April marks one year that I've been here in Carlyle. After Easter last year I moved into that 5th wheel, which happened to have been ours when I was a kid. It was pretty cool in there for the month of April, but all was well and the living space allowed me to move here.
Easter this year I was able to go home for the first time since Christmas. I sometimes can't believe how busy the community is, I think it's wonderful for the area to be so active and involved. Whether it is events always popping up or people from the area that have made great accomplishments, it's wonderful to see.
Being kept busy with work has been good though and I've met many interesting people over the past year. One of which I'm extremely thankful to have run into during the Moose Mountain Marathon. Eugene Brown happened to drive me around to get photos at different points in the run because he keeps an eye on everyone during the marathon, if the runners need a lift back to the start point he's the one that will oblige.
I mentioned I'd love to help with volleyball in some way, as we had been visiting and he mentioned he was a coach, and from there he was able to get me involved in the Arcola School with coaching the Junior Boy's team. When he started talking of also establishing a club team this spring he kindly said yes to allowing me to help and it has given me something to look forward to each week aside from work.
This past week, however, I looked forward to going home. It was awesome! My Mom and Dad spoil my sister and me, and since she goes home almost once a month for a week it was all of my favourite foods we got to eat.
As a flight attendant I like to tease my sister that she never works because she does have that week off every month, though really she does an incredible amount. She's always away from home when working, simply one place after another, and despite good passengers it is a business that is steeped in dealing with all sorts.
Like any service job people get mad at you or become unruly, so even though I poke fun that she never does anything and always gets to be at home she in fact does put up with a lot. The difference with a flight attendant is they're there to make sure you're comfortable and happy, like a waitress in a restaurant; BUT, this isn't really why they're on the plane. They're there to ensure safety of everyone in the aircraft. If anything were to ever happen on a plane it is the crew that direct and help you. So, I suppose she deserves her time off each month.
While home, not only did we get to have delicious food; but, we visited both of my grandmothers. Later we went out bowling and the stopped to play foosball after.
We had an unconventional Easter meal on Saturday, steak and shrimp, and it was just a wonderful time. We're a close family, so being away can be hard sometimes. I find the four and a half hour drive to be a little long for two days off, though people have told me it's not bad.
Not only did I get to visit with my immediate family and my grandmothers, but since Highway 13 runs right along southern Saskatchewan I stopped to visit family who live near Hazenmore on my way home. My uncle and aunt had been down south for the winter, so we had a short visit.
My cousins also live near home still and were there for supper bringing their kids, who are extremely entertaining. They were telling jokes, though I'm not sure I actually got them Why did the Easter bunny cross the house? To hop off. But the way they were laughing was enough to make everyone else smile.
The youngest of these kids is quite serious and does a very good face palm when you say something she knows is wrong then corrects you. She's also very smart, seeing my tattoo of three stalks of wheat from across the room she exclaimed that they were bull rushes, I personally had no idea what a bull rush was so she taught me that it is just another word for a cattail.
The three older youth are also smart, very entertaining as they made up games and jokes, all while being better with technology than I am for sure.
Overall I'm very happy to be here, though I do miss family and friends on the other side of the province. The opportunity here has given me a new experience and it has been very interesting. I'm looking forward to another year of small adventures, as many events do feel like they are adventures.
And if I've met you over this past year please don't be upset if you have to remind me what your name is. I've honestly met so many people between here and helping in Kipling that often names just disappear, though I do recognize you.
So, I'm looking forward to another year here in Carlyle and am looking forward to working with the new reporter, Corey, who has started this week.
