In rural Saskatchewan the family is still the backbone of the community. Over the past few years, when I've met people who were new to me, often they were returning or related to the community in some way. We may be the only people here who don't have blood relatives in the immediate region, but even we do have a connection. One of my son's classmates is the daughter of my cousin's husband's sister.
It is a bit of a puzzle to keep connections straight sometimes, but it isn't really that complicated to see how connected we are in this province and how important it is to people to maintain family ties. I miss not living near family members and sometimes yearn for a time when people stayed closer to home.
I do realize it is a bit of a fantasy vision as our country and province were settled by people with a much different idea. I'm a fourth generation Canadian, third generation Canadian born. With my generation's children we have reached the fifth. It doesn't seem that long at all but it has been interesting to see how fast a family can grow.
My maternal grandparents were married over 60 years ago and over Thanksgiving weekend, as more than 50 people enjoyed dinner, my mother counted the family. What started with my grandparents and their children, adding sons and daughters-in-law and then their children, welcoming their partners and then their children has become a family of almost 100.
Last week little 99 was born and although they didn't call him Wayne I'm sure he'll receive his share of Oilers and Kings jerseys as baby gifts. Number 100 is due in February and as my generation continues to settle down it will be harder to keep up with the numbers.
It will also mean my grandmother has crocheted nearly 100 afghans. One of the great things about the family is all but one live in Saskatchewan. Some have left the province and returned and we are waiting to hear when the last will move back home from Calgary.
My family isn't unique in this province. The prairie landscape is fertile and the lifestyle still values the extended family. Here in Maidstone there are many families who share the neighbourhood with grandparents and other kin.
Technology has made the world smaller and it is easier to keep in touch than ever before but with progress comes responsibility and the ability to choose. In Saskatchewan many of us still choose to sit across the same table, really laugh out loud, and share the warm hugs without the parenthesis.
