool air, fishing,and relaxing. 

My friends, Don, David and I had a fine dinner at one of my favourite restaurants anywhere – the Star Café & Grill in Maple Creek. The fish tacos were great, and I promised myself that I would explore the rest of the menu in the near future.

Golden Prairie, which had 250 residents, four grain elevators and four grocery stores when I lived there, now has 35 residents and one grain elevator. But it’s green and spacious, and the people are friendly. 

 I now live in a large city on the northern edge of the Great Plains of North America and while I’ve lived there for the past 51 years southwestern Saskatchewan is still home in so many ways.

The prairies are magic, and they continue to talk to those who have learned to see and to listen. I’ll be back for another visit soon.